Musíme prohledat rekvizity.

Musíme is the 1st person plural present form of muset, which means to have to / must.

So:

• muset = to have to
• musíme = we have to / we must

In this sentence, it tells you that the action is necessary for we.

Because after the modal verb muset, Czech normally uses an infinitive.

So the pattern is:

• musíme + infinitive
• we must + verb

Examples:

• Musíme odejít. = We must leave.
• Musíme čekat. = We must wait.
• Musíme prohledat rekvizity. = We must search the props.

This works very much like English must + base verb.

This is a very common question, because the two verbs are related but not the same.

• hledat = to look for, to seek
• prohledat = to search through, to examine thoroughly

So:

• Hledat rekvizity would usually mean to look for the props.
• Prohledat rekvizity means to search the props / search through the props.

The prefix pro- often adds the idea of going through something thoroughly.

Also, prohledat is perfective, so it presents the search as a whole or as something to be completed.

Because rekvizity is the direct object of prohledat, so it is in the accusative case.

The dictionary form is:

• rekvizita = a prop

Plural:

• rekvizity = props

In this case, the accusative plural looks the same as the nominative plural.

Compare:

• Ta rekvizita = that prop
• Vidím rekvizitu = I see the prop

Plural:

• Ty rekvizity = those props
• Vidím rekvizity = I see the props

So even though the form stays rekvizity, its role in the sentence is understood from the verb and syntax.

Not always.

In many everyday situations, musíme often sounds closer to we have to than to the stronger English we must.

So depending on context, Musíme prohledat rekvizity could sound like:

• We have to search the props
• We need to search the props
• We must search the props

English chooses among these more freely, while Czech often just uses muset.

Because Czech has no articles.

There is no direct equivalent of English a / an / the used in ordinary sentences.

So rekvizity can mean:

• props
• the props

The exact meaning depends on context.

If Czech wants to be more specific, it can use words like:

• ty rekvizity = those / the props
• nějaké rekvizity = some props

But very often, Czech simply leaves that unstated.

Yes. Czech word order is relatively flexible.

The neutral order here is:

• Musíme prohledat rekvizity.

But you could also hear:

• Rekvizity musíme prohledat.
• Musíme rekvizity prohledat.

These versions all mean roughly the same thing, but the emphasis changes:

• Musíme prohledat rekvizity. = neutral
• Rekvizity musíme prohledat. = emphasis on the props
• Musíme rekvizity prohledat. = slight emphasis on the object before the infinitive

Czech often uses word order to show what is new, important, or contrasted information.

A simple learner-friendly pronunciation guide would be:

MOO-see-meh PROH-hleh-daht REK-vih-zih-tih

A few useful points:

• Czech stress is usually on the first syllable of each word:
  • MUsíme
  • PROhledat
  • REKvizity
• í in musíme is a long vowel.
• h in Czech is a real pronounced consonant, so prohledat is not silent in the middle.
• Czech pronunciation is usually quite regular once you learn the sound system.

Yes, but it changes the aspect and the feel.

• prohledat = perfective

  • focuses on completing the search
  • We must search through the props as a whole task

• prohledávat = imperfective

  • focuses on the process, duration, or repeated action
  • something like We must be searching through the props or We have to search through the props for a while / repeatedly

In many basic situations, Musíme prohledat rekvizity is the more natural choice if the goal is to complete the search.

Most commonly, rekvizita / rekvizity refers to props, especially in theater, film, television, or similar contexts.

However, depending on context, related words can sometimes refer more broadly to required items or formal particulars. Still, in a sentence like Musíme prohledat rekvizity, the most natural reading is usually props.

So if you are learning the everyday meaning, props is the safest one to remember.