Signification
To sleep very deeply
Contexte culturel
The 'dudek' (hoopoe) is a protected bird in Czechia and is often seen as a symbol of the arrival of spring in rural areas. Cottage culture (chalupaření) is huge. Sleeping 'jako dudek' is the ultimate goal of a weekend away from the city. In old village stories, the hoopoe was sometimes called 'smradlavý dudek' (stinky hoopoe) due to its nest, which led to the idea of it being a 'heavy' sleeper that doesn't clean up. Despite being an old idiom, it is frequently used in modern lifestyle blogs and health podcasts discussing sleep hygiene.
Use it in the morning
This is the most natural time to use the phrase. It's a great 'small talk' booster.
Don't pluralize 'dudek' too often
Even if 'we' slept well, 'Spali jsme jako dudek' (singular) is often preferred as a fixed idiom.
Signification
To sleep very deeply
Use it in the morning
This is the most natural time to use the phrase. It's a great 'small talk' booster.
Don't pluralize 'dudek' too often
Even if 'we' slept well, 'Spali jsme jako dudek' (singular) is often preferred as a fixed idiom.
Combine with 'vyspat se'
Instead of just 'spát', use the reflexive 'vyspat se jako dudek' to emphasize the completion and quality of the sleep.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing word to complete the idiom.
Včera jsem byl tak unavený, že jsem spal jako ______.
The standard Czech idiom for deep sleep is 'spát jako dudek'.
Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'I slept very well'?
Jak jsi se vyspal?
'Spal jsem jako dudek' is the most common and natural idiomatic expression.
Match the Czech idiom with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
These are the standard animal-based equivalents in both languages.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the verb 'spát'.
A: Proč jsi neslyšel můj telefon? B: Protože jsem ____ jako dudek.
The context is in the past, and the speaker is likely male (if female, 'spala' would be correct).
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesVčera jsem byl tak unavený, že jsem spal jako ______.
The standard Czech idiom for deep sleep is 'spát jako dudek'.
Jak jsi se vyspal?
'Spal jsem jako dudek' is the most common and natural idiomatic expression.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are the standard animal-based equivalents in both languages.
A: Proč jsi neslyšel můj telefon? B: Protože jsem ____ jako dudek.
The context is in the past, and the speaker is likely male (if female, 'spala' would be correct).
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, it's the Hoopoe bird. It has a very distinctive crest and is found in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Usually, no. It implies a long, deep night's sleep. For a nap, you'd just say 'dal jsem si šlofíka'.
Not at all! It's actually quite a sweet and positive thing to say.
Czech uses both! 'Spát jako špalek' (log) is also very common. 'Dudek' is just more colorful.
No, the bird remains 'dudek' regardless of the gender of the sleeper.
It has old roots, but it is still used every day by people of all ages.
Yes, you can, but 'spát jako dudek' is also acceptable for a group as a fixed phrase.
You could say 'spal jsem špatně' or 'celou noc jsem oka nezamhouřil' (I didn't close an eye all night).
No, it's a common noun, so it's lowercase.
Almost, but 'zabitý' is much more intense and informal.
Expressions liées
spát jako špalek
synonymTo sleep like a log.
spát jako zabitý
similarTo sleep like one who is dead.
mít lehké spaní
contrastTo be a light sleeper.
zaspal jsem
builds onI overslept.
