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".