Toto zařízení funguje.

Toto means this. It is the neuter singular form of the demonstrative pronoun/adjective ten / ta / to and its extended forms.

It matches zařízení, which is a neuter singular noun, so toto zařízení means this device.

A useful pattern is:

• ten = this/that for masculine nouns
• ta = this/that for feminine nouns
• to = this/that for neuter nouns

And the more explicit this forms are:

• tento = this (masculine)
• tato = this (feminine)
• toto = this (neuter)

So toto zařízení is grammatically matched.

Zařízení is neuter.

One clue is its ending: many neuter nouns in Czech end in -í, especially abstract nouns or nouns formed from verbs, although you cannot rely on endings alone in every case.

In this sentence, you can also tell from the word toto, which is the neuter singular form of this. Since toto modifies zařízení, the noun must also be neuter singular.

Here zařízení is in the nominative singular.

It is the subject of the sentence, and the subject in a basic Czech sentence is normally in the nominative case.

So the structure is:

• Toto zařízení = the subject
• funguje = the verb

That gives: This device works.

Here it is singular.

The noun zařízení is one of those Czech nouns whose singular and plural nominative forms can look the same in some contexts. So yes, the form can be confusing.

You know it is singular here because the other words show it:

• toto = neuter singular
• funguje = 3rd person singular

If it were plural, you would expect something like:

• Tato zařízení fungují. = These devices work.

So agreement tells you the number.

Funguje is:

• present tense
• 3rd person singular
• from the verb fungovat = to function / to work

So it means:

• it works
• it is working (depending on context)

Because the subject is zařízení = device, Czech uses the 3rd person singular form funguje.

Czech has no articles, so there is no direct equivalent of English the or a/an in most sentences.

That means zařízení can mean:

• a device
• the device
• just device in a general sense

The exact interpretation depends on context.

In this sentence, toto already points to a specific object, so English naturally translates it as this device.

A simple learner-friendly pronunciation guide is:

TO-to za-REE-zeh-nyee FUN-goo-ye

A few details:

• toto = TO-to
• zařízení has stress on the first syllable: ZA-ří-ze-ní
• ř is a special Czech sound, difficult for learners; it is somewhat like a rolled r mixed with zh
• funguje = FUN-goo-ye

Important pronunciation note: Czech stress is usually on the first syllable of each word.

Zařízení is a fairly broad word. It can mean:

• device
• piece of equipment
• apparatus
• sometimes even facility or installation, depending on context

So it is not limited to one kind of machine. In a technical context, device is often the best translation, which is why Toto zařízení funguje is a very natural sentence.

Yes, you often can.

Both are possible:

• To zařízení funguje.
• Toto zařízení funguje.

The difference is mainly one of style and emphasis:

• to is very common in everyday speech
• toto can sound a bit more explicit or slightly more formal/emphatic

In many contexts, both mean this device works.

Yes. Czech word order is more flexible than English word order, because grammatical roles are often shown by endings rather than by position.

The neutral order here is:

• Toto zařízení funguje.

But other orders are possible for emphasis, for example:

• Funguje toto zařízení? = Does this device work?
• Funguje. Toto zařízení. = possible in special spoken contexts, though not the normal basic sentence

In a simple statement, Toto zařízení funguje is the most natural default order.

Not exactly.

• funguje means works / functions / operates
• pracuje usually means works in the sense of is working, is at work, is doing work

For a device, funguje is the normal choice.

So:

• Toto zařízení funguje. = This device works / functions.

Using pracuje for a device would usually sound less natural unless you mean something more like is operating in a special context.