kým

While and Until: Kým

Level 3

Kým varíš, prestriem stôl. (While you cook, I'll set the table.) Počkám, kým neprídeš. (I'll wait until you come.)

How It Works

1. While: at the same time

Kým deti spia, mám chvíľu pre seba. (While the children are sleeping, I have a moment for myself.) The verb is usually imperfective, because the action lasts.

2. Until: up to a moment

Put ne- on the verb, which is usually perfective: Zostaneme tu, kým neprestane pršať. (We'll stay here until it stops raining.) This ne- only marks the end point. Think of it as as long as it hasn't stopped raining.

The main clause can point ahead with dovtedy: Budem tu dovtedy, kým sa nevrátiš. (I'll be here until you come back.)

3. While, whereas: a contrast

Kým ja pracujem, ty celý deň spíš. (While I'm working, you sleep all day.) For this meaning, see also While and Whereas.

Not do

English until is both a preposition and a conjunction. Slovak do is only a preposition: do piatej (until five). Before a clause, use kým with a negated verb. See Going Into: do.

Comma

Always separate the kým clause with a comma.

Examples (6)

  1. Kým varíš, prestriem stôl.

    While you cook, I'll set the table.

    Word by Word: While you-cook, I-will-set table.

    Two actions at the same time.

  2. Počkám, kým neprídeš.

    I'll wait until you come.

    Kým with a negated perfective verb means until. You do come.

  3. Kým deti spia, mám chvíľu pre seba.

    While the children are sleeping, I have a moment for myself.

    Kým with an imperfective verb.

  4. Zostaneme tu, kým neprestane pršať.

    We'll stay here until it stops raining.

    The rain does stop; ne- marks the end point.

  5. Nikam nepôjdeš, kým si neurobíš úlohy.

    You're not going anywhere until you do your homework.

    A condition that has to be met first.

  6. Kým ja pracujem, ty celý deň spíš.

    While I'm working, you sleep all day.

    Kým contrasting two people.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the preposition do before a clause, copying English until.

    Počkám, do prídeš.
    Počkám, kým neprídeš.

    Do is a preposition and needs a noun in the genitive, as in do piatej. Before a clause, use kým with a negated verb.

  • Using keď when you mean until. The intended meaning is "I'll wait until you come".

    Počkám, keď prídeš.
    Počkám, kým neprídeš.

    Keď means when and does not mark the end of the waiting. Until is kým with a negated verb.

How It Connects

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

kýmLevel 3While and Until: Kým

Learn This First

Before While and Until: kým, learn When: keď. kým is a time conjunction like keď.

Words in This Pattern