Dative singular
Dám to mámě. Jdu k doktorovi.
In short
This is the to whom case: the person you give something to, help, call or thank. Men get -ovi, women -ě / -e (just like the locative) and things -u. You'll also see it after k (towards).
- Dám to mámě.máma
- Volám Petrovi.Petr
- Pomáhám sestře.sestra (r → ř)
- Jdu k obchodu.obchod
Full explanation
Think of the dative as the case for whoever is on the receiving end. Czechs ask komu? (to whom?). You'll use it:
- with verbs of giving and telling: dát, poslat, psát, říct, ukázat, koupit (něco komu)
- with some verbs that take the dative in Czech even though English doesn't think of them that way: pomáhat (help), volat (call), rozumět (understand), děkovat (thank), patřit (belong), líbit se (like)
- after k / ke (towards, to someone's place), proti (against), kvůli (because of) and díky (thanks to)
| Gender | Ending | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masc. animate | -ovi (soft: -i or -ovi) | Petr → Petrovi, učitel → učiteli |
| Masc. inanimate | hard -u · soft -i | obchod → k obchodu, pokoj → k pokoji |
| Feminine -a | -ě / -e (+ consonant change) | máma → mámě, sestra → sestře, Monika → Monice |
| Feminine -e / consonant | -i | Marie → Marii, práce → práci |
| Neuter | -o → -u · -e → -i · -í same | okno → k oknu, moře → k moři |
Here's a shortcut: for feminine nouns, the dative looks just like the locative (mámě, Praze, sestře). Learn one and you've got the other for free.