How to address people
You must change the form of a person's name when you are speaking directly to them, i.e. addressing them. If you learn no other grammar for Czech, learn this. It feels very different for a Czech to be addressed properly, even if you're using English for other communication.
Men
|
Ending |
=> |
Address |
Examples |
|
-b, -d, -f, -l, -n, -p, -r, -t, -v |
+ |
-e |
Michal => Michale, Martin => Martine |
|
-CeC (only the above) |
=> |
-CCe |
Karel=> Karle, Pavel=> Pavle |
|
-Cr |
=> |
-Cř |
Petr=> Petře |
|
-č, -š, -ř, -ž, -j, -c, -s |
+ |
-i |
Tomáš=> Tomáši, Lukáš => Lukáši, |
|
-k, -h, -ch, -g |
+ |
-u |
Dominik=> Dominiku, Jindřich=> Jindřichu |
|
-a |
=> |
-o |
Jirka=> Jirko, Honza=> Honzo, Franta=> Franto |
Women
|
Ending |
=> |
Address |
Examples |
|
-a |
=> |
-o |
Jana=> Jano, Katka=> Katko, Veronika=> Veroniko |
|
-e |
= |
-e |
Lucie => Lucie, Marie => Marie |
|
any nocsonant |
= |
no change |
Karin => Karin, Dagmar => Dagmar |
How to address people with academic titles
Czechs are proud of their academic achievements and do their utmost to advertise them. For that purpose, Czech uses a variety of acronyms that can precede or be appended to a person's name. These are the most common titles ranked more or less by importance.
|
Mgr. |
magistr - MA |
RNDr. |
doktor - sciences specialization |
|
Ing. |
inženýr - MSc |
CSc. |
kandidát věd -after name, not awarded now |
|
PhDr. |
doktor - PhD, general |
DrSc. |
doktor věd -after name, not awarded now |
|
JUDr. |
doktor - legal specialization |
Doc. |
docent - associate professor independent of a school |
|
MUDr. |
doktor - medical doctor |
Prof. |
profesor - professor independent of a school |
When addressing a person with an academic title use the polite Mr. or Mrs. with the title without the name.
|
Men: |
|
Women: |
|
|
Mgr. Kovanda |
pane magistře |
Mgr. Reslová |
paní magistro |
|
dr. Novák |
pane doktore |
PhDr. Nováková |
paní doktorko |
|
ing. Pinc |
pane inženýre |
ing. Pincová |
paní inženýrko |
|
doc. Šebák |
pane docente |
doc. Šebáková |
paní docentko |
|
prof. Machovec |
pane profesore |
prof. Machovec |
paní profesorko |
Note: When you're speaking with a person in English, you don't have to use their title but it is not inappropriate to do so.
