Když je babička žíznivá, pije pomalu vodu ze sklenice.

Here když means when in the sense of a general situation:

• Když je babička žíznivá, pije pomalu vodu ze sklenice.
• When Grandma is thirsty, she drinks water slowly from a glass.

In many contexts, když can also translate as when for repeated or habitual actions. It is less like a hypothetical if and more like whenever/when here.

A rough comparison:

• když = when / whenever
• jestli / pokud = more clearly if

So in this sentence, když introduces the time/situation under which the main action happens.

Je is the 3rd person singular form of být (to be).

So:

• babička je žíznivá = Grandma is thirsty

Czech usually needs the verb to be in this kind of sentence, just like English does. You cannot normally leave it out here.

Breakdown:

• když = when
• je = is
• babička = grandma
• žíznivá = thirsty

So Když je babička žíznivá literally follows the same structure as When Grandma is thirsty.

Because žíznivá has to agree with babička, which is a feminine singular noun.

Czech adjectives change their endings to match the noun in:

• gender
• number
• case

Here:

• babička = feminine singular
• so the adjective must also be feminine singular
• therefore: žíznivá

Compare:

• žíznivý muž = a thirsty man
• žíznivá babička = a thirsty grandmother
• žíznivé dítě = a thirsty child

So the ending -á is there because the person being described is feminine.

Czech word order is much more flexible than English word order, but the sentence you have is a very natural neutral order.

• Když je babička žíznivá, pije pomalu vodu ze sklenice.

This sounds normal and clear. But Czech can often move parts around for emphasis, topic, or style.

For example, these may also be possible depending on context:

• Když je babička žíznivá, pomalu pije vodu ze sklenice.
• Když je babička žíznivá, vodu pije pomalu ze sklenice.

They do not all sound equally neutral, but they are understandable because Czech uses case endings to show grammatical roles, not just word order.

So unlike English, Czech word order is flexible, but that does not mean it is random.

Pije is the 3rd person singular present tense of pít (to drink).

Because the subject is babička (she / grandma), Czech uses the he/she/it form:

• já piju / piji = I drink
• ty piješ = you drink
• on/ona pije = he/she drinks

So:

• babička pije = Grandma drinks / is drinking

This verb is slightly irregular-looking because the infinitive is pít, but the present stem is pij-:

• pít → pije

It can mean either, depending on context.

Czech present tense often covers both:

• she drinks
• she is drinking

In your sentence, because of když and the general meaning, it most naturally sounds habitual or general:

• When Grandma is thirsty, she drinks water slowly from a glass.

So this is not necessarily describing one single moment. It can describe what she generally does.

Because vodu is the accusative singular form of voda (water).

The verb pít usually takes a direct object, and direct objects are commonly in the accusative case.

So:

• dictionary form: voda
• object form after pije: vodu

Compare:

• Voda je studená. = The water is cold.
  (voda = subject, nominative)

• Pije vodu. = She is drinking water.
  (vodu = direct object, accusative)

This is one of the most important patterns in Czech: the noun changes form depending on its grammatical role.

Both z and ze mean from/out of, but ze is used when pronunciation is easier that way.

Here, sklenice starts with skl-, which is a difficult cluster after z, so Czech commonly uses:

• ze sklenice

instead of:

• z sklenice

This is mainly a pronunciation issue. English has similar things in a looser way, like choosing a form that sounds easier.

So:

• z domu = from the house
• ze školy = from school
• ze sklenice = from the glass

Because the preposition z/ze requires the genitive case.

The noun sklenice happens to have the same form in nominative singular and genitive singular:

• nominative: sklenice
• genitive: sklenice

So even though the form does not visibly change here, the case still matters grammatically.

Compare with a noun where the form changes more clearly:

• dům = house
• z domu = from the house

In your sentence:

• ze sklenice = from the glass

So the grammar is:

• ze
  • genitive

It can mean either, depending on context.

Czech has no articles like a and the, so sklenice by itself does not tell you whether the glass is specific or not. The meaning comes from the situation.

So ze sklenice could be understood as:

• from the glass
• from a glass
• out of the glass
• out of a glass

All are possible depending on what is already known in the conversation.

Pomalu is the adverb meaning slowly.

It comes from the adjective pomalý (slow), but the adverb form changes:

• pomalý = slow
• pomalu = slowly

This is very common in Czech:

• rychlý = fast
• rychle = quickly
• pomalý = slow
• pomalu = slowly

In the sentence, pomalu describes how she drinks.

So:

• pije pomalu = she drinks slowly

Yes. Czech adverbs are often movable.

Your sentence has:

• pije pomalu vodu ze sklenice

That is perfectly fine. But you may also hear:

• pomalu pije vodu ze sklenice
• pije vodu ze sklenice pomalu

The meaning stays similar, but the emphasis changes a little.

A useful rule:

• Czech word order often reflects information structure and emphasis
• the more neutral version is usually the best one to learn first

So the given order is natural, but not the only possible one.

Its basic meaning is grandmother / grandma.

In real usage, babička can sometimes also be used affectionately for an older woman, depending on context, but the normal core meaning is still grandma.

So if you see babička by itself, your first interpretation should be:

• grandma / grandmother

If Czech wants to say old lady more directly, it would usually use a different word, such as stará paní.

Because Czech does not have articles.

English says things like:

• the grandmother
• a glass
• the water

Czech usually just uses the noun by itself:

• babička
• sklenice
• voda

Whether something is a, the, or just a general noun is understood from context.

So in this sentence, Czech does not need separate words for articles. That is completely normal.

Yes, it is a bit tricky for English speakers.

A rough guide:

• žíz-ni-vá

Important points:

• ž sounds like the s in measure
• í is a long ee
• z is like English z
• stress in Czech normally falls on the first syllable

So the stress is on ŽÍ-.

Very roughly, for an English speaker:

• ZHYYZ-nih-vaa

That is only approximate, but it can help at first.

Yes, it is natural and grammatical.

A native speaker might choose slightly different word order depending on context, for example:

• Když má babička žízeň, pije pomalu vodu ze sklenice.
• Když je babička žíznivá, pije vodu ze sklenice pomalu.

But your original sentence is absolutely fine.

One small stylistic note: Czech often also expresses to be thirsty with the noun žízeň:

• má žízeň = literally has thirst = is thirsty

So both are possible:

• je žíznivá
• má žízeň

The original sentence still sounds correct and natural.