Voda je v podmisce pod odtokovým otvorem.

The basic dictionary form is podmiska.

In this sentence, podmiska means a saucer, drip tray, or dish underneath something. In this context, it most likely means the tray under a flowerpot or under some container with a drain hole.

So:

• podmiska = saucer / tray
• v podmisce = in the saucer / in the tray

Because after v meaning in for a location, Czech normally uses the locative case.

The noun podmiska therefore changes form:

• nominative: podmiska
• locative singular: (v) podmisce

This is a normal declension pattern. The ending changes, and the k changes to c before the ending:

• podmiska → podmisce

So v podmisce literally means in the saucer/tray.

Because it comes after the preposition pod meaning under, and here pod describes a location, not movement.

When pod means under in a static position, it takes the instrumental case:

• pod stolem = under the table
• pod mostem = under the bridge
• pod odtokovým otvorem = under the drainage hole

The basic form is otvor and the instrumental singular is otvorem.

No. Pod can take two different cases depending on meaning:

• instrumental for location: under
• accusative for movement toward a position under something

Compare:

• Je pod stolem. = He/it is under the table.
• Dám to pod stůl. = I’ll put it under the table.

In your sentence, nothing is moving, so Czech uses the instrumental:

• pod odtokovým otvorem

It means drainage hole, drain hole, or outlet opening.

It consists of:

• odtokový = drainage / drain / outlet
• otvor = opening / hole

The adjective odtokový agrees with otvor in gender, number, and case, so here both are in the instrumental singular:

• odtokovým
• otvorem

So the whole phrase means under the drainage hole.

Because Czech does not use articles like English a/an and the.

So:

• Voda can mean water, the water, or sometimes some water
• v podmisce can mean in a saucer or in the saucer
• pod odtokovým otvorem can mean under a drainage hole or under the drainage hole

The exact meaning is understood from context.

Je is the 3rd person singular present tense of být = to be.

So:

• Voda je... = The water is...

It links the subject voda with the location phrase:

• v podmisce pod odtokovým otvorem

In Czech, this verb is usually required in a normal present-tense statement like this.

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

Your sentence:

• Voda je v podmisce pod odtokovým otvorem.

is perfectly natural and gives voda as the starting point/topic.

But you could also say:

• V podmisce pod odtokovým otvorem je voda.

That version puts more emphasis on the location first, something like In the saucer under the drain hole, there is water.

So the basic meaning stays the same, but the focus can shift.

In practice, it describes the whole location, but most naturally it tells you where the podmiska is: the water is in the saucer, and that saucer is under the drainage hole.

So the intended picture is:

1. there is a drainage hole,
2. under it is a saucer/tray,
3. in that saucer there is water.

Grammatically, Czech allows this compact phrasing without repeating anything.

Yes, it works well here. Otvor means an opening, aperture, or hole, and it sounds a bit more neutral or technical than díra.

A rough comparison:

• otvor = opening / aperture / hole
• díra = hole, often more everyday, rougher, or less technical

So for something like a drain hole in a pot or container, odtokový otvor is a very natural expression.

A few useful points:

• Czech stress is usually on the first syllable of each word.
• Long vowels matter: ó and ý are longer than o and y.

Rough pronunciation help:

• Voda ≈ VO-da
• je ≈ ye
• v podmisce ≈ f POD-mis-tse
  (the v is often pronounced like f before a voiceless consonant)
• pod odtokovým otvorem ≈ pot od-TO-ko-veem OT-vo-rem

You do not need a perfect accent at first; the most important things are:

• first-syllable stress,
• clear consonants,
• noticing the case endings like -e and -em.