Genitive: A form used after bez, do, z and in quantities.

Preposition: A linking word such as v, na, s, requiring a particular case.

Adverb: A word modifying an action, such as často.

Introducing yourself and your languages

Czech has no articles. Use Jsem Němec for a man and Jsem Němka for a woman. Learn Jsem z Německa as a whole expression for now. The preposition z needs a genitive form, which we practise more later.

Languages after speaking are adverbs: mluvím česky, německy, anglicky. After knowing, use noun objects: znám češtinu, němčinu, angličtinu. To ask for help, use Nerozumím. Pomalu, prosím. Ještě jednou, prosím.

• Mluvím česky.I speak Czech.

• Jsem z Německa.I am from Germany.

• Znám češtinu.I know Czech.

• Nerozumím. Pomalu, prosím.I do not understand. Slowly, please.

The Czech alphabet

Czech writing uses these letters (including letters used in foreign names): a, á, b, c, č, d, ď, e, é, ě, f, g, h, ch, i, í, j, k, l, m, n, ň, o, ó, p, q, r, ř, s, š, t, ť, u, ú, ů, v, w, x, y, ý, z, ž. The two letters ch form one alphabet entry after h. The letters q, w, x mainly appear in foreign words and names.

Long vowels have a mark: á, é, í, ó, ú, ů, ý. Long vowels are held longer; ú and ů have the same sound. Marks on consonants distinguish sounds, as in c/č, s/š, z/ž, r/ř, d/ď, t/ť, n/ň. Keep the marks when writing a name. The letter ě changes how the preceding consonant is pronounced and is not simply a long vowel.