líbiti

Líbiti is an archaic or literary infinitive form of the Czech verb meaning “to please” or “to be pleasing,” and is related to the modern verb líbit se. In contemporary Czech, the standard expression for “to like” is líbit se, or simply líbit in non-reflexive uses. The form líbiti appears mainly in historical texts and linguistic descriptions rather than in everyday speech.

Etymology and cognates: Líbiti comes from the old Czech verb system and belongs to the Proto-Slavic root shared with other West Slavic languages. In modern Czech the common verb is líbit, with the reflexive se used to form the meaning “to please/ to be pleasing to someone.” Cognates appear in Polish lubić, reflecting a common Slavic heritage.

Usage in modern language: Today, líbit se is the standard construction to express liking. The experiencer is typically in the dative, and the thing that pleases is the subject of the sentence: To se mi líbí (I like it). Past and other forms follow the standard líbit se paradigm, while líbiti remains restricted to archaic or scholarly contexts.

Grammar notes: The verb is used with reflexive se in most modern sentences. In historical texts, the bare infinitive líbiti may be found, but such usage is not common in contemporary Czech outside of linguistic discussions.

See also: líbit se; líbit; líbivý; líbivost.