Bedeutung
The act of writing a letter.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The 'Dopis Ježíškovi' is the most important letter a Czech child writes. It's often decorated with drawings and placed on the window on the night of Dec 5th. In formal letters to authorities, Czechs use very specific opening and closing formulas. 'Vážený pane / Vážená paní' is mandatory. Prague was a city of letters. Franz Kafka's correspondence is a major part of the city's literary history, showing the 'dopis' as a tool of existential struggle. While emails dominate, 'pohlednice' (postcards) are still very popular during summer holidays (prázdniny). Writing a postcard is seen as more personal than a Facebook post.
Master the Aspect
If you are talking about the *habit* of writing, always use 'psát'. If you are talking about *one specific letter* you finished, use 'napsat'.
The 'V' Rule
When writing a letter to someone you respect, always capitalize 'Vy', 'Vám', and 'Váš'. It's a major sign of politeness in Czech culture.
Bedeutung
The act of writing a letter.
Master the Aspect
If you are talking about the *habit* of writing, always use 'psát'. If you are talking about *one specific letter* you finished, use 'napsat'.
The 'V' Rule
When writing a letter to someone you respect, always capitalize 'Vy', 'Vám', and 'Váš'. It's a major sign of politeness in Czech culture.
Postcards count!
In summer, saying 'píšu dopisy' can also mean you are writing postcards to everyone back home.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'psát' in the present tense.
Já právě ___ dopis babičce.
The first person singular ('I') form of 'psát' is 'píšu'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose the correct way to say 'I am writing a letter to my friend (male)'.
The recipient must be in the dative case (kamarádovi) and the object 'dopis' stays in the accusative.
Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.
Petr: Co děláš? Jana: ___ Ježíškovi.
In the context of 'Ježíšek', the most logical action is writing a wish list.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are at the post office and you need to finish your message.
'Napsat' is the perfective form, indicating you need to finish the task.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Psát vs. Napsat
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenJá právě ___ dopis babičce.
The first person singular ('I') form of 'psát' is 'píšu'.
Choose the correct way to say 'I am writing a letter to my friend (male)'.
The recipient must be in the dative case (kamarádovi) and the object 'dopis' stays in the accusative.
Petr: Co děláš? Jana: ___ Ježíškovi.
In the context of 'Ježíšek', the most logical action is writing a wish list.
You are at the post office and you need to finish your message.
'Napsat' is the perfective form, indicating you need to finish the task.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenTechnically no, you should say 'psát e-mail'. However, if the email is very long and formal, some might poetically call it a 'dopis'.
It is masculine inanimate. This means it doesn't change in the accusative case.
Use 'Vážený pane' (Dear Sir) or 'Vážená paní' (Dear Madam).
It's a Christmas letter to Baby Jesus where children list the gifts they want.
The act is becoming rarer, but the phrase is still the standard way to describe it. It's not 'archaic'.
No, just use the dative case. 'Píšu (komu?) babičce'.
'Psát' is the act of writing. 'Psát si s někým' means to correspond back and forth.
No, say 'píšu dopis perem' (instrumental case, no 's').
Use the perfective: 'Napsal jsem dopis'.
It is a love letter.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Dopisovat si
builds onTo be penpals / to correspond regularly.
Poslat dopis
similarTo send a letter.
Doporučený dopis
specialized formRegistered letter.
Milostný dopis
specialized formLove letter.
