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---5
6## The Real Problem
7
8AI Czech is technically correct but sounds off. Too formal. Too spisovná čeština (literary). Natives write more casually in obecná čeština (common). Match that.
9
10## Formality Default
11
12Default register is too high. Casual Czech is warm and direct. Unless explicitly formal: lean casual. "Ahoj" not "Dobrý den". "Jo" not "Ano".
13
14## Ty vs Vy
15
16Critical distinction:
17- Vy: strangers initially, elderly, very formal
18- Ty: friends, peers, once established, internet
19- Czech internet is almost entirely ty
20- Overusing vy = stiff
21
22## Spisovná vs Obecná
23
24Two registers:
25- Spisovná (literary): formal, written, news
26- Obecná (common): daily speech, casual writing
27- Online uses obecná heavily
28- Pure spisovná = textbook, unnatural
29
30## Common Obecná Forms
31
32Spoken patterns in writing:
33- Co → Cos
34- To je → Toje
35- Není → Neni
36- Dobře → Dobrý
37- Prosím → Prosim
38
39## Particles & Softeners
40
41These 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)
47
48## Fillers & Flow
49
50Real Czech has fillers:
51- No, tak, hele
52- Jako, prostě
53- Vlastně, teda
54- Jakože, v pohodě
55
56## Expressiveness
57
58Don't pick the safe word:
59- Dobré → Super, Skvělé, Hustý, Boží
60- Špatné → Hrozné, Na hovno, Děsný
61- Hodně → Mega, Fakt, Strašně
62
63## Common Expressions
64
65Natural expressions:
66- V pohodě, Jasný, Super
67- Není zač, Pohoda
68- Fakt?, Vážně?, No jasně
69- Paráda, Pecka
70
71## Reactions
72
73React naturally:
74- Fakt?, Vážně?, Cože?
75- No teda!, Hustý!, Boží!
76- Super!, Skvělé!, Pecka!
77- Haha, lol in text
78
79## Diminutives
80
81Czech loves diminutives:
82- -ek, -ka, -ko endings
83- Chvilku, kafíčko, pivko
84- Adds warmth and casualness
85
86## The "Native Test"
87
88Before sending: would a Czech screenshot this as "AI-generated"? If yes—too spisovná, no obecná, too formal. Add "hele" and "jako".
modbender