zajím

Zajím is a linguistic term used to refer to the verb stem zajím- in Czech and Slovak, which express interest or engagement. It is most often described in grammar as the base to which personal endings attach to form present tense conjugations of related verbs, notably Czech zajímat and Slovak zaujímať. The stem carries the core meaning “to interest” and functions as the grammatical anchor for inflection across persons and numbers.

In Czech, present tense forms built on the zajím- stem include zajímám, zajímáš, zajímá, zajímáme, zajímáte, zajímají. In Slovak, the corresponding forms are zaujímam, zaujímaš, zaujíma, zaujímame, zaujímate, zaujímajú. The stem also appears in related derivations and various past forms, though it is primarily described as the inflectional base rather than an independent lexeme.

Zajím should not be confused with zájem, a noun meaning “interest” or “concern,” which is etymologically related but functions separately in syntax and meaning. In linguistic descriptions, zajím- is distinguished as the thematic stem used to derive present-tense forms of verbs meaning to interest or engage someone or something.

Notes and references in grammar guides typically illustrate zajím- with example conjugations and compare Czech zajímat and Slovak zaujímať, highlighting the close but distinct patterns across the two West Slavic languages.