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A1 noun 9 min read

noha

Examples noha in 30 Seconds
Explanation noha in your Level:
At the A1 level, you only need to know that 'noha' means 'leg' or 'foot'. You should be able to use it in very simple sentences to describe yourself or others. For example, 'Moje noha' (My leg), 'Dlouhé nohy' (Long legs), or 'Bolí mě noha' (My leg hurts). You should recognize it in common contexts like health or basic descriptions of people. You will mostly use the nominative singular 'noha' and nominative plural 'nohy'. It's important to remember it's a feminine word, so you say 'jedna noha' (one leg) and 'dvě nohy' (two legs). You might also see it in simple furniture descriptions, like 'noha stolu' (table leg). At this stage, don't worry about complex cases, just focus on the basic meaning and the fact that it covers both the leg and the foot in Czech. You will hear this word in basic anatomy lessons and when talking about daily activities like walking or running.
At the A2 level, you start using 'noha' in more varied grammatical contexts. You should be familiar with the accusative case 'nohu' for sentences like 'Mám zlomenou nohu' (I have a broken leg). You will also begin to encounter the word in more daily life scenarios, such as shopping for shoes ('boty na nohy') or describing physical activities in more detail. You should start to notice that Czechs don't always use possessive pronouns (my, your) with body parts; they use reflexive pronouns like 'si'. For example, 'Zlomil jsem si nohu' (I broke [to myself] the leg). You should also be able to use basic adjectives to describe legs, such as 'pravá' (right) and 'levá' (left). The concept of the 'dual' form 'nohama' might be introduced here as a special rule for body parts in the instrumental case, which you'll use in phrases like 'vrtět nohama' (to wiggle one's legs).
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By B1, you should be comfortable with all the case endings for 'noha', including the irregular genitive plural 'noh' (used after numbers 5+) and the locative 'v nohách' (in the legs). You will start to learn common idioms and figurative uses. For instance, 'postavit se na vlastní nohy' (to stand on one's own feet, meaning to become independent) or 'vzít nohy na ramena' (to run away). You should understand the difference between 'noha' and more specific terms like 'chodidlo' (foot/sole) and use them appropriately. In a B1 context, you might read stories or news where 'noha' is used metaphorically, such as the 'legs' of a chair or the 'legs' of a support structure. You should also be able to use the diminutive 'nožka' in appropriate contexts, like talking to a child or describing a mushroom or a glass.
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At the B2 level, you are expected to use 'noha' fluently in a wide range of idiomatic expressions. You should understand the nuance of phrases like 'mít obě nohy levé' (to be clumsy) or 'lhát, jako když tiskne' (wait, that's not it)—rather, 'má to krátké nohy' (it has short legs, referring to a lie that won't last). You will encounter 'noha' in more complex literature and formal discussions about health, ergonomics, or sports science. You should be able to distinguish between 'nohama' (human/animal legs) and 'nohami' (sometimes used for inanimate objects like table legs in high formal style). Your understanding of the word should extend to its role in word formation, such as 'nožní' (pedal/foot-related adjective) or 'stonožka' (centipede). You can discuss physical sensations in detail using various cases and prepositions.
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At the C1 level, you have a near-native grasp of the word 'noha'. You understand subtle stylistic differences and can use the word in sophisticated metaphors. You are familiar with rare idioms like 'být jednou nohou v hrobě' (to have one foot in the grave) or 'dostat se z nejhoršího na nohy' (to get back on one's feet after a crisis). You understand the historical reasons for the dual forms ('nohama', 'nohách', 'nohou') and can use them flawlessly. In academic or professional settings, you might use 'noha' when discussing architecture (supports) or in medical contexts where specific anatomical terms are mixed with general ones. You can appreciate the playfulness of the word in poetry or advanced prose, where the 'legs' of a table might be personified or where physical movement is described with great lyrical detail.
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At the C2 level, 'noha' is a tool you use with total precision and cultural awareness. You know archaic or dialectal variations of the word if they appear in classical literature. You can use 'noha' in complex puns and wordplay. You understand the full etymological background (Protoslavic *noga) and how it relates to other Slavic languages. You can navigate the most formal legal or medical texts where 'dolní končetina' is used, but also the grittiest slang where 'haksna' or other synonyms appear. You are aware of how 'noha' figures into Czech folklore and national identity (e.g., the importance of hiking and 'wandering legs'). You can write essays or give presentations where 'noha' is used as a metaphor for stability, movement, or human vulnerability, employing the full range of Czech's expressive capabilities.
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Examples

noha in 30 Seconds

  • Noha means both 'leg' and 'foot' in Czech, which is a key difference from English vocabulary usage.
  • It is a feminine noun following the 'žena' declension, but has unique dual-number plural forms like 'nohama'.
  • Beyond anatomy, it refers to furniture legs and appears in many common idioms about movement and independence.
  • Essential for A1 learners to describe physical pain, shopping for shoes, or basic human and animal anatomy.

The Czech word noha is a fundamental noun that every learner encounters early in their journey. At its most basic level, it refers to the lower limb of the human body, encompassing everything from the hip down to the toes. However, a crucial distinction for English speakers to understand is that Czech often uses the single word noha to describe both the 'leg' and the 'foot'. While specific terms like chodidlo (sole/foot) and stehno (thigh) exist, in everyday conversation, if someone says their leg hurts, they might mean their ankle, their shin, or their foot, and they will simply use noha.

Anatomy
In biological terms, noha is the limb used for locomotion. It is a feminine noun following the 'žena' declension pattern. You will use it when talking about sports, health, fashion (trousers, shoes), and movement.

Bolí mě levá noha po včerejším běhu.

Beyond human anatomy, the word is extensively used for objects that have supporting structures. Just as in English we speak of the 'legs of a table', in Czech, you would say noha stolu. This extension applies to chairs, beds, and even metaphorical legs of a project or a situation. It is a versatile word that appears in hundreds of fixed expressions and idioms, reflecting its importance in the physical experience of life.

Furniture
The term noha is used for the vertical supports of furniture. For example, a three-legged stool is 'třínohá stolička'.

Ta židle má jednu nohu kratší.

In terms of register, noha is neutral and appropriate for all settings, from a doctor's office to a pub. Its diminutive form, nožka, is frequently used when talking to children or to describe something small and delicate, such as the stem of a wine glass or a mushroom. Understanding the breadth of noha is essential for mastering Czech spatial and physical descriptions.

Quantity
Because humans have two legs, the word noha often appears in the dual-instrumental form 'nohama', which is a remnant of Old Czech dual grammar.

Stál tam s roztaženýma nohama.

Using noha correctly requires attention to Czech's seven grammatical cases. As a feminine noun ending in -a, it follows the 'žena' paradigm, but with a few notable exceptions in the plural that reflect its history as a paired body part. For a beginner, the most common forms will be the nominative singular (noha) and the nominative plural (nohy).

Nominative Case
Used for the subject of the sentence. Example: 'Moje noha je zlomená' (My leg is broken).

Tahle noha od stolu se kýve.

When you are the object of an action, such as 'I hurt my leg', you use the accusative case: nohu. For example, 'Zranil jsem si nohu' (I injured my leg). Notice that in Czech, we often use the reflexive 'si' to indicate that the body part belongs to the subject, rather than using a possessive pronoun like 'moje'.

Accusative Case
Used for direct objects. Example: 'Dej si nohu nahoru' (Put your leg up).

Vidím tvou nohu vykukovat zpod peřiny.

The plural forms are where things get interesting. The instrumental plural (used with prepositions like 's' - with, or 'mezi' - between) is nohama, not the standard 'nohami'. This is a 'dual' form used for things that come in pairs. If you say 'mezi nohama', it means 'between the legs'. Using 'nohami' is grammatically incorrect in modern standard Czech for human limbs, though you might see it used for table legs in very formal contexts.

Genitive Case
Used for possession or after certain prepositions like 'bez' (without). Example: 'Běžel bez nohy' (He ran without a leg - metaphorical or literal).

Došlo k amputaci nohy.

Finally, remember that adjectives must agree with the gender and case of noha. Since it is feminine, you will use feminine endings: dlouhá noha (long leg), pravá noha (right leg), zlomená noha (broken leg). In the plural, it becomes dlouhé nohy, pravé nohy, zlomené nohy.

You will hear noha everywhere in daily Czech life. One of the most common places is in the context of health and physical sensation. Czechs are quite vocal about their physical well-being, and phrases like 'Bolí mě nohy' (My legs/feet hurt) are ubiquitous after a long walk, a day of work, or a hiking trip in the Krkonoše mountains.

At the Doctor
A doctor might ask: 'Máte bolesti v nohách?' (Do you have pain in your legs?). You might describe a 'zlomená noha' (broken leg) or 'oteklá noha' (swollen leg).

Sestřičko, pacient má levou nohu v sádře.

In the realm of fashion and shopping, noha is essential when buying shoes or trousers. While 'velikost boty' is shoe size, people often talk about how a shoe fits 'na noze' (on the foot). If a shoe is too tight, you'll hear: 'Ta bota mě tlačí na noze'. In clothing stores, you might discuss the length of the 'nohavice' (pant legs), which is a derivative of our target word.

In Sports
Football (soccer) is 'fotbal', but commentators often talk about a player's 'šikovné nohy' (skillful legs/feet) or a 'střela levačkou' (shot with the left leg).

Hráč dostal křeč do nohy v osmdesáté minutě.

In social settings, you'll encounter the word in idioms. If someone is in a hurry, they might say 'Musím vzít nohy na ramena' (I have to take my legs on my shoulders), which means to run away quickly or hurry up. If someone is clumsy, they are said to have 'obě nohy levé' (both legs left). These idiomatic uses are very common in movies, TV shows, and casual banter among friends.

At Home
Parents will often tell children: 'Nekecej nohama!' (Don't swing your legs!) while sitting at the table.

Polož ty nohy z toho stolu dolů!

For English speakers, the number one mistake is the 'Leg vs. Foot' confusion. In English, we are very careful to distinguish between the two. If you have a blister on your foot, you wouldn't say your leg hurts. In Czech, while you can say 'bolí mě chodidlo', it sounds slightly clinical. Most people will just say 'bolí mě noha'. Learners often over-use 'chodidlo' or 'stopa' (which means 'footprint' or 'trace', not the body part), making them sound unnatural.

Mistake: Using 'Stopa' for 'Foot'
'Stopa' is a footprint or a track. If you say 'mám velkou stopu', you mean you leave a big footprint. To say 'I have big feet', use 'mám velká chodidla' or simply 'mám velké nohy'.

Špatně: Moje stopa bolí. Správně: Moje noha bolí.

Another frequent error involves the gender of the word. Noha is feminine. Many beginners default to masculine because 'limb' (končetina) or 'parts' often feel neutral or masculine in other languages. This leads to incorrect adjective agreements like 'můj noha' instead of 'moje noha'. Always remember the -a ending usually signals a feminine noun in the 'žena' category.

Mistake: Instrumental Plural
Learners who know the standard 'žena' declension will try to say 'nohami'. While technically logical, Czech preserves the dual form 'nohama'. Using 'nohami' for human legs sounds like you are talking about robotic legs or perhaps the legs of a very formal table.

Špatně: Hýbal nohami. Správně: Hýbal nohama.

The fourth common mistake is confusion with the word 'nůž' (knife). Because 'noha' and 'nože' (genitive of knife or plural of knife) sound somewhat similar to a beginner's ear, there can be momentary confusion. However, the context usually clears this up. Just be careful with your vowels; the short 'o' in 'noha' is different from the long 'ů' or 'o' in related forms of 'nůž'.

Mistake: Case after numbers
After the number 5 and above, you must use the genitive plural 'noh'. Example: 'Pět noh'. Many learners mistakenly use the nominative 'nohy'.

Viděl jsem tam stůl s pěti nohama (or 'nohami' for furniture).

While noha is the general term, Czech has several specific words that you might use depending on the context or the level of precision required. Understanding these will help you sound more like a native speaker and less like a textbook.

Chodidlo vs. Noha
Chodidlo refers specifically to the sole of the foot or the foot part itself. Use this in medical contexts or when being very specific about where a shoe hurts. Noha is the whole limb.
Končetina vs. Noha
Končetina is the formal/biological term for 'extremity' or 'limb'. You will see this in textbooks or police reports. 'Dolní končetina' means 'lower limb' (leg).
Tlapka vs. Noha
Tlapka means 'paw'. While a dog has 'nohy' (legs), its feet are 'tlapky'. Using 'tlapka' for a human is cute or diminutive.

Pes si poranil tlapku, tak kulhá na jednu nohu.

There are also slang and informal terms. Haksna (from German 'Haxe') is a very informal, somewhat crude way to refer to a leg or foot, often used when someone has big or smelly feet. Pata specifically means 'heel', and špička refers to the 'tip' or 'toes' of the foot/shoe.

In a technical sense, if you are talking about the 'leg' of a journey or a race, you wouldn't use noha. Instead, you would use etapa (stage) or úsek (section). This is a common 'false friend' context where English uses 'leg' but Czech does not.

Nožka
The diminutive. Used for: 1. Children's legs. 2. Stems of mushrooms. 3. Stems of wine glasses. 4. Delicate furniture legs.

Podívej se na tu tenkou nožku té skleničky.

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Examples by Level

1

Moje noha je velká.

My leg/foot is big.

Feminine singular nominative.

2

Máš dvě nohy.

You have two legs.

Plural nominative.

3

Bolí mě noha.

My leg hurts.

Accusative object with 'bolí'.

4

To je noha od stolu.

That is a table leg.

Nominative singular.

5

Pravá noha, levá noha.

Right leg, left leg.

Adjective agreement.

6

Mám studené nohy.

I have cold feet.

Plural accusative.

7

Jedna noha je krátká.

One leg is short.

Subject-verb agreement.

8

Kde máš nohy?

Where are your legs/feet?

Plural nominative.

1

Zlomil jsem si nohu na lyžích.

I broke my leg while skiing.

Accusative with reflexive 'si'.

2

Polož tu nohu na židli.

Put that leg on the chair.

Imperative + Accusative.

3

Koupil jsem si boty na obě nohy.

I bought shoes for both legs/feet.

Accusative plural.

4

Stůl stojí na čtyřech nohách.

The table stands on four legs.

Locative plural.

5

Nemůžu hýbat nohou.

I can't move my leg.

Instrumental singular.

6

Moje sestra má dlouhé nohy.

My sister has long legs.

Adjective agreement.

7

Pes kulhá na zadní nohu.

The dog is limping on its back leg.

Accusative after 'na'.

8

Ukaž mi svou nohu.

Show me your leg.

Accusative with possessive.

1

Konečně stojím na vlastních nohách.

I am finally standing on my own feet (independent).

Idiomatic locative plural.

2

Vzal nohy na ramena a utekl.

He took his legs on his shoulders and ran away.

Idiom, accusative plural.

3

Mám písek mezi prsty na nohách.

I have sand between my toes (on my legs/feet).

Locative plural.

4

Pavouk má osm noh.

A spider has eight legs.

Genitive plural after a number.

5

Je to jen malá nožka od houby.

It is just a small mushroom stem.

Diminutive 'nožka'.

6

Hýbal nohama pod stolem.

He was moving his legs under the table.

Dual instrumental form.

7

Cítím únavu v celých nohách.

I feel tiredness in my whole legs.

Locative plural with adjective.

8

Ta sklenička má velmi tenkou nožku.

That glass has a very thin stem.

Diminutive accusative.

1

Máš obě nohy levé, neumíš tancovat.

You have two left legs, you can't dance.

Idiom for clumsiness.

2

Lež má krátké nohy.

A lie has short legs (it won't go far).

Proverbial usage.

3

Dostal se z té nemoci a už je zase na nohách.

He recovered from the illness and is back on his feet.

Idiomatic phrase.

4

Musíme tu skříň podložit, jedna noha nedoléhá.

We need to prop up the wardrobe, one leg doesn't reach.

Functional description.

5

Běhal, až mu nohy nestačily.

He ran until his legs couldn't keep up.

Figurative expression.

6

Prohlédl si koně od hlavy až k nohám.

He examined the horse from head to toe (legs).

Dative plural.

7

S takovou nohou do toho boty neobuješ.

With a leg (foot) like that, you won't get into those shoes.

Instrumental singular.

8

Stonožka ztratila jednu ze svých mnoha noh.

The centipede lost one of its many legs.

Genitive plural.

1

Byl už jednou nohou v hrobě, ale přežil.

He was already with one foot in the grave, but he survived.

Instrumental singular idiom.

2

Celý projekt stojí na hliněných nohách.

The whole project stands on clay legs (is unstable).

Metaphorical locative plural.

3

Pletly se mu nohy únavou i alkoholem.

His legs were tangling from fatigue and alcohol.

Reflexive verb with 'nohy'.

4

Podlomily se mu nohy hrůzou.

His legs gave way with horror.

Verb 'podlomit se'.

5

Vykročil pravou nohou do nového roku.

He stepped into the new year with the right foot.

Symbolic instrumental.

6

Neplést si nohu stolu s nohou lidskou.

Do not confuse a table leg with a human leg.

Infinitive instruction.

7

Jeho argumentace stojí na pevných nohách.

His argumentation stands on firm legs (is solid).

Abstract locative plural.

8

Sotva pletl nohama, jak byl vyčerpaný.

He could barely move his legs, he was so exhausted.

Dual instrumental.

1

Básník opěvoval ladné křivky jejích nohou.

The poet praised the graceful curves of her legs.

Genitive plural.

2

Sisyfos valil balvan, až mu nohy vypovídaly službu.

Sisyphus rolled the boulder until his legs failed him.

Personification of legs.

3

V této oblasti se noha bělocha objevila jen zřídka.

In this area, the leg (foot) of a white man appeared only rarely.

Synecdoche (part for whole).

4

Architekt navrhl nosné nohy mostu s nevídanou elegancí.

The architect designed the supporting legs of the bridge with unprecedented elegance.

Technical usage.

5

Být pevný v kramflecích znamená stát pevně na nohách.

To be firm in one's boots means to stand firmly on one's legs.

Comparative idiom.

6

Noha osudu na něj těžce dolehla.

The leg (foot) of fate weighed heavily upon him.

Abstract metaphor.

7

Zatřásla nohama, aby ze sebe setřásla prach cest.

She shook her legs to shake off the dust of the roads.

Dual instrumental.

8

Každá noha té příšery byla zakončena ostrým drápem.

Each leg of that monster ended in a sharp claw.

Distributive 'každá'.

Common Collocations

zlomená noha
dlouhé nohy
noha od stolu
levá noha
pravá noha
bosá noha
umělá noha
zadní noha
přední noha
těžké nohy

Common Phrases

Na nohy!

— Get up! (literally: On the legs!)

Všichni na nohy!

Dát si nohy nahoru

— To relax (literally: To put one's legs up).

Po práci si dám nohy nahoru.

Být na nohou

— To be busy or active all day.

Jsem celý den na nohou.

Plést se pod nohy

— To get in someone's way.

Dět

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