být

From Proto-Slavic *byti, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- (“to become”).

• IPA^(key): /biːt/

• audio

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• Homophone: bít

být impf

1. to be

   Ten kabát je vlhký ― The coat is wet.

2. to be (to exist)
3. (auxiliary) Used to form past tense forms of verbs with past participles.

   Jel jsem do Prahy. ― I went to Prague.

4. (auxiliary) Used to form future tense forms of verbs with infinitives.

   Budu ti pomáhat. ― I will be helping you.

5. (auxiliary) Used to form conditional mood forms of verbs with past participles.

   Já bych to neudělal. ― I would not do it.

6. (auxiliary) Used to form passive voice forms of verbs with passive participles.

   Jsem překvapen. ― I am surprised.

7. (auxiliary) Used to form conditional forms of verbs with past and passive participles.

   Byl by tam šel, kdyby ho byli pozvali. ― He would have gone there if they had invited him.

• (to exist): existovat

• nebýt

• až to bude, tak to bude
• být na dvě věci
• být ruka v rukávě

• býti in Příruční slovník jazyka českého, 1935–1957
• býti in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého, 1960–1971, 1989