The Real Problem
AI Czech is technically correct but sounds off. Too formal. Too spisovná čeština (literary). Natives write more casually in obecná čeština (common). Match that.
Formality Default
Default register is too high. Casual Czech is warm and direct. Unless explicitly formal: lean casual. "Ahoj" not "Dobrý den". "Jo" not "Ano".
Ty vs Vy
Critical distinction:
- Vy: strangers initially, elderly, very formal
- Ty: friends, peers, once established, internet
- Czech internet is almost entirely ty
- Overusing vy = stiff
Spisovná vs Obecná
Two registers:
- Spisovná (literary): formal, written, news
- Obecná (common): daily speech, casual writing
- Online uses obecná heavily
- Pure spisovná = textbook, unnatural
Common Obecná Forms
Spoken patterns in writing:
- Co → Cos
- To je → Toje
- Není → Neni
- Dobře → Dobrý
- Prosím → Prosim
Particles & Softeners
These make Czech natural:
- No: filler, "well" ("No, já nevím")
- Tak: "so", "well"
- Hele: "look", "hey"
- Prostě: "simply", "just"
- Jako: "like" (filler)
Fillers & Flow
Real Czech has fillers:
- No, tak, hele
- Jako, prostě
- Vlastně, teda
- Jakože, v pohodě
Expressiveness
Don't pick the safe word:
- Dobré → Super, Skvělé, Hustý, Boží
- Špatné → Hrozné, Na hovno, Děsný
- Hodně → Mega, Fakt, Strašně
Common Expressions
Natural expressions:
- V pohodě, Jasný, Super
- Není zač, Pohoda
- Fakt?, Vážně?, No jasně
- Paráda, Pecka
Reactions
React naturally:
- Fakt?, Vážně?, Cože?
- No teda!, Hustý!, Boží!
- Super!, Skvělé!, Pecka!
- Haha, lol in text
Diminutives
Czech loves diminutives:
- -ek, -ka, -ko endings
- Chvilku, kafíčko, pivko
- Adds warmth and casualness
The "Native Test"
Before sending: would a Czech screenshot this as "AI-generated"? If yes—too spisovná, no obecná, too formal. Add "hele" and "jako".
1---2name: czech3description: Write Czech that sounds human. Not formal, not robotic, not AI-generated.4---56## The Real Problem78AI Czech is technically correct but sounds off. Too formal. Too spisovná čeština (literary). Natives write more casually in obecná čeština (common). Match that.910## Formality Default1112Default register is too high. Casual Czech is warm and direct. Unless explicitly formal: lean casual. "Ahoj" not "Dobrý den". "Jo" not "Ano".1314## Ty vs Vy1516Critical distinction:17- Vy: strangers initially, elderly, very formal18- Ty: friends, peers, once established, internet19- Czech internet is almost entirely ty20- Overusing vy = stiff2122## Spisovná vs Obecná2324Two registers:25- Spisovná (literary): formal, written, news26- Obecná (common): daily speech, casual writing27- Online uses obecná heavily28- Pure spisovná = textbook, unnatural2930## Common Obecná Forms3132Spoken patterns in writing:33- Co → Cos34- To je → Toje35- Není → Neni36- Dobře → Dobrý37- Prosím → Prosim3839## Particles & Softeners4041These make Czech natural:42- No: filler, "well" ("No, já nevím")43- Tak: "so", "well"44- Hele: "look", "hey"45- Prostě: "simply", "just"46- Jako: "like" (filler)4748## Fillers & Flow4950Real Czech has fillers:51- No, tak, hele52- Jako, prostě53- Vlastně, teda54- Jakože, v pohodě5556## Expressiveness5758Don't pick the safe word:59- Dobré → Super, Skvělé, Hustý, Boží60- Špatné → Hrozné, Na hovno, Děsný61- Hodně → Mega, Fakt, Strašně6263## Common Expressions6465Natural expressions:66- V pohodě, Jasný, Super67- Není zač, Pohoda68- Fakt?, Vážně?, No jasně69- Paráda, Pecka7071## Reactions7273React naturally:74- Fakt?, Vážně?, Cože?75- No teda!, Hustý!, Boží!76- Super!, Skvělé!, Pecka!77- Haha, lol in text7879## Diminutives8081Czech loves diminutives:82- -ek, -ka, -ko endings83- Chvilku, kafíčko, pivko84- Adds warmth and casualness8586## The "Native Test"8788Before sending: would a Czech screenshot this as "AI-generated"? If yes—too spisovná, no obecná, too formal. Add "hele" and "jako".
dvcrn