Diminutives

01

The Suffixes

Each gender has its own, and they attach to the plain noun without disturbing anything else about it.

• masculine: -ek, -ík - pes gives pejsek, nos gives nosík
• feminine: -ka - chvíle gives chvilka
• neuter: -ko, -átko - prase gives prasátko

• To dítě má krásný nosík.

  That child has a lovely little nose.

• Je to moje domácí prasátko.

  It's my pet piglet.

02

The Gender Stays

A diminutive keeps the gender of the noun it came from, whatever its new ending looks like, and it declines as an ordinary noun of that gender.

• Dej si kousek koláčku.

  Have a piece of cake.

03

Twice Over

A diminutive can be made from a diminutive, and the second one is warmer still. Bratr gives bratříček, which is what a child would say.

• Bratříčku, přines mi šálek čaje.

  Little brother, bring me a cup of tea.

04

Not Always About Size

Many diminutives have simply become the normal word and carry no smallness at all. Maminka is what most people call their mother; the plain matka is formal and a little cold.

• Moje maminka se jmenuje Lisa.

  My mum's name is Lisa.

05

Food and Drink

Diminutives are everywhere on menus and in kitchens, where they suggest a helping rather than the substance in general, and sound inviting rather than technical.

• chléb - chlebíček (an open sandwich)
• koláč - koláček (a small cake)

• Ten koláček chutná sladce.

  That little cake tastes sweet.

06

Names

Personal names take diminutive endings as freely as other nouns, and the result is the ordinary friendly form of the name rather than a comment on anyone's size: Anna gives Anička.

• Aničko, kde jsi?

  Annie, where are you?

07

Softening a Request

In shops and restaurants a diminutive takes the edge off what you are asking for. Ordering a kávička rather than a káva does not make the coffee smaller; it makes the request friendlier.

• Dáte si tyčinku?

  Would you like a chocolate bar?