Když mám teplotu, nejraději odpočívám doma a piji teplý čaj.

When I have a fever, I most like to rest at home and drink warm tea.

Breakdown of Když mám teplotu, nejraději odpočívám doma a piji teplý čaj.

• já: I
• mít: to have
• a: and
• pít: to drink

Questions & Answers about Když mám teplotu, nejraději odpočívám doma a piji teplý čaj.

What does Když mean here?

Here Když means when: When I have a fever...

It introduces a subordinate clause: Když mám teplotu.

In Czech, když can also sometimes be translated as if, depending on context, but in this sentence when is the most natural translation.

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Why is there a comma after teplotu?

Because Když mám teplotu is a subordinate clause, and Czech normally separates subordinate clauses with a comma.

So the structure is:

• Když mám teplotu, = When I have a fever,
• nejraději odpočívám doma a piji teplý čaj. = main clause

This is very similar to English, where we also usually put a comma after an opening when-clause.

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Why does Czech say mám teplotu? Doesn’t that literally mean I have a temperature?