Czech Prepositions Unpacked: DO
Movement inside, final limits, and why Czech always asks kam?
The Czech preposition do is one of the clearest and most systematic prepositions in the language once you understand its core idea.
Unlike na, which spreads into many abstract areas, do is surprisingly strict. If you remember one sentence, remember this one: DO always means movement or direction inside.
1. Core Rule: DO + Genitive
The preposition do is always followed by the genitive case.
There are no exceptions.
If you see do, you automatically expect:
movement
direction
an endpoint
something being entered
The basic question is always:
KAM?
“Where to?”
2. Movement Into a Place (Entering Inside)
2.1 Physical places understood as “inside”
Do is used when you are entering a space that is conceptualized as an interior.
Jdu do banky.
“I’m going to the bank.”Pojď do domu.
“Come into the house.”Dali jsme si kabáty do skříně.
“We put the coats into the wardrobe.”
This includes buildings, rooms, enclosed spaces, and institutions understood as interiors.
2.2 Cities, countries, and regions
Czech uses do for geographical units understood as containers.
Zítra pojedu do Brna.
“Tomorrow I’ll travel to Brno.”Letíme do Německa.
“We’re flying to Germany.”Přestěhovali se do Prahy.
“They moved to Prague.”
This contrasts directly with na (used for regions like na Moravě. Just learn this by hearth…).
3. DO vs. NA: A Crucial Contrast
A helpful mental shortcut:
do = inside
na = surface / area / participation
Compare:
Jdu do kina.
“I’m going into the cinema.”Jdu na koncert.
“I’m going to a concert.”
The first is about entering a building. The second is about attending an event. This distinction is consistent and logical.
4. DO in Time Expressions: Final Limits
4.1 Time as an endpoint
Do is used to express a final point in time.
Zůstanu tady do soboty.
“I’ll stay here until Saturday.”Pracoval do noci.
“He worked until night.”Obchod je otevřený do šesti.
“The shop is open until six.”
Here, do answers the question: Until when?
4.2 Fixed time ranges
Often paired with od (from):
Od ledna do března.
“From January to March.”Od rána do večera.
“From morning till evening.”Od začátku do konce.
“From the beginning to the end.”
This pattern is extremely productive and common Preposition Na.
5. Movement Chains: Z / ZE → DO
Czech often expresses movement using paired prepositions.
5.1 Place → place
Z Londýna do Prahy.
“From London to Prague.”Z ulice do domu.
“From the street into the house.”Ze školy do práce.
“From school to work.”
Here, z/ze marks the origin, do marks the destination.
5.2 Time → time
Od středy do neděle.
“From Wednesday till Sunday.”Od šesti do osmi.
“From six to eight.”
6. Abstract Uses of DO (Still About Direction)
Even abstract meanings of do preserve the idea of entering or reaching a limit.
Dostat se do problémů.
“To get into trouble.”Přijít do módy.
“To come into fashion.”Uvést něco do praxe.
“To put something into practice.”
The metaphor is still movement inward.
7. Common Learner Mistakes
7.1 DO vs. NA
Learners often overuse do because English uses “to” very broadly.
Incorrect:
Jdu do koncertu.
Correct:
Jdu na koncert.
“I’m going to a concert.”
Remember: events use na, interiors use do.
7.2 Forgetting the genitive
Incorrect case endings are one of the most common errors with do.
do banka → incorrect
do banky → correct
8. Summary: How to Think About DO
Instead of translating do as “to,” think:
entering
moving inside
reaching a final point
closing a time span
If something feels like a container — physical or abstract — do is usually the right choice.
Final Learning Tip
If you hesitate between na and do, ask yourself one simple question: Am I going inside, or am I participating / going onto something? If the answer is “inside,” your preposition is almost certainly do.
