Díváme se na zápas.

Díváme se is the 1st person plural present tense form of dívat se, which means to look or to watch.

So díváme se means we look or, in this context, more naturally we are watching.

Czech present tense often covers both:

• we look / we watch
• we are looking / we are watching

So Díváme se na zápas is naturally understood as We are watching a match/game.

The verb is not just dívat. The normal dictionary form is dívat se.

Here, se is a reflexive particle that belongs to the verb. You usually learn it together with the verb:

• dívat se = to look at, to watch

So you should think of dívat se as one unit, not as dívat plus some optional extra word.

Many Czech verbs work this way, and the se is required.

Because dívat se normally takes na + accusative when you say what someone is looking at or watching.

So:

• dívat se na film = to watch a film
• dívat se na televizi = to watch TV
• dívat se na zápas = to watch a match

This is just the pattern the verb uses, so it is best learned as:

dívat se na + accusative

It is accusative singular.

That is because the preposition na after dívat se requires the accusative:

• na zápas

For this noun, the accusative singular looks the same as the nominative singular:

• nominative: zápas
• accusative: zápas

So even though the form does not change, the case is still accusative.

Czech does not have a special continuous tense like English am watching / are watching.

Instead, the present tense is used:

• dívám se = I look / I am looking
• díváme se = we look / we are looking

The exact meaning depends on context. In a sentence like Díváme se na zápas, the natural English translation is usually We are watching a match.

It is understood from the verb ending.

In díváme se, the ending -áme shows 1st person plural, so the subject we is already built into the verb.

That means Czech often leaves out the pronoun:

• Díváme se na zápas. = We are watching a match.

You could add my for emphasis:

• My se díváme na zápas. = We are watching a match.

But normally it is not necessary.

Not exactly. Zápas usually means a match, contest, or bout, especially in sports.

Depending on context, English might translate it as:

• match
• game
• sporting event

For example:

• fotbalový zápas = football match / soccer game
• boxerský zápas = boxing match

So match is often the safest basic translation.

Yes. Czech word order is more flexible than English word order.

The neutral order here is:

• Díváme se na zápas.

But other orders are possible for emphasis or contrast, for example:

• Na zápas se díváme.
• Na zápas díváme se is much less natural and would usually not be used in normal speech.

Changing the order changes the emphasis more than the basic meaning.

A rough pronunciation guide is:

DEE-vaa-meh seh naa ZAA-pahs

A few useful notes:

• í is a long ee sound
• á is a long a
• stress in Czech is usually on the first syllable of each word:
  • DÍváme
  • SE
  • NA
  • ZÁpas

So the main word stresses are: DÍ-váme se na ZÁ-pas

The dictionary form is dívat se.

Its present tense forms are:

• dívám se = I watch / I am watching
• díváš se = you watch
• dívá se = he/she/it watches
• díváme se = we watch
• díváte se = you watch
• dívají se = they watch

So díváme se is simply the we form of dívat se.

Yes, although they can overlap.

• dívat se na means to look at or to watch
• sledovat means to watch, to observe, to follow closely

For a sports match, both can work:

• Díváme se na zápas.
• Sledujeme zápas.

But they feel a little different:

• dívat se na zápas = we are watching the match
• sledovat zápas = we are following/watching it attentively

A learner should definitely know dívat se na + accusative, because it is a very common everyday pattern.