From KVĚTÁK to OKURKA: Vegetables in Czech (S02/E16 – daily podcast CZECH YOUR DAY)

THIS WEEK’S TOPIC: ZELENINA/VEGETABLES

THE TRANSCRIPT/HANDOUT IS DOWN BELOW

Let’s Learn Veggies in Czech

I will list some common vegetables with their English counterparts. First, just listen. Then, when only the Czech terms are shared at normal speed, try shadowing me to practice pronunciation. Don’t worry—if you’re new here, we’ll start slow. Here are your veggies in Czech:

• Květák (Cauliflower)
• Lilek (Aubergine or Eggplant)
• Batát (Sweet Potato)
• Batáty (Sweet Potatoes)
• Okurka (Cucumber)
• Okurky (Cucumbers)
• Cuketa (Zucchini)
• Cukety (Zucchinis)
• Brambora (Potato)
• Brambory (Potatoes)
• Kapusta (Kale)
• Rukola (Rocket or Arugula)
• Červená paprika (Red Pepper)
• Žlutá paprika (Yellow Pepper)
• Zelená paprika (Green Pepper)
• Papriky (Peppers)
• Červená řepa (Beetroot)
• Mrkev (Carrot)
• Brokolice (Broccoli)
• Dýně (Pumpkin)
• Kukuřice (Corn)
• Červené zelí (Red Cabbage)
• Bílé zelí (White Cabbage)
• Zelí (Cabbage)
• Rajče (Tomato)
• Rajčata (Tomatoes)

Sentences and Forms

Let’s build on this by using sentences. You’ll see „to je“ for singular, and „to jsou“ for plural.

Plus, discover the use of gendered words JEDEN (masculine), JEDNA (feminine), and JEDNO (neuter):

• To je jeden květák. (This is one cauliflower.)
• To je jeden lilek. (This is one aubergine.)
• To je jeden batát. (This is one sweet potato.) To jsou batáty. (These are sweet potatoes.)
• To je jedna brambora. (This is one potato.) To jsou brambory. (These are potatoes.)
• To je jedna okurka. (This is one cucumber.) To jsou okurky. (These are cucumbers.)
• To je jedna cuketa. (This is one zucchini.) To jsou cukety. (These are zucchinis.)
• To je jedna kapusta. (This is one kale.)
• To je jedna rukola. (This is one rocket/arugula.)
• To je jedna červená paprika. (This is one red pepper.)
• To je jedna žlutá paprika. (This is one yellow pepper.)
• To je jedna zelená paprika. (This is one green pepper.) To jsou papriky. (These are peppers.)
• To je jedna červená řepa. (This is one beetroot.)
• To je jedna mrkev. (This is one carrot.)
• To je jedna brokolice. (This is one broccoli.)
• To je jedna dýně. (This is one pumpkin.)
• To je jedna kukuřice. (This is one corn.)
• To je jedno červené zelí. (This is one red cabbage.)
• To je jedno bílé zelí. (This is one white cabbage.) To je jedno zelí. (This is one cabbage.)
• To je jedno rajče. (This is one tomato.) To jsou rajčata. (These are tomatoes.)

Would you like more?

Check these episodes:

• #17: Savoring Czech: Do You Like It? Exploring Food Preferences (Co ti chutná?)
• #18: Understanding Czech People in Real Life – One of the Goals in Season 2
• #19: What are veggies like in Czech? (ZELENINA JE SLADKÁ, HOŘKÁ, KYSELÁ, DRAHÁ,…)
• #20: Czech Your Taste: 2 Veggie Dialogues