Learn Hardcore Czech: Náš park je velký a hezký.

park is a masculine inanimate noun.
In the nominative singular (the basic “dictionary” form), the correct form of náš for masculine is náš.

Other forms you might see:

naše – used with feminine and neuter singular nouns in nominative (e.g. naše škola – our school, naše auto – our car).
naši – used with masculine animate plural (e.g. naši kamarádi – our (male) friends).

So Náš park = Our (masc.) park is grammatically correct.

What case is park in here, and why?

park is in the nominative singular.

It is the subject of the sentence: Náš park (subject) je velký a hezký (predicate).
In Czech, the nominative is used for the subject, just like in many other case-based languages.

So the sentence structure is “Our park (subject) is big and nice (predicate).”

Why do velký and hezký both end with -ý?

Adjectives in Czech must agree with the noun they describe in gender, number, and case.

So we get:

When you say Náš park je velký a hezký, the adjectives still agree with park, even though they are used after the verb je.

Can I change the order and say Náš park je hezký a velký?

Yes. The meaning is the same; you are just changing the emphasis very slightly.

Náš park je velký a hezký – sounds like “big and (also) nice,” maybe focusing first on size.
Náš park je hezký a velký – sounds like “nice and (also) big,” maybe focusing first on attractiveness.

Both are grammatically correct. Word order in lists of adjectives is flexible and mostly a matter of style or subtle emphasis.

Can I drop je and just say Náš park velký a hezký?

No, not in standard Czech.

In some Slavic languages (e.g. Russian), the present tense “is” can be omitted.
In Czech, in a normal sentence like this, you must use the verb být (“to be”) in the present:
- Náš park je velký a hezký. – correct
- Náš park velký a hezký. – wrong in standard Czech (could only appear in very telegraphic or poetic language).

So je (“is”) is required here.

What’s the difference between Náš park je velký a hezký and Náš velký a hezký park?

They’re both correct but they do slightly different things:

Náš park je velký a hezký.
- This is a full sentence: subject + verb + predicate.
- You are making a statement about the park: “Our park is big and nice.”
Náš velký a hezký park
- This is a noun phrase, not a complete sentence.
- You’re just describing the park, like saying “our big and nice park” (no verb).
- It needs something else to make a full sentence, for example:
  - Náš velký a hezký park se mi líbí. – I like our big and nice park.

So use the first when you want a full sentence, the second when you want a descriptive phrase.

How do you pronounce Náš park je velký a hezký?

Approximate pronunciation in IPA:

Náš – /naːʃ/
- á is a long a, like “a” in “father” but held longer.
- š sounds like English sh.
park – /park/
- All sounds are short and clear, like in many European languages.
je – /jɛ/
- Like “yeh” in “yes.”
velký – /ˈvɛlkiː/
- e like in “bed.”
- ý is a long i sound, /iː/, similar to “ee” in “see” but slightly tenser.
a – /a/
- Short a like in “father,” but shorter.
hezký – /ˈɦɛskiː/
- h is voiced /ɦ/ (a softer, breathy h) but many learners just use normal English h.
- Again, ý = long ee sound.

Stress in Czech is always on the first syllable of each word: NÁŠ park je VEL-ký a HEZ-ký.

What’s the difference between hezký, pěkný, and krásný? They all seem to mean “nice/beautiful.”

They’re close in meaning, but with slightly different feel:

hezký
- Very common, neutral word for “nice” or “pretty.”
- Can describe looks, places, things, or even experiences.
- hezký park, hezký dům, hezký film.
pěkný
- Also “nice,” “pretty,” “good-looking.”
- Often interchangeable with hezký, sometimes a bit more colloquial or expressive.
- pěkný den – have a nice day.
krásný
- Stronger: “beautiful,” “gorgeous.”
- More intense than hezký.
- krásný park suggests it’s really beautiful, not just “nice.”

In your sentence, hezký is a natural, neutral choice: “Our park is big and nice/pretty.”

How would the sentence change if I say Our parks are big and nice (plural)?

You need to change the possessive, the noun, the verb, and the adjectives to plural:

Changes:

Everything must agree with the noun in number and gender.

Why is there no word for “the” in Náš park? Shouldn’t it be “the park”?

Czech has no articles like English “a / an / the.”

park can mean “a park” or “the park,” depending on context.
When you say Náš park, it automatically means “our park”, and whether that is specific or not is clear from context, not from grammar.

So English “Our park is big and nice” and “Our (the) park is big and nice” are both just Náš park je velký a hezký in Czech.

What’s the difference between a and i for “and”? Could I say velký i hezký?

Both a and i can be translated as “and,” but they’re used a bit differently:

a – the normal, neutral conjunction “and.”
- velký a hezký – big and nice.
i – often means “and also / as well as / both.” It can add a slight emphasis that both qualities are present.
- velký i hezký – big and also nice / both big and nice.

In everyday speech, velký a hezký is more common and neutral.
velký i hezký is correct too, just a bit more emphatic or stylistic.