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Czech Names in Vocative

How to address people by their first names in Czech.


Male Names

Hard Stems → -e (with palatalization)

NominativeVocativeNote
PetrPetrer → ř
PavelPavle
JanJane
AdamAdame
MarekMarkuk stays
LukášLukášisoft
DavidDavide
JakubJakube
MartinMartine
MichalMichale

Soft Stems → -i

NominativeVocativeNote
TomášTomáši
OndřejOndřeji
MatějMatěji
JiříJiříno change
AlešAleši

Common Nicknames

Full NameNicknameVocative
JanHonzaHonzo
JanJeníkJeníčku
PetrPéťaPéťo
PavelPavlíkPavlíčku
TomášTomTome
JosefPepaPepo
FrantišekFrantaFranto
VáclavVašekVašku
Nicknames ending in -a

Male nicknames ending in -a (Honza, Péťa, Franta) form vocative with -o, just like feminine nouns!


Female Names

Names ending in -a → -o

NominativeVocativeNote
JanaJano
PetraPetro
EvaEvo
AnnaAnno
MarieMarieno change
KateřinaKateřino
TerezaTerezo
LucieLucieno change
BarboraBarboro
MarkétaMarkéto
EliškaEliško
ZuzanaZuzano
MonikaMoniko

Names ending in -e/-ie → No Change

NominativeVocativeNote
MarieMarie
LucieLucie
JulieJulie
SofieSofie
NatálieNatálie

Common Nicknames

Full NameNicknameVocative
JanaJankaJanko
KateřinaKatkaKatko
TerezaTerkaTerko
BarboraBáraBáro
EliškaEliEli
MarkétaMárkaMárko

Family Names

Male Surnames

TypeNominativeVocative
-ý endingNovotnýNovotný
-ek endingNovákNováku
-a endingSvobodaSvobodo
consonantNovákNováku

Female Surnames

Female surnames ending in -ová don't change:

  • Nováková → Nováková
  • Svobodová → Svobodová

Addressing People Formally

With Titles

Formal AddressMeaning
Pane Nováku!Mr. Novák!
Paní Nováková!Mrs. Nováková!
Pane doktore Nováku!Dr. Novák!
Paní doktorko Nováková!Dr. Nováková!

In Letters

GreetingUsage
Milý Petře,Dear Petr, (informal)
Milá Jano,Dear Jana, (informal)
Vážený pane Nováku,Dear Mr. Novák, (formal)
Vážená paní Nováková,Dear Mrs. Nováková, (formal)

Quick Reference

Most Common Male Names

NameVocative
PetrPetře
JanJane
PavelPavle
TomášTomáši
JiříJiří
MartinMartine
JakubJakube
OndřejOndřeji

Most Common Female Names

NameVocative
JanaJano
EvaEvo
AnnaAnno
MarieMarie
KateřinaKateřino
LucieLucie
TerezaTerezo
PetraPetro

Next Steps