Learning adjectives is a fundamental part of mastering any language. In Czech, adjectives play a crucial role in describing nouns and giving more context to our conversations. Two of the most commonly used adjectives in any language, including Czech, are “big” and “small.” In Czech, these adjectives are known as velký and malý. Understanding how to use these words correctly can significantly improve your fluency. This article will delve into these two adjectives, providing you with definitions, usage, and example sentences to help you grasp their meanings and applications.

Velký – Big

The Czech word for “big” is velký. This adjective is used to describe something that is large in size, extent, or capacity.

Velký (adj.) – big, large
Můj dům je velmi velký.

In this example, “velký” is used to describe the house as being large.

Variations of Velký

Adjectives in Czech can change form based on gender, number, and case. Here are some variations of velký:

velká (feminine singular) – big, large
Moje zahrada je velká.

velké (neuter singular) – big, large
To auto je velké.

velcí (masculine animate plural) – big, large
Ti psi jsou velcí.

velké (feminine and neuter plural) – big, large
Ty knihy jsou velké.

velcí (masculine inanimate plural) – big, large
Ty stromy jsou velké.

Malý – Small

The Czech word for “small” is malý. This adjective is used to describe something that is small in size, extent, or capacity.

Malý (adj.) – small, little
Můj byt je velmi malý.

In this example, “malý” is used to describe the apartment as being small.

Variations of Malý

Like “velký,” the adjective “malý” changes form based on gender, number, and case. Here are some variations of malý:

malá (feminine singular) – small, little
Ta kočka je malá.

malé (neuter singular) – small, little
To dítě je malé.

malí (masculine animate plural) – small, little
Ti ptáci jsou malí.

malé (feminine and neuter plural) – small, little
Ty hračky jsou malé.

malí (masculine inanimate plural) – small, little
Ty kameny jsou malé.

Comparative and Superlative Forms

In Czech, adjectives also have comparative and superlative forms, just like in English. Let’s look at how velký and malý change in these forms.

Comparative of Velký

The comparative form of velký is větší.

Větší (adj.) – bigger, larger
Ten dům je větší než náš.

Superlative of Velký

The superlative form of velký is největší.

Největší (adj.) – biggest, largest
To je největší strom v parku.

Comparative of Malý

The comparative form of malý is menší.

Menší (adj.) – smaller, lesser
Ten pokoj je menší než kuchyň.

Superlative of Malý

The superlative form of malý is nejmenší.

Nejmenší (adj.) – smallest, littlest
To je nejmenší auto, které jsem kdy viděl.

Usage in Sentences

To further understand how to use these adjectives, let’s look at a few more example sentences:

Velký (adj.) – big, large
Máme velký stůl v jídelně.

Velká (feminine singular) – big, large
To je velmi velká kniha.

Velké (neuter singular) – big, large
Ten hrad je velké.

Velcí (masculine animate plural) – big, large
Ti muži jsou velcí.

Velké (feminine and neuter plural) – big, large
Mají velké domy.

Malý (adj.) – small, little
To je malý pokoj.

Malá (feminine singular) – small, little
Máme malou zahradu.

Malé (neuter singular) – small, little
To dítě je malé.

Malí (masculine animate plural) – small, little
Ti kluci jsou malí.

Malé (feminine and neuter plural) – small, little
Ty stromy jsou malé.

By understanding these forms and practicing with these examples, you can enhance your ability to describe objects, people, and places in Czech with more accuracy and detail.

Common Phrases and Expressions

In addition to their basic meanings, velký and malý are also used in various idiomatic expressions and common phrases. Here are a few:

Velký svět – the big world (used to refer to the wider world outside one’s immediate environment)
Chci vidět velký svět.

Velká láska – great love
Našla jsem svou velkou lásku.

Malý zázrak – a little miracle
To je malý zázrak, že jsme to zvládli.

Malý princ – The Little Prince (a famous book title)
Četla jsi Malého prince?

Practice Exercises

To solidify your understanding of these adjectives, try the following exercises:

1. Translate the following sentences into Czech:
– The big dog is in the garden.
– She has a small car.
– This is the biggest house in the village.
– He is a smaller boy than his brother.

2. Create sentences using the comparative and superlative forms of velký and malý.

3. Describe five objects in your house using velký and malý.

Conclusion

Understanding and using adjectives like velký and malý correctly is essential for effective communication in Czech. These adjectives help you describe and differentiate between objects, people, and places, adding depth to your conversations. By practicing their various forms and usage in sentences, you can become more fluent and precise in your descriptions. Keep practicing, and soon these adjectives will become a natural part of your Czech vocabulary!