Czech Prepositions Unpacked: VEDLE
Next to, beside, and sometimes “besides”
The Czech preposition vedle expresses one basic spatial idea: being next to something, at the side of something.
But Czech, as usual, doesn’t stop there. Vedle also appears in abstract meanings that often surprise learners.
Core Rule: VEDLE + Genitive
The preposition vedle is always followed by the genitive case.
There are no exceptions. The main question it answers is: KDE? “Where?”
Core Meaning: Physical Proximity
In its most basic sense, vedle means next to, beside, or at the side of.
Pan Hošek bydlí vedle nás.
“Mr. Hošek lives next door to us.”Pošta je vedle hotelu.
“The post office is next to the hotel.”Helena seděla vedle mě.
“Helena was sitting beside me.”
The position is static. No movement is involved.
Vedle vs. U (Important Distinction)
Both vedle and u express proximity, but with different focus.
vedle → directly next to, side by side
u → near, in the vicinity, not necessarily immediately next to
Compare:
Sedím vedle tebe.
“I’m sitting next to you.”Sedím u tebe.
“I’m sitting near you.”
Vedle is more precise and more physical.
Fixed Expression: Vedle sebe
One very common and important expression is:
Bydleli jsme vedle sebe.
“We lived next to each other.”Seděli vedle sebe.
“They were sitting next to each other.”
Here, vedle sebe emphasizes mutual proximity.
Abstract Meaning: “Besides / In Addition to”
In more formal or written Czech, vedle can also mean besides or in addition to.
Vedle češtiny studuji ještě dva jiné jazyky.
“Besides Czech, I study two other languages.”
This meaning is less about space and more about addition, but it is well established and correct.
Vedle vs. Kromě
Both vedle and kromě can translate as besides, but they are not identical.
vedle → neutral addition
kromě → exclusion or exception
Compare:
Vedle práce studuje.
“Besides work, she studies.”Kromě práce studuje.
“Apart from work, she studies.”
(work is treated as something separate)
Common Learner Mistakes
Using vedle for general proximity
Incorrect:
Bydlím vedle centra.
Correct:
Bydlím u centra.
“I live near the city center.”
Vedle requires a clear neighboring reference point.
Forgetting the genitive
Incorrect:
vedle město
Correct:
vedle města
“next to the city”
Summary: How to Think About VEDLE
Instead of translating vedle, think:
directly next to
side by side
neighboring
in addition to (in abstract use)
If two things touch or are immediate neighbors,
vedle is usually the right choice.
Final Learning Tip
Czech spatial prepositions are about precision, not synonyms.
If you want to say “near,” choose u.
If you want to say “next to,” choose vedle.
That difference matters.
