The Czech language is a beautiful and complex one, with a rich vocabulary that sometimes leaves English speakers scratching their heads. From words that describe the feeling of nostalgia for something you’ve never experienced to something that is so delicious, Czech has a lot to offer.
In this article, I’d like to present you with seven of these beautiful Czech words and what makes them so special. So if you want to discover the beauty of the Czech language or surprise your Czech buddy, these words may come in handy.
Nejkulaťoulinkatější
God, how I love this word! It’s just that for me, as a Czech, it’s sometimes difficult to pronounce it perfectly. Nejkulaťoulinkatější could be translated as most round (shape-wise) in a very diminutive form.
Imagine finding a very, very small marble and wanting to describe it to a friend. Because of its perfectly round shape and tiny size, the word nejkulaťoulinkatější is a perfect word to use. It’s the most rounded and tiniest thing you could possibly ever find.
No one uses this word because not only is it not common, but it is so difficult to pronounce and write that everyone avoids it. You’ll probably never hear this word on the street, but if you like tongue twisters, get ready to hear it more than once.
Červánky
Have you had the opportunity to witness the stunning red-pink sky before it turns dark? This is what is referred to as “červánky” in Czech. It creates a calming and aesthetic effect that is hard to resist.
The word is created from the color red (červený) and is one of my all-time favorite words that remind me of pleasant moments and great memories. So, if you want to surprise your Czech friend or partner, this word is the best choice.
The closest English term is afterglow, which practically describes the same meteorological phenomenon. However, it is not clear from the word afterglow what it stands for, nor what color the sky is.
I must not forget to add that our German neighbors have their own word for červánky, abendrot. “Abend” means “evening,” while “rot” means “red.” Together, these words describe a red evening sky, which is identical to červánky.
Tajtrdlík
Tajtrdlík is yet another word worth knowing because it sounds not only beautiful but also funny. This word is typically used to describe a person, or rather a child, who looks or does something funny or silly, and who is a laughingstock to others.
Tajtrdlík is someone who:
- forgot to wash his mouth and walks around town with chocolate around his lips
- puts his shirt on backwards and doesn’t realize it
- walks around town with a stroller and cats in it
- used salt instead of sugar during cooking
Tajtrdlík is a very gentle and non-offensive word, so you can say it to anyone, including your pets, without actually offending them.
Example scenario: The mother asks her son to go to the store and buy milk and two eggs. When the son arrives, he puts milk and two chocolate eggs on the table. His mother tells him, “You are such a tajtrdlík. I meant chicken eggs, not chocolate eggs,” and laughs at him.
Pošušňáníčko
An expression to express enjoyment of something, especially food. This word is not very common either, but you can hear it here and there, especially among foodies, gourmets, or lovers of alcoholic beverages.
“It was such a pošušňáčníčko” means “It was such an enjoyment or a yummy meal/drink.” You can also hear someone say “to bylo pošušňáníčko” after drinking the house brandy, expressing that it was very delicious and exceptional.
The meaning of this word is not easily translatable using a word-for-word approach. Personally, I would describe it as a good feeling or tickling of your taste buds after eating or drinking something delicious. It is the highest level of enjoyment.
Udělátko
When searching for a word to translate “udělátko” into English, the term “thingy” seems to be the most fitting. The term can be employed to refer to any item for which you cannot remember the name, like when you need a specific object but cannot recollect its name.
Let’s say you’re at a friend’s house and want to open a can. You can’t remember the word opener, so you ask your friend for udělátko (something to open the can with.) Or perhaps you need to open a bottle of wine, but you can’t remember the name of the tool (the corkscrew) used to open the wine, so you ask your friend for udělátko.
This beautiful and funny-sounding word originated from the verb “udělat – to make” and describes anything from things to tools to make, fix, open, or do something.
Podprdelník
During my childhood, my grandmother would always advise me to sit on a cushion while sitting on the garden bench to prevent catching a cold or getting a urinary tract infection from the cold metal surface.
The term “podprdelník” refers to a cushion, blanket, or any soft and cozy object that can be placed under a person’s buttocks while sitting. This amusing word is derived from the Czech words “pod” meaning “under” and “prdel” meaning “butt”. Non-native speakers can surprise Czechs by using this word in the conversation!
Podprdelník is more of a slang term, and you definitely don’t want to use it in a restaurant, pub, or anywhere in public.
Těhulka
The last word on this list is the diminutive of a pregnant woman. While this word may not be considered beautiful or cool by some individuals, I am of the opinion that in several languages, particularly English, there may not be a diminutive term to describe a pregnant woman.
With that being said, the word “těhulka” is a term of endearment among friends that refers to a pregnant woman, derived from the word “těhotná.” It conveys a sense of admiration and empathy, much like calling a feline “kitty” instead of “cat.”
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