spálit

Spálit is a Czech verb meaning to burn something or to burn up, usually by fire. It denotes causing material to catch fire and be consumed, or burning something to ashes. The verb is the perfective counterpart of the imperfective pálit and often implies completion or total destruction by fire. Spálit can also be used reflexively as spálit se, meaning to burn oneself.

Morphology and forms: Spálit is formed from the stem pál- with the prefix s- to indicate perfective aspect. In the present (used as future for perfective verbs) it yields spálím, spálíš, spálí, spálíme, spálíte, spálí. Past tense takes the masculine, feminine, or neuter forms: spálil jsem, spálila jsem; spálili jsme, spálily jsme, etc. The corresponding imperfective form is pálit (pálím, pálíš, pálí; pálil, pálila, pálili). The participle used as an adjective is spálený (masc.), spálená, spálené.

Usage and examples: Transitive use: “Spálil jsem dřevo v krbu” (I burned the wood in the fireplace). “Dům byl spálen při požáru” (The house was burned). Reflexive use: “Při vaření jsem si spálil prst” (I burned my finger). The verb can express destruction by heat; related forms include připalit (to burn a little) and shořet (to burn down completely rather than merely burn).

Etymology and cognates: Spálit derives from the Czech root pál- (to burn) with the prefix s- to form the perfective. Related forms exist in Slovak as spáliť; cognates occur in other Slavic languages, such as Polish spalić.