A1 Collocation خنثی

Mluvit pravdu

To tell the truth

Phrase in 30 Seconds

This essential phrase is the standard way to say 'to tell the truth' or 'to be honest' in any situation.

  • Means: To speak honestly without lying or hiding facts.
  • Used in: Daily conversations, legal settings, and serious heart-to-heart talks.
  • Don't confuse: 'Mluvit' (process) with 'Říct' (one-time action) when describing the act.
🗣️ + ✅ = 🤝

Explanation at your level:

Mluvit pravdu means 'to tell the truth'. 'Mluvit' is 'to speak'. 'Pravda' is 'truth'. In Czech, we say 'pravdu' because it is the object. It is a very important phrase. You use it with your friends, your family, and your teacher. It is simple and good to know.
This phrase is a common collocation. You use 'mluvit pravdu' when you want to describe a person who is honest. For example, 'Můj kamarád vždycky mluví pravdu.' It is different from 'říct pravdu', which you use for one specific moment. At this level, you should practice the present tense conjugation of 'mluvit'.
At the B1 level, you should understand the nuance between 'mluvit pravdu' and its synonyms like 'být upřímný'. While 'mluvit pravdu' focuses on the factual accuracy of words, 'být upřímný' focuses on the person's character. You will encounter this phrase in news reports, literature, and formal discussions about ethics or social behavior.
In upper-intermediate Czech, 'mluvit pravdu' is often discussed in the context of 'žít v pravdě' (living in truth), a philosophical concept popularized by Václav Havel. You should be able to use this phrase in debates and understand its weight in Czech history. It often appears in the conditional mood: 'Měl bys mluvit pravdu' (You should tell the truth).
C1 learners should analyze 'mluvit pravdu' through the lens of pragmatics. It functions as a discursive marker of reliability. The choice between 'mluvit pravdu' and more idiomatic expressions like 'vyložit karty na stůl' (to lay cards on the table) depends on the desired level of rhetorical impact and the specific social register of the interaction.
At the mastery level, 'mluvit pravdu' is recognized as a core element of the Czech axiological system. The phrase transcends simple communication, embodying the tension between the historical imperative of 'Veritas Vincit' and the post-modern skepticism prevalent in contemporary Czech discourse. Mastery involves navigating the subtle aspectual shifts and the socio-political connotations of 'truth' in various literary and oratorical styles.

معنی

To be honest.

🌍

زمینه فرهنگی

The national motto 'Pravda vítězí' (Truth prevails) is visible on the presidential flag. This makes the concept of 'mluvit pravdu' a matter of national pride. Czechs often value 'brutal honesty' over social lubricants. If you ask for an opinion, expect the truth, even if it's not what you want to hear. Under the communist regime, 'mluvit pravdu' was a political act. Dissidents like Václav Havel risked prison to speak truthfully against state propaganda. In Czech fairy tales, the hero is often the one who speaks the truth to the king, while the villains are liars and deceivers.

💡

The 'U' Rule

Always remember the 'u' at the end of 'pravdu'. If you say 'mluvit pravda', it sounds like 'to speak truth' in a robotic way.

⚠️

Don't over-soften

In English, we say 'To be honest...' as a filler. In Czech, 'Mluvit pravdu' is more serious. Use 'Upřímně...' for the filler version.

معنی

To be honest.

💡

The 'U' Rule

Always remember the 'u' at the end of 'pravdu'. If you say 'mluvit pravda', it sounds like 'to speak truth' in a robotic way.

⚠️

Don't over-soften

In English, we say 'To be honest...' as a filler. In Czech, 'Mluvit pravdu' is more serious. Use 'Upřímně...' for the filler version.

🎯

Aspect Mastery

Use 'mluvit' for the general habit and 'říct' for a specific secret you are revealing.

خودت رو بسنج

Fill in the correct form of 'pravda'.

Vždycky musíš mluvit ______.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: pravdu

The verb 'mluvit' requires the accusative case for its object.

Choose the correct verb for a habitual action.

Můj bratr je čestný člověk. Vždycky ______ pravdu.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: mluví

'Mluví' is the 3rd person singular present tense, used for habits.

Complete the dialogue with the appropriate phrase.

A: Proč jsi mi lhal? B: Promiň, odteď budu ______.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: mluvit pravdu

'Budu' (I will) is followed by the infinitive 'mluvit pravdu' for a future habit.

Match the phrase to the situation.

Which phrase fits a formal court setting?

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: Slibuji, že budu mluvit pravdu.

This is the standard formal oath in Czech.

🎉 امتیاز: /4

ابزارهای بصری یادگیری

سوالات متداول

10 سوال

It is neutral. You can use it with a judge or with your best friend.

Yes, 'říkat pravdu' is a very common alternative and almost interchangeable.

Because it is the object of the verb. In Czech, objects change their endings (Accusative case).

The opposite is 'lhát' (to lie) or 'nemluvit pravdu' (to not tell the truth).

Use 'Abych mluvil pravdu...' or simply 'Upřímně...'.

Yes, especially when discussing transparency and ethics.

It can, if used as a command: 'Mluv pravdu!'. Otherwise, it is just factual.

It means 'Truth prevails'. It is the Czech national motto.

No, for stories use 'vyprávět příběh'. 'Mluvit pravdu' is only for honesty.

Yes, 'vyklopit to' (to spill it) or 'nekecat' (not to BS).

عبارات مرتبط

🔗

říct pravdu

similar

To tell the truth (one-time act)

🔗

mluvit na rovinu

informal

To speak straight/bluntly

🔗

lhát

contrast

To lie

🔗

přiznat se

builds on

To confess

کجا استفاده کنیم

🏥

At the Doctor

Doktor: Pijete alkohol?

Pacient: Budu mluvit pravdu, pane doktore. Piju pivo každý den.

neutral
👪

Parenting

Matka: Kdo rozbil tu vázu?

Syn: Mami, mluvím pravdu, byl to pes!

informal
💼

Job Interview

Personalista: Proč jste odešel z minulé práce?

Uchazeč: Chci mluvit pravdu. Hledal jsem vyšší plat.

formal
💔

Romantic Conflict

Petr: Miluješ mě ještě?

Jana: Musím mluvit pravdu. Už nevím.

informal
⚖️

In Court

Soudce: Slibujete, že budete mluvit pravdu?

Svědek: Ano, slibuji.

very_formal
🍻

Friendship Advice

Honza: Mám jí to říct?

Marek: Jo, vždycky je lepší mluvit pravdu.

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

M-L-U-V-I-T: My Lips Utter Very Important Truths.

Visual Association

Imagine a person standing in front of a mirror. Their reflection is perfectly clear and identical to them, representing the 'truth' (pravda) matching their 'speech' (mluvit).

Rhyme

Kdo mluví pravdu, nemá v srdci ostudu. (Who speaks the truth has no shame in their heart.)

Story

A young boy named Marek found a golden coin. His friends told him to keep it and lie. But Marek remembered his grandmother's words: 'Vždycky mluv pravdu.' He told the teacher, and he felt light as a feather. The truth made him free.

Word Web

pravdaležupřímnostslovoústasouddůvěračest

چالش

Try to use the phrase 'Musím mluvit pravdu' at least once today when someone asks for your opinion on something small, like a TV show or a meal.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Decir la verdad

Spanish almost always requires the definite article 'la'.

French high

Dire la vérité

French uses 'dire' exclusively, whereas Czech distinguishes between 'mluvit' and 'říkat'.

German high

Die Wahrheit sagen

German syntax often separates the verb from the noun.

Japanese moderate

本当のことを言う (Hontō no koto o iu)

Japanese conceptualizes truth as a 'true matter' rather than an abstract noun like 'pravda'.

Arabic high

قول الحقيقة (Qawl al-haqiqa)

Arabic uses a verbal noun construction more frequently.

Chinese moderate

说实话 (Shuō shíhuà)

The Chinese term literally refers to 'real speech' rather than 'the truth'.

Korean high

진실을 말하다 (Jinsil-eul malhada)

Korean has different levels of politeness that change the verb ending.

Portuguese high

Falar a verdade

Portuguese 'falar' and Czech 'mluvit' are semantically very close.

Easily Confused

Mluvit pravdu در مقابل Mluvit o pravdě

Learners think 'o' is needed like 'talk about'.

Remember that 'truth' is the thing you are speaking, not the topic you are discussing.

Mluvit pravdu در مقابل Mluvit pravdivě

Using the adverb instead of the noun.

While 'pravdivě' exists, the collocation with the noun 'pravdu' is 10x more common.

سوالات متداول (10)

It is neutral. You can use it with a judge or with your best friend.

Yes, 'říkat pravdu' is a very common alternative and almost interchangeable.

Because it is the object of the verb. In Czech, objects change their endings (Accusative case).

The opposite is 'lhát' (to lie) or 'nemluvit pravdu' (to not tell the truth).

Use 'Abych mluvil pravdu...' or simply 'Upřímně...'.

Yes, especially when discussing transparency and ethics.

It can, if used as a command: 'Mluv pravdu!'. Otherwise, it is just factual.

It means 'Truth prevails'. It is the Czech national motto.

No, for stories use 'vyprávět příběh'. 'Mluvit pravdu' is only for honesty.

Yes, 'vyklopit to' (to spill it) or 'nekecat' (not to BS).

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