-iem / -ejú

Present Verbs Like Rozumieť

Level 1

Rozumieť keeps ie in most forms, but the they form is rozumejú, with a plain e.

How It Works

Here is rozumieť (to understand):

  • ja rozumiem, ty rozumieš, on, ona, ono rozumie
  • my rozumieme, vy rozumiete, oni, ony rozumejú

The same pattern is used by porozumieť (to understand), by znieť (to sound): znie, znejú, and by many verbs that describe a slow change, like zelenieť (to turn green): zelenie, zelenejú.

Many other verbs in -ieť use the -ím pattern instead, like vidieť (vidím, vidia), sedieť and musieť. You need to learn which group a verb belongs to. Rozumieť is the one you will use most.

Rozumieť is often used with po slovensky: Rozumiete po slovensky? (Do you understand Slovak?) The person you understand goes in the dative, which you will learn later: Rozumiem ti. (I understand you.)

The negative is written as one word: Nerozumiem. (I don't understand.) It is one of the most useful words for a new learner.

Examples (6)

  1. Rozumiem, ďakujem.

    I understand, thank you.

  2. Prepáčte, nerozumiem.

    Sorry, I don't understand.

    Ne- is joined to the verb.

  3. Rozumieš mi?

    Do you understand me?

  4. Moji kamaráti rozumejú po slovensky.

    My friends understand Slovak.

    The they form ends in -ejú.

  5. Na jar stromy zelenejú.

    In spring the trees turn green.

    Zelenieť follows the same pattern as rozumieť.

  6. Tá pieseň znie krásne.

    That song sounds beautiful.

Common Mistakes

  • Giving rozumieť the they ending of the -ím verbs.

    Oni rozumia po slovensky.
    Oni rozumejú po slovensky.

    Rozumieť is not like vidieť. Its they form ends in -ejú.

  • Keeping ie in the they form.

    Deti mi rozumiejú.
    Deti mi rozumejú.

    The ie of the other forms becomes a plain e in rozumejú.

  • Writing nie as a separate word before the verb.

    Nie rozumiem.
    Nerozumiem.

    Verbs are negated with ne- written as one word with the verb.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

-iem / -ejúLevel 1Present Verbs Like Rozumieť

Learn This First

Before Present Verbs Like rozumieť, learn Present Verbs in -em and -iem. rozumieť-type verbs share first-person -iem with verbs like niesť.