How to Stop Saying Jdu do Brna by Train: Czech Verbs of Motion Explained
If you’ve ever proudly said Jdu do Brna vlakem (“I go to Brno by train”)… congratulations! You just told every Czech that you’re walking to Brno with a train in your pocket.
If there’s one thing that drives Czech learners crazy, it’s the little family of motion verbs. In English, you can simply say to go and you’re done. Easy. But in Czech? Nope. You need to pick the right kind of going.
Are you going on foot? Or by train? Is it one single trip? Or something you do regularly? The answer changes the verb. And if you mix them up, you might sound like you’re walking to Brno from London… barefoot.
Let’s finally master jít × jet × chodit × jezdit.
JÍT = to go on foot (one trip)
Think of jít as walking, one time, from A to B.
Jdu domů. – I’m going home. (on foot, right now)
Půjdeme do kina. – We’ll go to the cinema. (walking, one trip)
If you say Jdu do Brna, Czechs will imagine you hiking across highways with a backpack and a lot of determination.
Better to say “jet vlakem” than to look like you’re taking your train for a walk.
Take a look at the conjugation and the past participle here.
JET = to go by vehicle (one trip)
Now switch to jet when you’re using transport – car, bus, train, tram, plane, bike, motorbike… anything with wheels or wings.
Jedeme do Brna. – We’re going to Brno. (by car, train, etc.)
Zítra pojedu do Prahy. – Tomorrow I’ll go to Prague.
If you say Jedeme do školy but you’re actually walking, Czechs will look around for the invisible car you must be hiding.
When you say jdu do práce na kole, Czechs imagine this: walking next to your bike in a suit.
Check out both the conjugation and the past participle here.
CHODIT = to go on foot (habitually, repeatedly)
Here comes the “usual” version. Chodit is about habits, routines, or repeating the action.
Chodím do práce pěšky. – I walk to work. (habit)
Každý týden chodíme na kurz češtiny. – Every week we go to Czech class.
If you say Chodím do Brna without context, Czechs may imagine you casually strolling to Brno every Sunday, like it’s a quick walk around the block.
See the conjugation and past participle forms here.
JEZDIT = to go by vehicle (habitually, repeatedly)
The partner of chodit. Use jezdit when you regularly travel somewhere by car, bus, train, etc.
Jezdím vlakem do Prahy. – I commute to Prague by train.
Minulý rok jsem jezdil do Brna dvakrát měsíčně. – Last year I used to go to Brno twice a month.
If you say Jezdím do školy autobusem when you only went once, it sounds like you’ve been looping on the school bus forever.
Explore the conjugation and past participle here.
Quick Recap: The Logic
Jít = walking, one trip
Jet = vehicle, one trip
Chodit = walking, habitual/repeated
Jezdit = vehicle, habitual/repeated
In Czech, you don’t just go. You walk once, walk often, ride once, or ride often. Choose wisely…
So in English you’d just say I go to school. But in Czech, you choose between four different verbs depending on how and how often.
Czechs are very visual when it comes to motion verbs. If you pick the wrong one, you don’t just make a grammar mistake, you create a funny mental picture. That’s why it’s worth practicing until it feels natural. Want a clear overview of Czech verbs (including motion verbs)? Grab my Czech Verbs Cheat Sheet.
