-núť (Single Actions)

Single Actions in -núť

Level 5

kopať → kopnúť (kick once), kýchať → kýchnuť (sneeze once), mávať → mávnuť (wave once), klikať → kliknúť (click), žmurkať → žmurknúť (wink). Past: kopol, kýchol, mávol, klikol, žmurkol.

How It Works

One quick action. Many verbs for sudden movements and sounds come in pairs. The imperfective one describes an ongoing or repeated action; the one in -núť describes a single instance:

  • kopať / kopnúť: to kick / to kick once
  • kýchať / kýchnuť: to sneeze / to sneeze once
  • mávať / mávnuť: to wave / to wave once
  • klikať / kliknúť: to click / to click once
  • žmurkať / žmurknúť: to blink or wink / to wink once
  • ťukať / ťuknúť: to tap / to tap once

The -núť verb is a perfective partner formed with a suffix, so its present form means the future: Kliknem na odkaz. (I will click on the link.)

-núť or -nuť? Under the rhythmic law, a long syllable cannot follow another long syllable in the same word. After a short syllable the suffix is -núť (kopnúť, kliknúť); after a long one it is -nuť (kýchnuť, mávnuť, hvízdnuť).

The past tense. When the stem ends in a consonant, the l-form drops -nu-: kopnúť → kopol, kopla; kýchnuť → kýchol; mávnuť → mávol, mávla. Forms like kopnul are colloquial.

Examples (6)

  1. Kopol do lopty a dal gól.

    He kicked the ball and scored a goal.

    Word by Word: He-kicked into ball and gave goal.

  2. Dvakrát hlasno kýchol.

    He sneezed loudly twice.

    Word by Word: Twice loudly he-sneezed.

    Kýchnuť has the past kýchol.

  3. Mávla nám z okna.

    She gave us a wave from the window.

    Word by Word: She-waved to-us from window.

  4. Klikni na tlačidlo Uložiť.

    Click the Save button.

    Word by Word: Click on button Save.

  5. Žmurkol na mňa, akoby chcel niečo povedať.

    He winked at me as if he wanted to say something.

    Word by Word: He-winked at me, as-if wanted something say.

  6. Niekto ťukol na dvere.

    Somebody tapped on the door.

    Word by Word: Somebody tapped on door.

Common Mistakes

  • Keeping the long -núť after a long syllable.

    Musel som kýchnúť.
    Musel som kýchnuť.

    Kýchnuť has a long first syllable, so by the rhythmic law the suffix is short: -nuť.

  • Keeping -nu- in the standard past tense.

    Kopnul do lopty.
    Kopol do lopty.

    In the standard language the past of kopnúť is kopol, kopla. Kopnul is colloquial.

  • Using the single-action verb for a repeated action.

    Celý večer kopol do steny.
    Celý večer kopal do steny.

    A repeated or long action needs the imperfective kopať. Kopnúť is only one kick.

How It Connects

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

-núť (Single Actions)Level 5Single Actions in -núť

Learn This First

Before Single Actions in -núť, learn Aspect Pairs With a Suffix. -núť verbs are single-action partners of other verbs.