upomínat

Upomínat is a Czech verb meaning to remind someone of something or to call something to mind. It is chiefly used to evoke memory of a past event, obligation, or fact that should be remembered. The action is typically directed at another person and often used with the preposition na to specify what is being recalled, as in upomínat na něco, or with a dative object when naming the person who is being reminded (upomínat někomu na něco).

In everyday Czech, upomínat is somewhat formal and is frequently replaced by připomenout or připomínat in colloquial speech. The verb is imperfective, describing an ongoing or repeated process of causing someone to remember. A common perfective alternative to convey a completed act of reminding is připomenout (or upomenout in some contexts), depending on the nuance desired. The sense of upomínat is distinct from simply mentioning a topic; if the goal is to introduce a topic in conversation, other verbs such as zmínit or zmínit si are typically used.

Usage notes and nuances:

- With a person and a memory: upomínat někoho na něco (to remind someone of something).

- With a memory reference: upomínat na minulost, na staré časy (to call to mind the past).

- In contemporary style, připomenout is often the preferred option for a clear, natural reminder, while upomínat may appear in more formal or written language.

Examples:

- Ta poznámka mi upomíná na naši dohodu.

- Učitel upozornil studenty a upomínal je na nadcházející termín.