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Gender Identification Cheatsheet

How to identify noun gender at a glance.

The Big Picture​

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│           GENDER BY ENDING                      │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                 │
│   -A  →  FEMININE (90% of the time)             │
│         žena, kniha, škola                      │
│                                                 │
│   -O  →  NEUTER (almost always)                 │
│         město, auto, okno                       │
│                                                 │
│   -E  →  CHECK! (could be any gender)           │
│         moře (n), růže (f), soudce (m)          │
│                                                 │
│   -Í  →  NEUTER                                 │
│         stavení, nádraží, náměstí               │
│                                                 │
│   CONSONANT → MASCULINE (usually)               │
│         student, hrad, muž, les                 │
│                                                 │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Masculine Nouns​

Hard Masculine​

Ends in hard consonant: d, h, ch, k, n, r, t

CzechEnglish
studentstudent
hradcastle
stůltable
důmhouse
lesforest

Soft Masculine​

Ends in soft consonant: c, č, j, ň, ř, š, ž

CzechEnglish
mužman
učitelteacher
strojmachine
pokojroom

Masculine -a Exceptions​

Some -a nouns are masculine (male persons):

CzechEnglish
tátadad
kolegacolleague
turistatourist
HonzaHonza (name)

Feminine Nouns​

-a Feminines (most common)​

CzechEnglish
ženawoman
knihabook
školaschool
vodawater

Soft Feminines (-e/-ě)​

CzechEnglish
růžerose
ulicestreet
židlechair
kancelářoffice

Consonant Feminines​

CzechEnglish
kostbone
věcthing
nocnight
myšmouse
sůlsalt

Neuter Nouns​

-o Neuters (hard)​

CzechEnglish
městocity
oknowindow
autocar
pivobeer

-e Neuters (soft)​

CzechEnglish
mořesea
polefield
srdceheart

-í Neuters​

CzechEnglish
staveníbuilding
nádražístation
náměstísquare

Quick Decision Tree​

What does the noun end in?

-A → Probably FEMININE
     (except: táta, kolega = masculine)

-O → NEUTER
     (no exceptions)

-Í → NEUTER
     (no exceptions)

-E → TRICKY!
     • Check if it's moře-type → NEUTER
     • Check if it's růže-type → FEMININE
     • Check if it's soudce-type → MASCULINE

CONSONANT → Probably MASCULINE
     (except: kost, věc, noc, etc. = feminine)

Common Exceptions to Remember​

Masculine in -a​

CzechWhy?
tátamale person (dad)
kolegamale person
turistamale person
sluhamale person (servant)

Feminine in Consonant​

CzechPattern
kostkost-type
věcvěc-type
nocnoc-type
krevabstract
smrtabstract

Memory Tip​

Think of Typical Examples
  • -A = žena (woman - feminine)
  • -O = město (city - neuter)
  • Consonant = student (student - masculine)

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