Czech Genealogical Word List

Czech
This list contains Czech words with their English translations. The words included here are those that you are likely to find in genealogical sources. If the word (or some form of it) that you are looking for is not on this list, please consult a Czech-English dictionary. (See the "Additional Resources" section.) Czech is a Slavic language derived from the West Slavic language family. Czech is related to Slovak and Polish and is used in the genealogical sources throughout the Czech Republic. Czech is the language of the Czech Republic and was the official language in the Czech lands of Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia in the former Czechoslovakia. In addition, the Czech language may be found in the records of Czech communities in the United States, Canada, and other areas settled by Czechs. Before 1918, the Czech lands were provinces of Austria, which, together with Hungary, constituted the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Records written before 1918 may be in German, Latin, or Czech. Czech records often contain German and Latin words. See the German Genealogical Word Listand the Latin Genealogical Word List.

The Czech Alphabet
NOTE: the letter combination “CH" is treated as a single character and is alphabetized after the letter “H”

Variant Forms of Words
In Czech, the forms of most words will vary according to how they are used in a sentence. Who, whose, whom, or marry, marries, marriedare examples of words in English with variant forms. In Czech, any word may have different forms, depending on how it is used. This word list gives the standard form of each Czech word. The endings of Czech words in a document often differ from what you find in this list.

Surnames. Surnames will have the added ending -ováor -áif the person referred to is female:

Gender.Czech words for persons, places, and things (nouns) are classified as masculine, feminine, or neuter. Adjectives used to describe the singular and plural forms of Czech words must have the proper masculine, feminine, or neuter endings:

This word list gives only the singular masculine form of adjectives. Thus, starý, stará, staré,and sta_í(all forms of “old”) are listed as starý.The endings of past tense verbs also change, depending on the gender and number of the subject:

This word list gives only the narodil se(“he was born”) form of the past tense verb. You can conclude that narodila semeans “she was born,” etc.

Plurals.Plural forms of Czech words usually change the singular word:

Words ending in -achange to -y:


 * ženawife ž'eny'''wives

Words ending in -ochange to -a:


 * m'ě'stocity m'ě'stacities

Words ending in -eand -ído not change:


 * ulicestreet ulicestreets

Words ending in a consonant add -y.A few words add -i, -ové,or -eto form the plural:


 * listpage listypages
 * muž husband muž'i'''husbands

The plural form may change the basic word:


 * dítě child d'ě'tichildren
 * bratrbrother brat_ibrothers
 * zámekpalace zámkypalaces

Grammatical Use.The endings of Czech words can also vary, depending on the grammatical use of the words. Czech grammar requires a different ending for a word used as a subject, a possessive, an object, or with a preposition. Czech words fall into several classes, each with its own set of grammatical endings. Certain possessive endings give the meaning “of” to a word. Nouns change the endings to show possession. Nouns ending with a consonant add -aor -e:

'


 * bratrbrother bratraof brother


 * muž husband muž'e'''of husband

Nouns ending with -aadd -y:


 * sestrasister sestryof sister

Nouns ending with -oadd -a:


 * m'ě'stocity m'ě'staof city

Plural masculine nouns change to -_ : 


 * muž'i'husband mu''ž_ of husbands

Plural feminine or neuter nouns drop the last vowel:


 * ženywife ž'en'''of wives

Adjectives change the endings to show possession. Adjectives ending in -ýchange to -ého:


 * narozenýborn narozenéhoof the born

Adjectives ending in -áchange to -é:


 * k_t_nábaptized k_t_néof the baptized

Adjectives ending in -échange to -ého:


 * neznáméunknown neznáméhoof the unknown

Adjectives ending in -íchange to -ího:


 * prvnífirst prvníhoof the first

Plural adjectives ending in -ýor -íadd -ch:


 * zem_elýdeceased zem_elýchof the deceased


 * erbovníheraldic erbovníchof the heraldic

These examples show some endings in context:


 * Syn zem_elého Josefa Nováka a Anny Plevovémeans “son of the deceased Josef Novák and of Anna Plevová (Pleva).”
 * Manž'elství mezi Karlem Václavem Havlem a Barborou Marií Kozárovou'''means “marriage between Karel Václav Havel and Barbora Marie Kozárová (Kozár).”

Alphabetical Order

Written Czech uses several letters in addition to the 26 letters used in the English alphabet: á, _, _,

é, ě, í, _, ó, _, š, _, ú, _, ý, ž. The letter combination chis also considered a single letter and is alphabetized after h. Letters q, w,and xare used only in words of foreign origin. Czech dictionaries and indexes use the following alphabetical order:

a,á b c,_ d,_ e,é,ě f g h ch i,í j k l m n, _ o,ó p (q) r,_ s,š t,_ u,ú,_ v (w) ( x) y,ý z,ž

This word list follows the standard English alphabetical order. However, when you work with alphabetized Czech records, use the Czech alphabetical order.

Spelling

Spelling rules were not standardized in earlier centuries. In Czech, the following spelling variations are common:


 * i, y,and jused interchangeably
 * sand zused interchangeably
 * wused for v
 * rzused for _
 * szused for š
 * czused for _

Czech is a phonetic language, which means words are pronounced as they are written.

Additional Resources
This word list includes the words most commonly found in genealogical sources. For further help, use a Czech-English dictionary. Several are available at the Family History Library in the European collection. The call numbers begin with 491.86321. The following dictionary is helpful when you do genealogical research and is available through most bookstores which carry Czech books:


 * Poldauf, Ivan. Anglicko-_eský a_esko-anglický slovník(English-Czech and Czech-English Dictionary). Praha: Státní Pedagogické

Nakladatalství, 1971. (FHL book 491.86321 P757a)

The following dictionary is also available on microfilm and microfiche for use in Family History Centers:


 * Cheshire, Harold T. esko-anglický slovník(Czech-English Dictionary). Praha: J. Otto, 1935. (FHL book 491.86321 C424c; film

1181683 item 1-2; fiche 6001286-6001287).

Additional dictionaries are listed in the Subject section of the Family History Library Catalog under CZECH LANGUAGE—DICTIONARIES or in the Locality section under CZECH REPUBLIC—LANGUAGE AND LANGUAGES. These include other dictionaries and language helps, such as Czech grammar books.

Key Words
In order to find and use specific types of Czech records, you will need to know some key words in Czech. This section gives key genealogical terms in English with Czech translations. For example, in the first column you will find the English word marriage. In the second column you will find Czech words with meanings such as marry, marriage, wedding, wedlock, unite, legitimate, joined, and other words used in Czech records to indicate marriage.

English Czech

baptism, baptisms k_est, k_ty, k_estní, k_tít,

k_til, pok_til

birth, births narození, narozený,

rodný, narodil se

burial, burials poh_eb, poh_by

Catholic _ímsko-katolický

census s_ítání lidu

child dítě, děcko, dě_átko

christenings (see baptism)

civil registry státní matriky

death, deaths úmrtí, smrt, úmrtní,

um_el, zem_ít, zem_el,

zesnul, skonal

father otec, otcové, otce, táta,

ta_ka,tatík, tatínek

husband manžel, cho_, mu_

index seznam, rejst_ík, index

Jewish židovský

marriage, marriages s_atek, s_atky,

manželství, svatba,

oddavky, oddací,

oddaný, oddat,

oženil se (man), vdala se (woman)

military vojsko, vojenský

month měsíc

mother matka, matky, máma,

mamka, maminka

name, given (k_estní) jméno

name, surname p_íjmení, rodné jméno, vlastní jméno

parent, parents rodi_, rodi_e

parish farnost, fara

Protestant protestant

wife manželka, cho_, žena

year rok

General Word List
This general word list includes words commonly seen in genealogical sources. Numbers, months, and days of the week are listed both here and in separate sections that follow this list. In this list, optional versions of Czech words or variable endings (such as some plural or feminine endings) are given in parentheses. Some Czech phrases and their translations are listed [in brackets] under the most significant Czech word, not the first word, of the phrase. Words in parentheses in the English column clarify the definition.

Czech English

A

a and

aby so that

adoptovaný adopted

adresá_ directory

ale but

ani not even

archív archive

asi perhaps, about, maybe,

circa

atd. and so forth

B

bába (babina, babi_ka) grandmother

badatel researcher

bakalá_ student

bará_ník cottager

barví_ dyer

běhavka diarrhea

běloruský Belorussian

berní ruly tax lists

bez without

bezdětný childless

bezejmenný unnamed, nameless

bílý white

bi_mování confirmations

biskup bishop

blízký near

blížn_, blíž_ata twin, twins

bolest pain

Boží the Lord’s

bratr, brat_i brother, brothers

bratranec cousin (male)

b_ezen March

bude he will, she will, it will

budou they will

B_h the Lord

bydlící residing

bydlišt_ residence

byl, byla, bylo was

byli, byly were

být to be

bývalý former, the late (deceased)

C,_

_. (_íslo) number

_as time

_asopis magazine, periodical

_ást part, portion

_asto often

cech guild

celý entire

census census

_erný black

_erven June

_ervenec July

_ervený red

_eský Czech, Bohemian

cesta road

cestovní pas passport

chalupník cottager, poor peasant

chce he wants

chlap peasant, country fellow

chlapec boy

choroba disease

cho_ spouse

cihlá_ brick maker

cikán gypsy

církev church

císa_ský imperial

císa_ství empire

cizí foreign, strange

cizozemský foreign

_len member

co what

_trnáct(ý) fourteen (fourteenth)

_tvrtek Thursday

_tvrtláník farmer (quarter-land

holder)

_tvrtý fourth

_ty_i four

_ty_icátý fortieth

_ty_icet forty

_ty_i sta four hundred

_ty_stý four hundredth

cukrovka diabetes

D,_

dan_ taxation

dar donation

datum date

dcera, dcery daughter, daughters

děcko child

děd (děda, dědek,

děde_ek)

grandfather, old man

dědic heir

dědictví heritage, inheritance

dějiny history

děkanát deanery, division of a

diocese

dělník laborer, worker

den day

desátek tithing

desátý tenth

deset ten

dě_átko little child

děti children

devadesát(ý) ninety (ninetieth)

devatenáct(ý) nineteen (nineteenth)

devátý ninth

d_v_e (d_v_ina) girl

devět nine

devět set nine hundred

devítistý nine hundredth

díl portion, share, volume

diecéze diocese

dítě child

dítěte of the child

dívka (dív_ina) girl

dle according to

dlouhý long

dne on the day

dnes today

dnešní today's

do to, into

doba time, period

dobrý good

dodatek supplement, addition

doklad document

dolní lower

doma at home

domká_ cottager

domovský list residency certificate

dopis letter, correspondence

d_íve previously

d_ív_jší former

druhého on the second

druhopis duplicate

druhý second

duben April

d_chodce pensioner

d_kaz proof

d_m house

duplikát duplicate

dva two

dvacátý twentieth

dvacátý _tvrtý twenty-fourth

dvacátý devátý twenty-ninth

dvacátý druhý twenty-second

dvacátý osmý twenty-eighth

dvacátý pátý twenty-fifth

dvacátý první twenty-first

dvacátý sedmý twenty-seventh

dvacátý šestý twenty-sixth

dvacátý t_etí twenty-third

dvacet twenty

dvacet _ty_i twenty-four

dvacet devět twenty-nine

dvacet dva twenty-two

dvacet jeden twenty-one

dvacet osm twenty-eight

dvacet pět twenty-five

dvacet sedm twenty-seven

dvacet šest twenty-six

dvacet t_i twenty-three

dvanáct(ý) twelve (twelfth)

dvě two

dvě stě two hundred

dvoj_e, dvoj_ata twin, twins

dvoustý two hundredth

dv_r court

E

emigrace emigration

erb coat of arms

erbovní heraldic

erbovnictví heraldry

evangelický Evangelical, Lutheran,

Protestant

F

fara parish

fará_ pastor, parish priest

farní ú_ad parish office

farnost parish

G

genealogický strom family tree

genealogie genealogy

grunt family property

gruntovní knihy land records

gruntovník farmer, land holder

gubernie Russian province

H

haví_ coal miner

heraldika heraldry

historie history

hlavní main

ho him

hodina hour

hodný worthy

holi_ barber

hora mountain, hill

hore_ka fever

horní upper

horník miner

hospodá_ farmer (self sustaining)

hospodá_ství farm

hostinský innkeeper

hrad castle

hranice border, boundary

h_bitov cemetery

hrob grave

hrn_í_ potter

I

i and

imigrace immigration

informace information

J

jak how, as

jako as, like

jaký what kind of

jazyk language

je he is, she is, it is

jeden, -na, -no a, an, one

jedenáct(ý) eleven (eleventh)

jediná_ek the only child

jeho his, its

její her

jejich their

jen only, just

ještě still, yet

ještě ne not yet

jezero lake

jih south

jinak té_ alias

jindy at another time

jiný other, different

jitro morning

ji_ already

jméno given name

jmenovit_ that means, namely

jsou they are

K

k to, for

kalendá_ calendar

kam to where

kameník mason

kaple chapel

kašel cough

katolický Catholic

kazatel preacher

každý each, every

kde where

kdo who

kdy (když) when

kilometr kilometer

klášter convent, monastery

klempí_ tinsmith

kmotr godfather

kmotra godmother

kmot_i godparents

kn_z priest

kniha, knihy book, books

knihovna library

koho whom

kojenec suckling

kolem about, approximately

kominík chimney sweep

konec end

kone_ný final, last

konto account

konverze conversion

kostel church

koupil he bought

ková_ smith

koželuh tanner

kraj region, area

král king

královna queen

královský royal

království kingdom

-krát times

k_e_e cramps, convulsions

krej_í tailor (male)

k_est christening, baptism

k_estní jméno given name

k_estní list christening (baptismal) certificate

krevní blood relation

kronika, kroniky chronicle, chronicles

k_t_nec the one christened, baptized

k_t_ný christened, baptized

k_til have christened, baptized

k_tu of the christening

k_ty christenings, baptisms

krvácení bleeding, hemorrhage

který who, which

kupec shopkeeper, merchant

kumšt trade, occupation

kv_ten May

L

lán a measure of land

laník landholder

latinský Latin

lázn_ spa, spring, bath

leden January

léka_ physician

les forest, woods

lesník forester

léta (let) years

letopo_et date

letos this year

levobo_ek illegitimate child

levý left

lidé (lid) people

list certificate, page

listina legal document

listopad November

lo_ ship, boat

loni last year

lože status of legitimacy, bed

lože manželské legitimate

lože nemanželské illegitimate

M

má he has, she has, it has

macecha stepmother

ma_arský Hungarian

majetek property

majetný wealthy, property owning

mají they have

malí_ painter

malý small, little

máma (matka, mamka, maminka) mother

manžel husband

manželé married couple

manželka wife

manželský legitimate

manželství marriage

mapa map

matrika, matriky vital records, church records, parish registers

matrika narozených birth register

matrika oddaných marriage register

matrika zem_elých death register

m_l, -a, -o he had, she had, it had

menší lesser, smaller, shorter

m_síc month

m_š_an burgher, citizen

m_sto town, city

mezi between

místní local

místo place, locality

místo bydlišt_ place of residence

místopisný slovník gazetteer

mistr master craftsman

mít to have

ml. (mladší) younger, junior

mládenec young man [starý

mládenec = bachelor]

mladý young

mlýn mill

mlyná_ miller

modlitba prayer

modrý blue

moravský Moravian

most bridge

mrtv_ narozený stillborn

mrtvý dead

mu to him

muž man, husband

mužský male

myslivec hunter

N

na on, at, around

náboženství religion

nad on the, above, upon

nádeník day worker, day laborer

náhrobek gravestone

nájemník renter

nalezenec foundling

nám to us

nar. birth, was born

narodil se was born

národní national

narození birth

narozený born

nás us

náš (naše) our

následující next

ne (ne-) no, not

nebo or

nebo_tík the deceased

nedaleko not far from

ned_le Sunday

nedostatek lack of

nejmladší youngest

nejstarší oldest, eldest

nekatolík non-Catholic

nemanželský illegitimate

n_mecký German

nemluvn_ infant

nemoc disease

není is not

neštovice small pox

nete_ niece

neuvedeno not mentioned

nev_sta bride

nevlastní step- (as in stepmother

stepsister, and so forth)

nevolník vassal, serf

nevyskytuje se does not appear

nezletilý not of legal age, minor

neznámý unknown

nic nothing

nikdy never

nízký low, short

niž_í lower

noc night

novomanželé newlyweds

novorozenec newborn

nový new

nyn_jší this, the present

O

o about, concerning

oba (ob_) both

ob_an citizen

ob_anství citizenship

obchodník merchant

obdržel received

obec, obce community, communities

oblastní archív regional archive

ob_ad rite, ceremony

ob_ezání (ob_ízka) circumcision

obsah content

obuvník shoemaker

obyvatel inhabitant, resident, citizen

obyvatelstvo population

od from, since

odbytý performed

oddací list marriage certificate

oddací matrika marriage register

oddaný married

oddat to marry

oddavky marriage

odkud from where

odpoledne in the afternoon

odpov_d_t to reply

ohlášený announced, published

ohlášky banns

okam_it_ right away, immediately

okolo about, around

okres district, county

on, -a, -o, -i, -y he, she, it, they

osada community

osm(ý) eight (eighth)

osmdesát(ý) eighty (eightieth)

osmistý eight hundredth

osmnáct(ý) eighteen (eighteenth)

osm set eight hundred

osoba person

osobní personal

ot_ím stepfather

otec, otcové father, fathers

ov_ák shepherd

ovdov_lá widowed

ovdov_lý widowered

ožen_ný married (man)

oženil se married a woman

P

pacholek farm servant

padesát(ý) fifty (fiftieth)

pan sir, Mr., Lord

paní lady, Mrs.

panna maiden, Miss, virgin

[stará panna = old

maiden, spinster]

pastý_ herdsman

pátek Friday

patnáct(ý) fifteen, fifteenth

patrimoniální knihy patrimonial books

pátý fifth

pe_e_ seal

peka_ baker

p_stoun foster father

p_stounka foster mother

p_t five

p_tistý five hundredth

p_t set five hundred

pevnost fortress

písa_ scribe

plnoletnost age of consent, legal age, majority

plnoletý of legal age

plný full, complete

po (potom) after

pobyt residence

pochovat buried

pod under

poddaný serf

podepsaný the undersigned

podle according to

podobný similar

podpis signature

podpora assistance

podruh farm laborer

pohlaví gender, sex

poh_bený buried

poh_eb, poh_by burial, burials

pohrobek posthumous child

pok_t_ný christened

pok_til have christened, baptized

poledne noon

polský Polish

pomoc help

pond_lí Monday

popálenina burn

popis description

poplatek fee, cost

populace population

porod childbirth, labor

porodní bába midwife

poru_ník guardian

poslední final, last

poslední pomazání last rites

poslední v_le last will, testament

potok stream

potomek descendant

povolání occupation, profession

povolení permission

požehnání blessing

pozemkové knihy land books

poznámky remarks

poz_stalý left behind, surviving

pra- greatprabába

(prababi_ka) great-grandmother

pracovitý diligent, hard working

prad_da (prad_de_ek) great-grandfather

prarodi_e grandparents

prastrýc great uncle

prateta great aunt

pravd_podobn_ in all likelihood, probably

právní legal

právo law

pravoslavný orthodox

pravý right, true

pražský pertaining to Prague

p_ed before, in front of

p_edek ancestor

p_edešlý previous

p_edev_írem day before yesterday

p_edtím before

p_esn_ exactly

p_ibli_ný approximate

p_íbuzný related, relative

p_í_ina cause, reason

p_íjmení surname, last name

p_íslušnost relationship

p_íslušný appropriate

p_íští next

p_ítel friend (male)

p_ítelkyn_ friend (female)

p_ítomnost presence

p_ízvisko surname

pro for

pro_ why

prohlášení statement

prosba request

prosíme we request

prosinec December

protestantský Protestant

proti against

proto_e because

provdala se she married

pr_jem diarrhea

pruský Prussian

první first

prvorozený firstborn

prý said to be

psát to write

p_l half

p_lláník farmer (half-land holder)

p_lnoc midnight

p_vod origin, parentage

R,_

r. (roku) year

radnice city hall

rakouský Austrian

rakovina cancer

ráno in the morning

rejst_ík list, index

_eka river

_emeslník tradesman

_emeslo trade

rešerše genealogical research

_ezník butcher

_íjen October

_ímsko-katolický Roman Catholic

robotník laborer, vassal

ro_. (ro_ník) year (of book)

roce year

ro_ní annual

rod family, clan, descent,

lineage

rodem maiden name

rodi_, rodi_e parent, parents

rodina family

rodišt_ birthplace

rodná matrika birth register

rodné jméno surname

rodný list birth certificate

rodokmen pedigree, family tree,

lineage

rodopis genealogy

rok year

roky (rok_) years

rolník peasant

rovn__ also, too

roz. (rozená) maiden name

rozvedený divorced

rozvod divorce

ruský Russian, Ruthenian,

Ukrainian

r_zný various

rybá_ fisherman

rychtá_ village magistrate

rynek marketplace

rytí_ knight

S, Š

s, se with

samota hamlet

s_ítání lidu census

sd_lení report

sd_lujeme Vám we inform you

šedesát(ý) sixty (sixtieth)

sedlák farmer (large farm)

sedm(ý) seven (seventh)

sedmdesát(ý) seventy (seventieth)

sedmistý seven hundredth

sedmnáct(ý) seventeen (seventeenth)

sedm set seven hundred

šenký_ tavern keeper

šest(ý) six (sixth)

šestistý six hundredth

šestnáct(ý) sixteen (sixteenth)

sestra sister

sest_enice cousin (female)

šestset six hundred

sever north

seznam list, index, directory

sice namely, or

sirotek (sirota) orphan

škola school

slabost weakness, sickness

slabý weak

slavný famous

šlechta nobility

šlechtic nobleman

sle_na miss

slezský Silesian

slovenský Slovak

slovník dictionary

sluha servant (male)

služba service

služka (služebná) servant (female)

smlouva contract, agreement

smrt death

snacha daughter-in-law

snad perhaps

s_atek, s_atky marriage, marriages

snoubenec fiancé, betrothed, groom

snoubenka fiancée, betrothed, bride

sobota Saturday

souchotiny consumption

soud court

soudce judge

souhlas consent

sourozenci siblings; brothers and

sisters

soused, sousedé neighbor, neighbors

spála scarlet fever

spalni_ky measles

spole_n_ together

spole_nost society

srpen August

stará panna old maid, spinster

staroba old age

starosta mayor

starší older, elder, senior

starý old

starý mládenec bachelor

stát state

statek farm

státní matriky civil registry

stav marital status, condition

sto hundred

stola_ cabinet maker

století century

str. (strana) page, side

st_ed, -ní central, middle, average

st_eda Wednesday

strýc uncle

stý one hundredth

sv. (svazek) volume, number

švadlena seamstress

švagr brother-in-law

švagrová sister-in-law

svatba wedding

svatební marital, of marriage

svatební oznámení wedding announcement

svátek holiday

svatý holy

švec shoemaker

sv_dek witness

svobodný unmarried, single

svolení consent

sv_j, svá, své his own, her own

syn, synové son, sons

synagóga synagogue

synovec nephew

T,_

tady here

tak zvaný so called

také also

tam there

tam_jší of that place

táta (tatík, ta_ka,

tatínek)

father

tchán father-in-law

tchýn_ mother-in-law

t_hotenství pregnancy

t_hotná pregnant

tesa_ carpenter

teta aunt

tisíc(í) one thousand (one

thousandth)

titul title

tkadlec weaver

to it, this

tohoto roku of the current year

tolik so much, as much

tovaryš journeymen

t_etí third

trh (tr_išt_) market

t_i three

t_icátý thirtieth

t_icet thirty

t_ináct(ý) thirteen (thirteenth)

t_i sta three hundred

t_ístý three hundredth

truhlá_ cabinetmaker

tu here

tuberkulóza tuberculosis

týden week

týdny weeks

tyfus b_išní typhoid fever

U

u at, in

ubohý poor

u_edník (u_e_) apprentice

u_itel teacher

údaj information

údolí valley

uherský Hungarian

uhlí_ coal man

ukrajinský Ukrainian

ul. (ulice) street, road

uložený deposited

úmluva contract, agreement

um_el died

um_ít to die

úmrtí death

úmrtní list death certificate

úmrtní matrika death register

únor February

úplavice dysentery

ú_ad office

ú_edník clerk, officer

urozený of noble birth

usedlík settler

ústní verbal, oral

úterý Tuesday

uveden known

už already

už ne no longer

uzav_ení contracting (of marriage)

V

v, ve in, on, at

valach ethnic identity, shepherd

Vás you

Váš your

v_era yesterday

v_erejší yesterday’s

vdala se married a man

vdaná married (woman)

vdova widow

vdova po Jozefovi widow of Jozef

vdovec widower

ve_er in the evening

vedle next to

v_k age

velký big, great, large

velmo_ný magnate

ves village

vesnice village

vévodství duchy

viz see

vlast homeland

vlastní own, real, natural, self

vlastní jméno surname

vnu_ka granddaughter

vnuk grandson

voda water

voják soldier

vojenský military

vojsko military

vrchní upper

všechno all

v_bec ne not at all

východ east

vydaný published

vykonal performed, did,

accomplished

vým_nká_ pensioner

výpis extract

výro_í anniversary

vysoký high, tall

vyšší upper

vývod pedigree

vyznání religion

vždy always

Z,_

z, ze from, of (a place)

žadný no, none

žádost request

zahradník gardener

zákonný lawful, legal, legitimate

záme_ník locksmith

zámek palace

zam_stnání employment

západ west

zápal plic pneumonia

zá_í September

záškrt diphtheria

zasnoubení engagement (to marry)

zasnoubený betrothed, engaged

zasnoubit se to become engaged

záv__ will, testament

zde here

zdejší of this place

žebrák beggar

zedník bricklayer

zelený green

země earth

zem_d_lec peasant

zem_el died

zemské desky land tablets

žena woman, wife

ženatý married (man)

ženich bridegroom

ženský female

žesnul died

ze_ son-in-law

žid, židové Jew, Jewish

židovský Jewish

žijící living

zítra tomorrow

život life

životopis biography

žloutenka jaundice

zni_ení destruction

znovu again

zvaný called, also known as,

alias, named

Numbers
In some genealogical records, numbers are spelled out. This is especially true with dates. The following list gives the cardinal (1, 2, 3) and the ordinal (1st, 2nd, 3rd) versions of each number. In actual usage, days of the month are written in ordinal form with a possessive grammatical ending. In the following list, the ordinal number in its standard form is given first, followed by the possessive form (in some cases only the possessive ending is listed):

pátý the fifth

pátého on the fifth (of the month)

Cardinal Ordinal
1 jeden, jedna, jedno 1st první, prvního

2 dva, dvě 2nd druhý, druhého

3 t_i 3rd t_etí, t_etího

4 _ty_i 4th _tvrtý, _tvrtého

5 pět 5th pátý, pátého

6 šest 6th šestý, šestého

7 sedm 7th sedmý, sedmého

8 osm 8th osmý, osmého

9 devět 9th devátý, devátého

10 deset 10th desátý, desátého

11 jedenáct 11th jedenáctý, -ého

12 dvanáct 12th dvanáctý, -ého

13 t_ináct 13th t_ináctý, -ého

14 _trnáct 14th _trnáctý, -ého

15 patnáct 15th patnáctý, -ého

16 šestnáct 16th šestnáctý, -ého

17 sedmnáct 17th sedmnáctý, -ého

18 osmnáct 18th osmnáctý, -ého

19 devatenáct 19th devatenáctý, -ého

20 dvacet 20th dvacátý, -ého

21 dvacet jeden, -jedna,-jedno

21st dvacátý první, dvacátého prvního

22 dvacet dva 22nd dvacátý druhý, dvacátého druhého

23 dvacet t_i 23rd dvacátý t_etí, dvacátého t_etího

24 dvacet _ty_i 24th dvacátý _tvrtý, dvacátého _tvrtého

25 dvacet pět 25th dvacátý pátý, dvacátého pátého

26 dvacet šest 26th dvacátý šestý,dvacátého šestého

27 dvacet sedm 27th dvacátý sedmý, dvacátého sedmého

28 dvacet osm 28th dvacátý osmý, dvacátého osmého

29 dvacet dev_t 29th dvacátý devátý, dvacátého devátého

30 t_icet 30th t_icátý, t_icátého

40 _ty_icet 40th _ty_icátý, -ého

50 padesát 50th padesátý, -ého

60 šedesát 60th šedesátý, -ého

70 sedmdesát 70th sedmdesátý, -ého

80 osmdesát 80th osmdesátý, -ého

90 devadesát 90th devadesátý, -ého

100 sto 100th stý, -ého

200 dvěstě 200th dvoustý, -ého

300 t_ista 300th t_ístý, -ého

400 _ty_ista 400th _ty_stý, -ého

500 p_tset 500th p_tistý, -ého

600 šestset 600th šestistý, -ého

700 sedmset 700th sedmistý, -ého

800 osmset 800th osmistý, -ého

900 devětset 900th devítistý, -ého

1000 tisíc 1000th tisící, -ího

Date and Time
To understand Czech dates, use the following lists as well as the preceding “Numbers” section. In Czech records, dates are occasionally spelled out. Dates are usually given with possessive grammatical endings:


 * dvacátého osmého srpna jeden tisíc osm set
 * padesát dva[on the twenty-eighth of August one thousand eight hundred fifty and two (28 August 1852)]

Months of the Year
Czech dates are always given in day-month-year order. Months are often abbreviated using a Roman numeral. For example, 25 February 1848 could be written:

25. února 1848

25. 2. 1848

25. II. 1848

The months listed below are shown in their standard form and in the possessive form used in writing dates:

Czech English

I leden, ledna January

II únor, února February

III b_ezen, b_ezna March

IV duben, dubna April

V květen, kvě_tna May

VI _erven, _ervna June

VII _ervenec, _ervence July

VIII srpen, srpna August

IX zá_í September

X _íjen, _íjna October

XI listopad, listopadu November

XII prosinec, prosince December

Days of the Week
Czech English

neděle Sunday

pondělí Monday

úterý Tuesday

st_eda Wednesday

_tvrtek Thursday

pátek Friday

sobota Saturday

Times of the Day
Czech records may indicate the exact time when the birth, marriage, or death occurred. This is usually spelled out.