Czech diminutives

An incomlete list of Czech diminutives

In Czech diminutives are formed by suffixes, as in other Slavic languages. Common endings include -ka, -ko, -ek, -ík, -inka, -enka, -ečka, -ička, -ul-, -unka, -íček, -ínek etc. The choice of suffix may depend on the noun's gender as well as the degree of smallness/affection that the speaker wishes to convey.

Czech diminutives can express smallness, affection, and familiarity. Hence, "Julka" may well mean "our", "cute", "little" or "beloved" Julia. Diminutives can be diminished further by adding another suffix. E.g.: "Júlie" (Julia) → "Julka" (little Julia) → "Júlinka" (very little Julia).

Every noun has a grammatically-correct diminutive form, regardless of the sense it makes. This is sometimes used for comic effect, for example diminuting the word "obr" (giant) to "obřík" (little giant).

Some examples. Note the various stem mutations due to palatalization, vowel shortening or vowel lengthening:

/-ka/ (feminine noun forms)

• táta (dad) → taťka (little/cute/beloved dad = daddy), Anna → Anka, televize (TV set) → televizka, hora (mountain) → hůrka (little/cute/beloved mountain = a big hill), noha (leg, foot) → nožka

/-ko/ (neuter noun forms)

• rádio → rádijko, víno (wine) → vínko, triko (T-shirt) → tričko, pero (feather) → pírko, oko (eye) → očko

/-ek/ (masculine noun forms)

• dům (house) → domek, stůl (table) → stolek, schod (stair/step) → schůdek, prostor (space) → prostůrek, strom (tree) → stromek

/-ík/

• Tom (Tom) → Tomík (little/cute/beloved Tom = Tommy), pokoj (room) → pokojík, kůl (stake/pole) → kolík, rum (rum) → rumík, koš (basket) → košík

To make things even more interesting diminutives can be formed also with adjectives.

malý - malinký, krátký - kraťoučký, hezký - hezoučký

Hence, you can say kraťoučký den, malinké pivo, hezoučká tvář etc.

An incomlete list of Czech diminutives

A shot list of example sentences bellow.

Půjdu do své hospůdky. Sednu si ke svému stolečku a dám si skleničku pivečka.

(This sentence cannot be translated into English.) I am going to my favourit pub. I'll sit to my beloved table and will have a small glass of beer of my liking.

Pojedu se svou ženuškou a dceruškou do městečka na oslíčku. ;)