Nechci prohrát.

to want

Breakdown of Nechci prohrát.

• prohrát: to lose a game

Questions & Answers about Nechci prohrát.

What does nechci mean by itself, and how is it formed?

Nechci is the 1st person singular present form of chtít, which means to want.

• chci = I want
• nechci = I do not want / I don’t want

The ne- at the beginning is the normal Czech negative prefix. So this is literally the negative form of chci.

This verb is a bit irregular, so it is worth learning as a whole pattern:

• chci = I want
• chceš = you want
• chce = he/she/it wants

Why is there no word for I in the sentence?

Because Czech often drops subject pronouns when the verb form already makes the subject clear.

In nechci, the ending already tells you it means I do not want, so já is not necessary.

You could say Já nechci prohrát, but that would usually add emphasis, for example:

• Já nechci prohrát, ale on ano = I don’t want to lose, but he does

So in the basic sentence, leaving out já is the most natural choice.

Why is prohrát in the infinitive?