stále

Stále is a word used in Czech and Slovak as an adverb with closely related senses centered on persistence and duration. It commonly translates as “still” or “yet,” and it can also express ongoingness or emphasis in phrases such as “stále více” (more and more). In some contexts it contrasts a current state with a momentary change.

In Czech, stále most often marks that a situation continues to the present: “Stále prší” means it is still raining. It can modify verbs to indicate ongoing action: “Stále pracuji” = I am still working. In phrases like “stále doufám,” it signals continued hope or effort. The expression “stále více” conveys increasing tendency or intensity. In everyday speech it is common but slightly more formal or literary than the synonym “pořád.”

In Slovak, the usage is parallel. “Stále prší” means it is still raining, and “stále pracuje” indicates continued work. It also forms constructions such as “stále viac” to express a growing trend: “stále viac ľudí” = more and more people. For extra emphasis, speakers may use “ešte stále,” though “stále” by itself often suffices.

Etymology and related forms: the adverb stems from the Slavic root connected with the adjective stálý, meaning constant or stable. The sense of ongoing state developed in both Czech and Slovak over time. Related terms include neustále (unceasing, continuous), and the informal synonym pořád in Czech. The word remains common in standard usage across both languages.

See also: neustále, pořád, stálý.