näst

Nést is a verb found in Czech and Slovak (and related Slavic languages) meaning to carry or to bear. It covers both physical carrying of a load and figurative bearing, such as shouldering a responsibility, bearing a weight, or possessing a trait. In use, nést is imperfective, and its perfective counterparts are formed with prefixes, for example unést (to lift away) or přinést (to bring in/bring to).

In Czech, the present tense forms are nesu, neseš, nese, neseme, nesete, nesou. The past tense marks gender and number: nesl (masc), nesla (fem), neslo (neut), nesli (plural). The past participle is nesen (masc), nesena (fem), neseno (neut). The root combines with pronouns and is used across contexts, from carrying objects to bearing burdens or responsibilities, as in nést odpovědnost.

In Slovak, the corresponding verb is niesť. Its present tense forms include nesiem, nesieš, nesie, nesieme, niesete, nesú. As in Czech, the verb also yields perfective derivatives such as odniesť or doniesť to indicate bringing or lifting away, depending on context.

Etymology and cognates: nést derives from Proto-Slavic *něsti, with cognates in other Slavic languages (for example Russian нести, Polish nieść). The form with the acute é in Czech reflects a historical vowel length distinguishing it from related forms.

Usage notes: nést is versatile, used for tangible carriage (Nesu tašku) and abstract burdens (Neseš odpovědnost). It is often paired with prefixes to create related meanings, such as unést (to lift away) or přenést (to transfer). The verb forms vary by language and dialect, but the core sense remains consistent across Slavic languages.