Obchodní podmínky jsou v e-mailu.

Because podmínky is the plural form of podmínka.

In this sentence, obchodní podmínky means terms and conditions or business terms, and in Czech that idea is normally expressed as a plural noun.

• singular: podmínka = condition, term
• plural: podmínky = conditions, terms

So the verb also has to be plural: jsou = are.

Obchodní means business, commercial, or trade-related.

It is an adjective describing podmínky, so together:

• obchodní podmínky = business terms / terms and conditions

The ending -í is just part of this adjective’s normal form. Some Czech adjectives have this pattern and do not change in the same obvious way as adjectives like dobrý.

Here, obchodní agrees with podmínky, but its form happens to stay obchodní.

Because the subject is plural.

• je = is
• jsou = are

Since podmínky is plural, Czech uses jsou:

• Obchodní podmínky jsou... = The terms and conditions are...

If the subject were singular, you would use je:

• Podmínka je v e-mailu. = The condition is in the email.

Because the preposition v usually requires the locative case when it means in.

So:

• basic form: e-mail
• after v: v e-mailu

This is very common in Czech. Prepositions often change the form of the noun that follows them.

Examples:

• v domě = in the house
• v práci = at work / in work
• v e-mailu = in the email

Yes, e-mail is a masculine inanimate noun in Czech.

Its forms follow a masculine pattern, so after v you get:

• e-mail → v e-mailu

You may also see the spelling email in modern usage, but e-mail is still common and perfectly understandable.

Yes. In modern Czech, both e-mail and email can be seen.

So you may encounter:

• v e-mailu
• v emailu

Both are understandable. Style guides and personal preference may differ, but learners should recognize both.

Because Czech has no articles like the or a/an.

So Czech simply says:

• Obchodní podmínky jsou v e-mailu.

Whether that means:

• The terms and conditions are in the email
• Terms and conditions are in the email

depends on context.

English requires an article, but Czech does not.

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

The neutral version here is:

• Obchodní podmínky jsou v e-mailu.

But you could also hear:

• V e-mailu jsou obchodní podmínky.

This can sound more natural if you are emphasizing where they are.

Czech word order often changes for emphasis, topic, or what is already known in the conversation.

A rough pronunciation guide is:

• pod-MEEN-kee

More carefully:

• po as in a short po
• dmín with a long í sound
• ky with a short final kee-like sound, though Czech y is not exactly the same as English ee

Also remember that Czech stress is normally on the first syllable:

• PODmínky

Jsou can be tricky for English speakers.

It is pronounced roughly like ysoh or soh, depending on how carefully or naturally someone is speaking.

A few notes:

• The j in Czech is like English y.
• The cluster js- is often reduced in normal speech.
• So although it is written jsou, in fast speech it may sound closer to sou.

This is normal and worth getting used to when listening.

Yes, it is very common, especially in business, websites, contracts, and online purchases.

Depending on context, Czech may also use longer or more formal phrases, but obchodní podmínky is a standard and very useful expression to learn.

You will often see it on websites as a heading, for example:

• Obchodní podmínky
• Všeobecné obchodní podmínky = General terms and conditions