Episode 49 (daily podcast CZECH YOUR DAY) transcript included

THIS WEEK’S TOPIC: MONTHS/MĚSÍCE

THE TRANSCRIPT/HANDOUT IS DOWN BELOW

This week’s theme is months, but today, we focus on something equally exciting—expressing future plans in Czech. Previously, we learned how to talk about months, like September and January, and understand the origins of Czech month names. Now, let’s explore how to express actions related to going, traveling, and flying in the future.

Diving into Czech Verbs

We highlight three key verbs frequently used when planning in Czech: JÍT (to go on foot), JET (to go by means of transport), and LETĚT (to fly). Unlike most future tense expressions, these do not use „BUDU“ but instead, have their own specific forms:

1. JÍT – to go on foot
2. Já jdu
   • I am going on foot.
3. Já půjdu
   • I will go on foot (once)
4. Kam půjdeš odpoledne?
   • Where will you go in the afternoon?
5. Kdy půjdeš na návštěvu k babičce?
   • When will you go for a visit to grandma?
6. Půjdu k babičce zítra v poledne.
   • I’m going to Grandma’s tomorrow at noon.
7. Babička mě pozvala na oběd.
   • Grandma invited me to lunch.
8. JET – to go by means of transport
9. Já jedu
   • I am going by means of transport.
10. Já pojedu
    • I will go by means of transport (once).
11. Kdy pojedeš na dovolenou?
    • When will you go on holiday?
12. A kam pojedeš na dovolenou?
    • And where will you go on holiday?
13. Pojedu na Bali.
    • I will go to Bali.
14. LETĚT – to fly
15. Já letím
    • I am flying.
16. Já poletím
    • I will fly (once)
17. Kdy poletíš na Bali?
    • When will you fly to Bali?
18. Na Bali poletím v srpnu.
    • I will fly to Bali in August.
19. A jak dlouho poletíš na Bali?
    • And how long will you fly to Bali?
20. Poletím sedmnáct a půl hodiny. To je krátký let.
    • I will fly 17 and a half hours. That’s a short flight.

Understanding Special Verb Forms

These verbs belong to a unique group. For „to go on foot,“ use the prefix PŮ- alongside present forms, e.g., JÁ JDU becomes JÁ PŮJDU. For „to go by transport“ and „to fly,“ employ PO- as the prefix—thus JÁ JEDU becomes JÁ POJEDU and JÁ LETÍM becomes JÁ POLETÍM.