What are vegetables like in Czech?/Jaká je zelenina? (S02/E19 – daily podcast CZECH YOUR DAY)

THIS WEEK’S TOPIC: ZELENINA/VEGETABLES

THE TRANSCRIPT/HANDOUT IS DOWN BELOW

Essential Czech Vegetable Qualities and Their Meanings

We’ll explore the adjectives that describe these essential qualities:

• Sladká (Sweet)
• Kyselá (Sour)
• Slaná (Salty)
• Hořká (Bitter)
• Zralá (Ripe)
• Nezralá (Unripe)
• Velká (Big)
• Malá (Small)
• Levná (Cheap)
• Drahá (Expensive)

Example Sentences

Here are some example sentences with their English translations to help solidify your understanding:

• Jaká JE zelenina? Zelenina JE sladká. (What ARE the veggies like? The vegetables ARE sweet.)
• Zelenina je kyselá.
• Zelenina je slaná.
• Zelenina je hořká.
• Zelenina je zralá.
• Zelenina je nezralá.
• Zelenina je velká.
• Zelenina je malá.
• Zelenina je levná.
• Zelenina je drahá.

Deep Dive into Examples with Common Vegetables

I have created sentences with veggies from Monday’s episode:

• Jaká zelenina je sladká? (What vegetable is sweet?)
  • Sladká je kukuřice a červená paprika. (Sweet is corn and red pepper.)
  • Sladké jsou batáty, to znamená sladké brambory. (Sweet is sweet potatoes, which means sweet potatoes in Czech.)
  • Je mrkev a dýně. (It is carrot and pumpkin.)
  • Sladká je červená řepa. (Sweet is beetroot.)
• Jaká zelenina je kyselá? (What vegetable is sour?)
  • Kyselé je kysané zelí. (Sour is sauerkraut.)
• Jaká zelenina je hořká? (What vegetable is bitter?)
  • Hořká je kapusta. (Bitter is cabbage.)
  • Hořká je rukola, hořký je lilek, někdy je hořká okurka. (Bitter is arugula, bitter is eggplant, sometimes cucumber is bitter.)
• Jaká zelenina je velká? (What vegetable is big?)
  • Velký je květák, velká je brokolice. (Cauliflower is big; broccoli is big.)
  • Velké je bílé a červené zelí. (White and red cabbage are big.)
• Jaká zelenina je levná? (What vegetable is cheap?)
  • Levná je mrkev. (Cheap is carrot.)
  • Levné je zelí. (Cheap is cabbage.)
  • V létě jsou levné cukety. (In summer, zucchinis are cheap.)
• Jaká zelenina je drahá? (What vegetable is expensive?)
  • V zimě jsou drahé okurky, rajčata a papriky. (In winter, cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers are expensive.)

As you practice these expressions, focus on details like the endings of adjectives, which change based on the gender and plurality of the noun, such as:

• VELKÝ KVĚTÁK (big cauliflower), used when masculine singular
• VELKÁ DÝNĚ (big pumpkin), used when feminine singular
• KYSELÉ ZELÍ (sour cabbage), used when neutral singular

Check the plural:

• VELKÉ KVĚTÁKY (big cauliflowers) – masculine plural
• ČERVENÉ PAPRIKY (red peppers) – feminine plural
• SLADKÁ RAJČATA (sweet tomatoes) – to rajče x ta rajčata – neutral plural