Když je venku zima, mám rád teplou polévku.

Here když means when in the sense of whenever / when it happens that.

So the sentence expresses a general situation:

• Když je venku zima... = When it’s cold outside...

In other contexts, když can sometimes feel close to if, but in this sentence when/whenever is the most natural interpretation.

Yes, zima is a noun, and Czech often uses it in the fixed expression je zima, which means it is cold.

So:

• Je zima. = It’s cold.

This is a very common Czech pattern. English uses it is + adjective (it is cold), but Czech often uses a noun-like expression instead.

Also, zima can mean:

• cold in Je mi zima = I’m cold
• winter in V zimě = in winter

So the exact meaning depends on context.

Venku means outside / outdoors.

So:

• Je venku zima. = It’s cold outside.

It is an adverb, not a prepositional phrase. English uses two words (outside, outdoors), but Czech commonly uses the single word venku.

Because Když je venku zima is a subordinate clause, and Czech normally separates subordinate clauses with a comma.

So the structure is:

• Když je venku zima, = subordinate clause
• mám rád teplou polévku. = main clause

This comma is standard and important in Czech writing.

Literally, the parts are:

• mám = I have
• rád = glad / fond

But together mít rád is a fixed expression meaning to like or to be fond of.

So:

• mám rád teplou polévku = I like warm soup

It is one of those expressions that should be learned as a whole, not word-for-word.

Yes.

With mít rád, the word rád agrees with the speaker:

• if the speaker is male: mám rád
• if the speaker is female: mám ráda

So:

• A man says: Mám rád teplou polévku.
• A woman says: Mám ráda teplou polévku.

That is a very common thing learners ask about, because English I like does not change for gender, but Czech does here.

Because mít rád takes a direct object, and direct objects are usually in the accusative case.

The dictionary form is:

• teplá polévka = warm soup (nominative)

But after mám rád, it becomes accusative:

• teplou polévku

Both words change because polévka is feminine singular:

• teplá → teplou
• polévka → polévku

So:

• Mám rád teplou polévku. = I like warm soup.

Because Czech has no articles.

English says:

• a warm soup
• the warm soup
• often more naturally: warm soup

Czech simply says:

• teplou polévku

Whether it means warm soup, a warm soup, or the warm soup depends on context.

In this sentence, the general meaning is simply warm soup.

Not necessarily. In this sentence, the present tense expresses a general habit or preference.

So:

• Když je venku zima, mám rád teplou polévku.

means something like:

• When it’s cold outside, I like warm soup.
• Whenever it’s cold outside, I like warm soup.

It is not limited to one specific moment.

Yes, Czech word order is fairly flexible, although the most neutral version here is:

• Když je venku zima, mám rád teplou polévku.

You could also say:

• Mám rád teplou polévku, když je venku zima.

That is still understandable, but it may sound a little different in focus. The original version puts the condition first, which is very natural.

So the order can change, but not all versions sound equally neutral.

You could, but the meaning becomes stronger.

• mám rád = I like / I’m fond of
• miluju = I love

For food, mám rád is usually the safer, more neutral choice.
Miluju is possible in everyday speech, but it sounds more emotional or emphatic.

So in this sentence, mám rád is the most natural standard choice.