zmagati

Zmagati is a Slovenian verb meaning "to win" or "to be victorious." It is used for achieving victory in sports, competitions, games, and also in figurative senses such as overcoming difficulties. The noun zmaga, meaning "victory," is the source of the verb, formed with the infinitive suffix -ati.

In present tense, zmagati conjugates regularly: jaz zmagam, ti zmagaš, on/ona/ono zmaga, mi zmagamo, vi zmagate, oni zmagajo. The verb is typically treated as perfective, emphasizing the completion of a win. The past tense is formed with the auxiliary biti and a past participle: zmagal sem (I won, masculine), zmagala sem (I won, feminine); zmagali smo (we won, masculine/mixed); zmagale smo (we won, feminine). Future tense is formed with the auxiliary biti: bomo zmagali (we will win).

Usage notes: zmagati can be used in literal contexts (e.g., sports results, contests) and in figurative expressions (e.g., overcoming obstacles, achieving success). Common phrases include zmagati na tekmi (to win the match) and zmagati na dirki (to win the race). It is related to the noun zmaga and to derived terms such as zmagovalec (winner) and zmaga v more complex constructions.

See also: zmaga, zmagovalec.