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.

Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: Possessive Case in Czech, Instrumental Case in Czech, Accusative Case in Czech & Present Tense.

Regular Plurals

Masculine Nouns

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

English	Czech singular	Czech plural	English plural
train	vlak	vlaky	trains
castle	hrad	hrady	castles
weekend	víkend	víkendy	weekends

However, there are some masculine nouns that form their plural by adding - i or -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.

English	Czech singular	Czech plural	English plural
man	muž	muži/mužové	men
general	generál	generálové	generals
giant	obr	obři/obrové	giants

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:

English	Czech singular	Czech plural	English plural
thing	věc	věci	things
handbag	kabelka	kabelky	handbags
girl	holka	holky	girls
night	noc	noci	nights

However, there are some feminine nouns that do not change in the plural. This is usually when the singular ends in an -e.

English	Czech singular	Czech plural	English plural
economy	ekonomie	ekonomie	economies
mission	mise	mise	missions
street	ulice	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:

English	Czech singular	Czech plural	English plural
window	okno	okna	windows
car	auto	auta	cars
morning	ráno	rána	eyes

However, there are some neuter nouns that do not change in the plural. This is usually when the singular ends in an -í or -y.

English	Czech singular	Czech plural	English plural
reading	čtení	čtení	readings
attic	podkroví	podkroví	attics
behavior	jednání	jednání	behaviors

Irregular Plurals

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

English	Czech singular	Czech plural	English plural
person	člověk	lidé	people
child	dítě	děti	children
animal	zvíře	zvířata	animals
lip	ret	rty	lips
song	píseň	písně	songs
ear	ucho	uši	ears
dog	pes	psi	dogs

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 Plural
• Czech Skill:To Be (plural) | Duolingo Wiki | Fandom
• Plural, Gender, and Pluralia in Czech
• Wikiversity Noun Declension

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Other 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