Signification
Describing hands that need washing.
Contexte culturel
Hand washing is a strict ritual before meals. Children are taught from a very young age that 'špinavé ruce' carry 'bacily' (germs). The term 'špinavé peníze' (dirty money) was a defining phrase of the 1990s economic transformation, often linked to those with 'špinavé ruce'. Jean-Paul Sartre's influence in Czechia during the 1960s made 'Špinavé ruce' a household name for intellectual resistance and moral choice. In many Slavic cultures, offering a 'špinavou ruku' (dirty hand) for a handshake is considered a sign of disrespect, even if you are a laborer.
The 'TS' sound
Remember that the 'c' in 'ruce' is never a 'k' or 's' sound. It is always 'ts'.
Dual Number
Be careful with 'rukama'. Using 'rukami' is a very common mistake for foreigners.
Signification
Describing hands that need washing.
The 'TS' sound
Remember that the 'c' in 'ruce' is never a 'k' or 's' sound. It is always 'ts'.
Dual Number
Be careful with 'rukama'. Using 'rukami' is a very common mistake for foreigners.
Figurative Power
Use this phrase in a business meeting to subtly suggest someone isn't being honest—it's very effective.
Handshakes
If your hands are dirty, touch your elbow to theirs or just wave. Don't offer a dirty hand!
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the adjective 'špinavý'.
Moje sestra má ________ ruce od barvy.
The noun 'ruce' is feminine plural, so the adjective must be 'špinavé'.
Which sentence uses the figurative meaning correctly?
Select the sentence about corruption:
In this context, 'špinavé ruce' refers to moral corruption, not physical dirt.
Match the Czech phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are all standard translations of the related phrases.
Complete the dialogue with the correct instrumental form.
A: Proč na to saháš těma ________? B: Promiň, hned si je umyju.
The instrumental case for 'ruce' uses the dual ending '-ama'.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Clean vs Dirty
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesMoje sestra má ________ ruce od barvy.
The noun 'ruce' is feminine plural, so the adjective must be 'špinavé'.
Select the sentence about corruption:
In this context, 'špinavé ruce' refers to moral corruption, not physical dirt.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are all standard translations of the related phrases.
A: Proč na to saháš těma ________? B: Promiň, hned si je umyju.
The instrumental case for 'ruce' uses the dual ending '-ama'.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsLiterally, no. Figuratively, yes, it's a serious accusation of dishonesty.
No, that would be 'špinavé nohy'.
The opposite is 'čisté ruce' (clean hands).
Czech uses 'ruce' for the nominative plural due to historical sound changes.
Yes, if only one hand is dirty.
Yes, many Czech rock and rap songs use it to talk about life on the street or politics.
You say 'Ušpinil jsem si ruce'.
Only if you are talking about literal hard work. Don't use the figurative sense there!
It means 'dirt under the fingernails', often used to describe someone very poor or a hard worker.
Yes, 'mít zaprasený pracky'.
Expressions liées
čisté ruce
contrastclean hands / innocence
špinit si ruce
builds onto get one's hands dirty
mít v tom ruce
similarto have a hand in something
levé ruce
contrastclumsy
zlaté české ručičky
contrastgolden Czech hands
