Noun Declensions

Learn patterns, not random words

Why Learn Declension Patterns?

Czech has 7 cases and dozens of noun types, but they follow predictable patterns. Instead of memorizing each noun individually, learn the 6 core patterns and you can decline hundreds of nouns correctly.

The key insight: the genitive singular ending tells you which pattern a noun follows. Once you know the pattern, you know all the cases.

Czech Noun Genders

Masculine Animate

rod mužský životný

Masculine Inanimate

rod mužský neživotný

Feminine

rod ženský

Neuter

rod střední

Note: Masculine splits into animate (people, animals) and inanimate (things) — they decline differently in accusative case.

Declension Patterns

Masculine Patterns

Masculine Animate (Hard)

Model: pán

Masculine Animate

Nom sg.

-∅

Gen sg.

-a

Masculine nouns referring to people or animals, ending in a hard consonant (not -e, -í). The genitive singular ends in -a.

studentučitelpesbratr+1 more

Masculine Inanimate (Hard)

Model: hrad

Masculine Inanimate

Nom sg.

-∅

Gen sg.

-u

Masculine nouns referring to things/concepts, ending in a hard consonant. The genitive singular ends in -u (or sometimes -a for older/formal words).

důmstůltelefonpočítač+1 more

Feminine Patterns

Feminine -a

Model: žena

Feminine

Nom sg.

-a

Gen sg.

-y

Nouns ending in -a in nominative singular. This is the largest and most regular feminine pattern.

ženaknihaškolasestra+1 more

Feminine -e

Model: růže

Feminine

Nom sg.

-e

Gen sg.

-e

Nouns ending in -e (or consonant like -c, -z, -s, -š, -ž, -č, -ř, -ň, -j). These are 'soft' feminine nouns with different endings than -a feminines.

uliceprácerestauracekancelář+1 more

Neuter Patterns

Neuter -o

Model: město

Neuter

Nom sg.

-o

Gen sg.

-a

Nouns ending in -o in nominative singular. This includes many international words (auto, rádio, metro).

městoautooknoslovo+1 more

Neuter -í

Model: stavení

Neuter

Nom sg.

-í

Gen sg.

-í

Nouns ending in -í in nominative singular. These are completely invariable in singular—all cases use the same -í form.

nádražínáměstíletištěmoře+1 more

The 4 Core Cases

Czech has 7 cases, but these 4 cover most everyday situations. Master these first.

Nominative

1. pád (nominativ)

Question: Kdo? Co? (Who? What?)

•Subject of a sentence (who/what does the action)
•After 'to je' (this is) and 'být' (to be)

Genitive

2. pád (genitiv)

Question: Koho? Čeho? (Of whom? Of what?)

•Possession (the dog's owner = majitel psa)
•After negated verbs (nemám času = I don't have time)

Common prepositions:

bezdood

Accusative

4. pád (akuzativ)

Question: Koho? Co? (Whom? What?)

•Direct object (I see the dog = Vidím psa)
•Direction with motion verbs (jdu do města = I'm going to the city)

Common prepositions:

napropřes

Dative

3. pád (dativ)

Question: Komu? Čemu? (To whom? To what?)

•Indirect object (I give the book to the student = Dávám knihu studentovi)
•Expressing age (Je mi 20 let = I am 20 years old)

Common prepositions:

k/keprotidíky

Ready to Practice?

Test your knowledge with customizable drills. Focus on one pattern or mix them for a challenge.