Czech Prepositions Unpacked: OD / ODE
Starting points, distance, and why it’s not the same as Z
The Czech preposition od (and its phonetic variant ode) expresses one central idea: a starting point, distance from something, or origin — usually without the idea of “inside.”
Although od is often translated as from, it is not interchangeable with z.
Core Rule: OD / ODE + Genitive
The preposition od / ode is always followed by the genitive case.
There are no exceptions. The key question it answers is: ODKUD? “Where from?”
Core Meaning: Starting Point and Distance
Unlike z, which implies movement out of something, od expresses:
distance from
starting point
separation
proximity without interior
Think of od as “from near,” not “from inside.”
Spatial Meaning: Movement Away from a Place
From the vicinity of a place
Autobus odjíždí od hlavního nádraží.
“The bus departs from the main train station.”Odešel od stolu.
“He walked away from the table.”Bydlí kousek od centra.
“He lives a short distance from the city center.”
Here, the movement starts near something, not inside it.
OD vs. Z in space
Compare:
Vyšel z domu.
“He walked out of the house.”Odešel od domu.
“He walked away from the house.”
Z focuses on the interior.
OD focuses on distance.
OD with People (Very Important)
When referring to people, od is the only correct choice.
This is a strict rule.
Dostal jsem zprávu od Petra.
“I got a message from Peter.”Vrací se od lékaře.
“She’s coming from the doctor.”To je dárek od kamaráda.
“It’s a gift from a friend.”
Using z here would sound unnatural or wrong.
Temporal Meaning: Starting Point in Time
Od is used to mark the beginning of a time span.
Od pondělí pracuji z domova.
“I work from home starting Monday.”Čekám tady od rána.
“I’ve been waiting here since morning.”Od začátku to nefungovalo.
“It didn’t work from the beginning.”
Often paired with do:
Od středy do neděle.
“From Wednesday till Sunday.”
Abstract Origin and Source
Od can express abstract origin, influence, or separation.
Učil se to od rodičů.
“He learned it from his parents.”Dal od toho ruce pryč.
“He distanced himself from it.”Je to lepší od té doby.
“It’s better since then.”
OD or ODE? (Pronunciation Rule)
The choice between od and ode is purely phonetic.
Meaning never changes.
Use ODE:
before words starting with d, t, n, s, z
when pronunciation would be difficult
Examples:
Ode mě.
“From me.”Ode dneška.
“From today.”Ode zdi.
“From the wall.”
Use OD everywhere else:
Od domu.
“From the house.”Od školy.
“From school.”
Common Learner Mistakes
Confusing OD and Z
Incorrect:
Z Petra jsem dostal zprávu.
Correct:
Od Petra jsem dostal zprávu.
“I got a message from Peter.”
Forgetting the genitive
Incorrect:
od Petr
Correct:
od Petra
“from Peter”
Summary: How to Think About OD / ODE
Instead of translating od as “from,” think:
away from
starting point
distance
source (especially people)
If the origin is a person, time, or a point nearby —
od / ode is usually the right choice.
Final Learning Tip
Czech distinguishes carefully between:
z → from inside
od → from near / from someone
do → into
k → towards
Once you see this directional logic, Czech prepositions stop competing with each other.
