Meaning
Reacting to something very bad.
Cultural Background
Complaining is often a way to show trust. If a Czech person complains to you, they likely consider you a friend. Slovaks use the very similar 'To je hrozné' or 'To je strašné'. The cultural attitude toward shared grievances is very similar to the Czech one. In many Central European cultures, reacting with 'That's terrible' is seen as more honest than 'It'll be fine'. Expats often learn this phrase early to bond with locals over the complexities of Czech bureaucracy.
The Spoken Ending
Use 'To je hrozný' (ending in -ý) to sound like a local in casual settings.
Don't overdo it
If you say 'To je hrozné' to everything, you might sound like a pessimist. Balance it with positive reactions.
Meaning
Reacting to something very bad.
The Spoken Ending
Use 'To je hrozný' (ending in -ý) to sound like a local in casual settings.
Don't overdo it
If you say 'To je hrozné' to everything, you might sound like a pessimist. Balance it with positive reactions.
The Sympathy Nod
When saying this, a small tilt of the head and a sympathetic look make it feel much more genuine.
Add 'No'
Adding 'No' at the beginning ('No, to je hrozné') makes it sound more natural, like 'Well, that's terrible'.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct form of the adjective to complete the phrase.
Můj pes je nemocný. To je ______.
Because the subject is 'To' (neuter), the adjective must also be in the neuter form 'hrozné'.
Complete the dialogue with the most natural reaction.
A: Ztratil jsem peněženku. B: ______!
Losing a wallet is a bad thing, so 'To je hrozné' is the appropriate empathetic response.
Match the situation to the correct Czech phrase.
Situation: You are talking to a friend and they say they have to work on Christmas.
Working on a holiday is generally considered a negative situation in Czech culture, requiring an empathetic 'To je hrozné'.
Fill in the missing word in the past tense version of the phrase.
Včera pršelo celý den. To ______ hrozné.
'Bylo' is the past tense neuter form of 'být' (to be).
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Hrozné vs. Škoda
Practice Bank
4 exercisesMůj pes je nemocný. To je ______.
Because the subject is 'To' (neuter), the adjective must also be in the neuter form 'hrozné'.
A: Ztratil jsem peněženku. B: ______!
Losing a wallet is a bad thing, so 'To je hrozné' is the appropriate empathetic response.
Situation: You are talking to a friend and they say they have to work on Christmas.
Working on a holiday is generally considered a negative situation in Czech culture, requiring an empathetic 'To je hrozné'.
Včera pršelo celý den. To ______ hrozné.
'Bylo' is the past tense neuter form of 'být' (to be).
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, it is a standard way to show empathy. It is only rude if used sarcastically.
Yes, but it might sound a bit dramatic. For small things, 'To je škoda' (That's a pity) is often better.
They are almost identical. 'Strašné' is slightly more intense and comes from 'strach' (fear).
This is 'Obecná čeština' (Common Czech), the non-standard but widely used spoken form of the language.
No, 'hrozně' is an adverb. You must use the adjective 'hrozné'.
You say 'To bylo hrozné'.
Yes, if you are reacting to bad news from a client, but 'To je velmi nepříjemné' might be slightly more professional.
No, as an intensifier it can mean 'very' (e.g., hrozně hezký = very pretty).
The most common opposite is 'To je skvělé' (That's great) or 'To je super'.
Yes, it is perfectly understood and used in Slovak as well.
Related Phrases
To je strašné
synonymThat is terrible/frightful
To je hrůza
similarThat is a horror
To je mi líto
builds onI am sorry (to hear that)
To je děsné
synonymThat is ghastly/awful
To je skvělé
contrastThat is great
