Signification
Describing a short distance
Contexte culturel
Czechs are avid hikers. A 'blízko' walk in the mountains might be 2-3 kilometers, which might feel 'far' to city dwellers from other countries. In Prague, 'blízko' is often measured in tram stops. If something is 1-2 stops away, it is definitely 'blízko'. When giving directions, Czechs are generally helpful but brief. 'To je blízko' is a common way to end a helpful interaction to reassure the stranger. Czechs value punctuality. If an event is 'blízko' in time, it means you should already be preparing or leaving.
The 'To' vs 'Je to' rule
You can say 'To je blízko' or 'Je to blízko'. Both are correct, but 'To je' is slightly more emphatic.
Long 'í' matters
Make sure to hold the 'í' in 'blízko'. If you say it too short, it might sound like a different word to native ears.
Signification
Describing a short distance
The 'To' vs 'Je to' rule
You can say 'To je blízko' or 'Je to blízko'. Both are correct, but 'To je' is slightly more emphatic.
Long 'í' matters
Make sure to hold the 'í' in 'blízko'. If you say it too short, it might sound like a different word to native ears.
The 'Czech Minute'
If a Czech says 'To je blízko, jen minuta,' be prepared for it to actually be a 5-minute walk. They are optimistic!
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing word to say 'It is close.'
To ___ blízko.
The third-person singular of 'být' (to be) is 'je'.
Which sentence correctly says 'The school is near the park'?
Vyberte správnou větu:
'Blízko' as a preposition requires the Genitive case. 'Park' becomes 'parku'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Someone almost drops a glass but catches it. What do you say?
Use the past tense 'bylo' to describe a near-miss that just happened.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Je to daleko do centra? B: Ne, ___.
The speaker says 'Ne' (No), so they must contradict 'daleko' (far) with 'blízko' (near).
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Distance Scale
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesTo ___ blízko.
The third-person singular of 'být' (to be) is 'je'.
Vyberte správnou větu:
'Blízko' as a preposition requires the Genitive case. 'Park' becomes 'parku'.
Someone almost drops a glass but catches it. What do you say?
Use the past tense 'bylo' to describe a near-miss that just happened.
A: Je to daleko do centra? B: Ne, ___.
The speaker says 'Ne' (No), so they must contradict 'daleko' (far) with 'blízko' (near).
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
14 questionsOnly for physical distance. For emotional closeness, use 'blízký'.
The opposite is 'daleko' (far).
Yes, it can be an adverb or a preposition. As a preposition, it takes the Genitive case.
The comparative form is 'blíž' or 'blíže'.
Yes, 'blízko od' is common, though 'blízko Prahy' is more elegant.
It is neutral. You can use it in any situation.
It means 'That was a close call' or 'That was close' (near-miss).
'Blízko' is the adverbial form used with the verb 'to be' to describe a state.
Yes, e.g., 'Vánoce jsou blízko' (Christmas is near).
Yes, 'Je to kousek' is the most common informal way to say it.
No, as an adverb, 'blízko' never changes its form.
No, for prices 'close' to a number, use 'skoro' (almost) or 'kolem' (around).
'Poblíž' is usually an adverb meaning 'nearby' and is slightly more formal.
It is a voiced 'z' like in 'zebra', but before 'k' it might sound slightly like 's' (devoicing).
Expressions liées
Je to kousek
synonymIt's a little bit/short way
Hned vedle
specialized formRight next door
Nedaleko
similarNot far
Na dosah
figurativeWithin reach
Těsně
similarClosely/Barely
