zpozdit

Zpozdit is a Czech verb meaning to cause something to be delayed or to slow down progress. It is used to describe situations where plans, schedules, or arrivals do not occur at the originally expected time. In everyday language it can refer to transportation, meetings, projects, or other planned events, as well as to people who are late.

Etymology and usage notes: The word derives from the prefix z- combined with a root related to lateness or delay, reflecting the sense of bringing something to occur later than intended. The noun form for the resulting delay is zpoždění. Zpozdit can be used both intransitively, to indicate that something was delayed (for example a train or a flight), and transitively, to indicate that one caused a delay to something (for example a meeting).

Common contexts and examples:

- Vlak se zpozdil kvůli technické závadě. (The train was delayed due to a technical fault.)

- Projekt se zpozdil o dva dny. (The project is delayed by two days.)

- Můžeme zpozdit schůzku na odpoledne? (Can we delay the meeting to the afternoon?)

Synonyms and nuance: Related verbs include opozdit and zdržet; they carry slightly different shades, with opozdit often used for deliberate postponement and zdržet for holding up or delaying progress in a broader sense. Zpozdit emphasizes lateness or postponement of a scheduled moment.

See also: zpoždění, opoždění, opozdit, zdržet.