Ways to say it
| Czech | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| zůstat | [ˈzuːstat] (narrow) | perfective |
| pobýt | [ˈpobiːt] (narrow) | perfective |
Both zůstat and pobýt are perfective verbs meaning to stay or remain in a particular place. zůstat is the general term for staying or remaining. The noun pobyt, derived from pobýt, is used to refer to a stay or residence, often in official contexts like a 'stay abroad'. Other related nouns include odložení, odklad and odročení, which refer to the postponement of something, such as a punishment.
Which one should you use?
zůstat is the general word for 'to stay' or 'to remain'. In contrast, pobýt is more specific to staying in a place for a temporary period, such as a visit or a stay at a hotel.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As a perfective verb, zůstat is used to express a completed action or a state that has been achieved, rather than a continuous action in the present.
Did you know?
- The verb zůstat is built from a prefix and the root stát, which means 'to stand'.
- The verb pobýt is built from the root být, which means 'to be'. Literally, it describes the act of 'being' for a short duration.
- The prefix 'po-' in pobýt often implies a limited amount of time. This makes the word specifically suited for vacations or short visits rather than permanent residency.
Examples in context
- Tom by tu měl zůstat.Tom ought to stay here.This sentence demonstrates the use of zůstat regarding an obligation.Tatoeba #3593200 by nueby, translation #3184973 by CK
- Kéž bych mohl zůstat.I wish that I could stay.This sentence shows how to express a wish using zůstat.Tatoeba #8216422 by Ergulis, translation #8216151 by CK
- Mám zůstat, nebo jít?Should I stay or should I go?This sentence illustrates a choice between staying or going using zůstat.Tatoeba #9957232 by Ergulis, translation #3185201 by CK
- Prosím, zůstaňte tady.Please stay here.
- Můžete zůstat, zůstaňte prosím.You can stay, please.
- Hele, zůstaň u mě.Hey, stay with me.
- Zůstaň tady a neodejdi.Stay here and don't leave.
- V Brně měl jednou zůstat.He was supposed to stay in Brno once.
- Pobyl v Praze pár dní.He stayed in Prague for a few days.
- Zůstaňte tady po celý týden.Stay here for a whole week.
- Zůstal jsem tady včera.I stayed here yesterday.
- Zůstanu tady až do neděle.I will stay here until Sunday.
- 135 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Tomáš and Kateřina are talking about their weekend plans at home.
- TomášChceš zůstat doma?Do you want to stay home?
- KateřinaAno, raději bych zůstala doma.Yes, I would rather stay home.
- TomášMůžeme tedy zůstat spolu.Then we can stay together.
- KateřinaTo zní skvěle, Tomáši.That sounds great, Tomáš.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stay” translations and entries zůstat, pobýt, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pobýt, zůstat, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
