Kočka si olizuje tlapku.

the cat

Breakdown of Kočka si olizuje tlapku.

• si: oneself
• tlapka: the paw
• olizovat: to lick

Questions & Answers about Kočka si olizuje tlapku.

What does each word in Kočka si olizuje tlapku mean?

• kočka = cat
• si = a reflexive/dative pronoun, often meaning something like for itself / to itself
• olizuje = licks / is licking
• tlapku = paw in the accusative form

So structurally, it is something like The cat is licking its paw.

Why is kočka in that form?

Kočka is the subject of the sentence, so it is in the nominative case, which is the basic dictionary form for this noun.

• nominative singular: kočka = cat
• The sentence is about what the cat is doing, so nominative is expected.

Why is it tlapku and not tlapka?

Because tlapka is the direct object of the verb olizovat (to lick), it has to be in the accusative case.

For this feminine noun:

• nominative: tlapka
• accusative: tlapku

So:

• kočka = the one doing the action
• tlapku = the thing being licked