Learn Hardcore Czech: Chci ochutnat jídlo.

In Czech, ch is a single consonant, pronounced as a guttural sound similar to the ch in Scottish loch or German Bach. It’s a voiceless velar fricative, meaning you push air between the back of your tongue and the soft palate without using your vocal cords.

Why isn’t there a word like “the” in Chci ochutnat jídlo?

Czech doesn’t use definite or indefinite articles like English does. Jídlo simply means “food,” and context tells us whether we mean the food or just food in general. Speakers rely on context and word order rather than articles.

What is the difference between chci and chtít?

Chtít is the infinitive form meaning “to want.” Chci is the first-person singular present tense form meaning “I want.” In other words, chtít is the dictionary form, and chci is how you say it when you’re talking about yourself in the present.

Why do we use the infinitive ochutnat after chci?

When you want to express that you want to do something in Czech, you typically use chtít (in a conjugated form) plus the infinitive of the main verb. Here, ochutnat is the infinitive meaning “to taste,” so “I want to taste” becomes Chci ochutnat.