Verb Prefixes and Meaning

Level 4

One base verb can take many prefixes, and each one gives a new perfective verb: písať → dopísať, prepísať, odpísať, podpísať, vypísať, zapísať, opísať.

How It Works

Plain partner or new meaning? In aspect pairs with a prefix, the prefix only completes the action: písať → napísať (write). Most other prefixes add a meaning of their own.

One verb, many prefixes. With písať (to write):

  • do- (up to the end): dopísať to finish writing
  • pre- (again, over): prepísať to rewrite, to copy out
  • od- (back, away): odpísať to write back, to reply; also to copy from someone
  • pod- (under): podpísať to sign, to write your name underneath
  • vy- (out): vypísať to fill in a form, to write out
  • za- (record): zapísať to write down; zapísať sa to sign up, to enrol
  • o-: opísať to describe
  • pri- (add): pripísať to add in writing

The same prefixes on other verbs. With robiť (to do, to make): urobiť (the plain perfective), dorobiť (finish making), prerobiť (redo, alter), vyrobiť (produce), zarobiť (earn). The last one shows that a meaning is not always predictable, so learn prefixed verbs as separate words.

Aspect. Adding a prefix to a simple verb makes it perfective, so its present form refers to the future: Dopíšem to večer. (I will finish writing it tonight.) For a process or a habit, use its imperfective partner, which is made with a suffix: podpisovať, vypisovať, dopisovať. See imperfectives from prefixed verbs.

Prepositions follow the verb. A prefixed verb often has its own preposition: odpísať na e-mail (reply to an email), zapísať sa na kurz (sign up for a course). Verbs of motion use the same prefixes for direction, see prefixes on verbs of going.

Examples (6)

  1. Dopíšem to a hneď idem.

    I'll finish writing this and I'll come right away.

    Word by Word: I-finish-writing it and right-away I-go.

  2. Musíš ten text prepísať, je plný chýb.

    You have to rewrite that text; it is full of mistakes.

    Word by Word: You-must that text rewrite, it-is full of-mistakes.

  3. Ešte mi neodpísala na e-mail.

    She still hasn't replied to my email.

    Word by Word: Still to-me not-wrote-back on e-mail.

  4. Podpíšte sa, prosím, tu dole.

    Please sign here at the bottom.

    Word by Word: Sign yourself, please, here below.

    Podpísať sa means to sign your name.

  5. Vypíšte tento formulár paličkovým písmom.

    Fill in this form in block capitals.

    Word by Word: Fill-out this form with-block letters.

  6. Cez leto si zarobil dosť peňazí na nový bicykel.

    Over the summer he earned enough money for a new bike.

    Word by Word: Over summer himself he-earned enough money for new bicycle.

    Zarobiť (earn) is a prefixed form of robiť whose meaning you cannot guess.

Common Mistakes

  • Choosing a meaning prefix when you only want the plain perfective.

    Včera som prepísal list babke.
    Včera som napísal list babke.

    The intended meaning is "Yesterday I wrote a letter to grandma". Prepísať means to rewrite or copy out. The plain perfective of písať is napísať.

  • Mixing up odpísať and opísať.

    Odpíš svoju izbu.
    Opíš svoju izbu.

    The intended meaning is "Describe your room". Odpísať means to reply in writing or to copy from someone, and opísať means to describe.

  • Using a prefixed perfective for an action in progress.

    Nemôžem hovoriť, práve vypíšem formulár.
    Nemôžem hovoriť, práve vypisujem formulár.

    The intended meaning is "I am filling in a form right now". Vypíšem refers to the future. For an action in progress, use the imperfective partner vypisujem.

How It Connects

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Verb Prefixes and MeaningLevel 4

Learn This First

Before Verb Prefixes and Meaning, learn Prefixes on Verbs of Going. The meanings of prefixes are first met with motion verbs.

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Words in This Pattern

do-pre-od-pod-vy-