Language/Czech/Grammar/Plurals

Czech Grammar - Plurals

Hi Czech learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about plurals in Czech grammar. Unlike English, Czech language has multiple ways to form plurals. Even though the task may seem daunting, we will make it easy for you by providing clear explanations, examples and illustrations with cultural information and interesting facts. Let's dive in!

Introduction

In Czech grammar, plurals have different forms that depend on the gender, case and ending of the singular nouns. In general, there are two forms of plurals: regular and irregular. Regular plurals follow a specific pattern, while irregular plurals have their own rules. In addition, there are some exceptions in which the plural form of a noun differs from its singular form.

Regular Plurals

Masculine Nouns

The majority of masculine nouns form their plural by adding -i at the end of the singular nominative form. Here are some examples:

Czech	Pronunciation	English
kiss	pusa	kisses
train	vlak	trains
river	řeka	rivers
dog	pes	dogs

However, there are some masculine nouns that form their plural by adding -ové at the end of the singular form. This type of plural is usually used to express a group of people, and is often called the "human" plural.

Czech	Pronunciation	English
student	student	students
teacher	učitel	teachers
player	hráč	players

Feminine Nouns

Most feminine nouns form their plurals by adding the suffix -y or -i at the end of the singular nominative form. Here are some examples:

Czech	Pronunciation	English
hat	klobouk	hats
handbag	kabelka	handbags
apple	jablko	apples
city	město	cities

However, there are some feminine nouns that form their plural by adding -e at the end of the singular. This type of plural is used when the singular ends in a soft consonant or vowel.

Czech	Pronunciation	English
house	dům	houses
book	kniha	books
street	ulice	streets

Neuter Nouns

Most neuter nouns form their plurals by adding the suffix -a at the end of the singular nominative form. Here are some examples:

Czech	Pronunciation	English
window	okno	windows
car	auto	cars
eye	oko	eyes

However, there are some neuter nouns that form their plural by adding -ata at the end of the singular nominative form. This type of plural is used when the singular ends in a hard consonant or vowel.

Czech	Pronunciation	English
egg	vejce	eggs
child	dítě	children
word	slovo	words

Irregular Plurals

Some nouns in Czech have their own way of forming the plural. Here are some examples:

Czech	Plural	English
man	lidé	people
mouse	myši	mice
tooth	zuby	teeth
foot	nohy	feet

Exceptions to the Rule

Some nouns in Czech have different plurals than expected based on their gender, ending or case. Here are some examples:

Czech Singular	Czech Plural	English
kočka (cat)	kočky	cats
píseň (song)	písně	songs
ucho (ear)	uši	ears

Usage

In Czech, it is important to use the correct plural form of a noun depending on the context and meaning of the sentence. If you are unsure about the correct plural form of a noun, don't hesitate to use online resources or ask a native speaker for help. To improve your Czech Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Cultural Information

In Czech culture, there is a tradition of pluralizing certain words used to address people to show respect. For example, instead of using the singular form "pan" (mister) or "paní" (missus), Czech speakers often use the plural forms "pánové" and "paní" as a sign of politeness.

Interesting Facts

Did you know that the longest word in Czech is "nejnevěřitelňejsímu" which has 17 letters and means "to the most unbelieving one"?

Another interesting fact is that some Czech words have two plural forms. For example, the word "auto" (car) can have both "auta" and "auti" as its plural form, depending on the context and meaning of the sentence.

Dialogue

• Person 1: Mám tři kočky. (I have three cats.)
• Person 2: To je mnoho koček! (That's a lot of cats!)
• Person 1: Ano, ale miluji kočky. (Yes, but I love cats.)
• Person 2: Já preferuji psy. (I prefer dogs.)

Sources

• Czech declension
• Czech language

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Related Lessons

• Negation
• Nominative Case in Czech
• How to Use Be
• Comaratives and Superlatives
• Accusative Case in Czech
• Verbs
• How to Use Have
• Give your Opinion
• How to Use "Být" (to Be)
• Verb to be with names and places