Time Expressions in Czech: Days, Months, and Seasons for English Speakers

Understanding Time Expressions in Czech

When learning Czech, mastering time expressions such as days, months, and seasons is essential for everyday conversation and understanding schedules. This article will guide English speakers through the basic vocabulary and usage of these time-related terms in Czech.

Days of the Week in Czech

The Czech language has seven days of the week, each with a unique name. Unlike English, the days are not capitalized unless they start a sentence.

• Pondělí (Monday)
• Úterý (Tuesday)
• Středa (Wednesday)
• Čtvrtek (Thursday)
• Pátek (Friday)
• Sobota (Saturday)
• Neděle (Sunday)

Note that the Czech week starts on Monday (Pondělí), which is different from the English convention of starting on Sunday.

Months of the Year in Czech

There are twelve months in Czech, similar to English, but the names are different and are not capitalized in normal text.

• Leden (January)
• Únor (February)
• Březen (March)
• Duben (April)
• Květen (May)
• Červen (June)
• Červenec (July)
• Srpen (August)
• Září (September)
• Říjen (October)
• Listopad (November)
• Prosinec (December)

When writing dates, the day usually precedes the month, for example: 5. května (5th of May).

Seasons in Czech

Czech has four seasons, each with its own name. These are commonly used in conversation and weather reports.

• Jaro (Spring)
• Léto (Summer)
• Podzim (Autumn/Fall)
• Zima (Winter)

Seasons are also not capitalized unless they begin a sentence.

Using Time Expressions in Sentences

Here are some examples of how to use days, months, and seasons in Czech sentences:

• Dnes je pondělí. (Today is Monday.)
• Narodil jsem se v červenci. (I was born in July.)
• V zimě je často sníh. (It often snows in winter.)

Pronunciation Tips

Czech pronunciation can be challenging. Here are some tips for pronouncing time expressions:

• The letter 'č' is pronounced like 'ch' in 'chocolate'.
• The letter 'ř' is a unique Czech sound, somewhat like a rolled 'r' combined with 'zh'.
• Stress is usually on the first syllable of the word.