Let’s Talk About the Locative Case (aka the Prepositional One)

If Czech cases were characters in a series, the locative would be the one always hanging out at a café, deep in thought, talking about life. It's the case of location and conversation topics, and it’s here to help you say where things are, and what you’re talking about.

So if you're ready to say where you are or what you’re thinking about — this case is your go-to.

What Is the Locative Case?

The locative (in Czech: lokativ, 6. pád) is used to indicate place, position, and topics of discussion. It always appears with a preposition so it never stands alone.

You’ll use it when you want to answer the questions:

• O kom? O čem? – “About whom? About what?”

• V kom? V čem? – “In whom? In what?”

• Na kom? Na čem? – “On whom? On what?”

When Do We Use the Locative?

Here are some everyday situations where the locative steps in:

• When talking about something: Mluvím o projektu. ("I’m talking about the project.)

• When saying where something is: Jsem na nádraží. (I’m at the station.)

• When describing your thoughts: Přemýšlím o tom. (I’m thinking about it.)

The locative is not just about grammar. It’s about life, location, and what’s on your mind.

Common Prepositions That Trigger the Locative

There are a few prepositions that almost always call for the locative:

• o (about)

• v/ve (in)

• na (on/at)

• po (after)

• při (during, at the time of)

If you see any of these in a sentence, your first instinct should be to reach for the locative.

Useful Verbs with the Locative

Certain verbs just love the locative. Here are a few you’ll use often:

• mluvit o (to talk about)

• debatovat o (to debate about)

• přemýšlet o (to think about)

• psát o (to write about)

• číst o (to read about)

• snít o (to dream about)

Declension Chart – Locative Case Forms

Let’s look at the endings for each gender and number, so you know exactly what to expect.

Locative endings for each gender and number

Of course, there are exceptions and alternative endings, but this chart will give you a strong baseline.

Need Help with Declension? Use the free online grammar tool Internetová jazyková příručka: Search field Slovníková část and press Hledej. It will show you all the forms of the word across all seven cases singular and plural.

Extra Learning Tips

Instead of memorizing everything at once, focus on just one case for a full week. For example, spend the week noticing and using the locative. The more you see and use it, the easier it becomes.

Make a simple flashcard for the locative:

1. The questions: O kom? O čem?

2. A sample sentence: Mluvím o škole.

3. A short list of verbs and prepositions: mluvit o, psát o, snít o / o, na, v

simple flashcard for the locative

Review it while commuting or while waiting in line.

Want the Full Picture?

The Locative is just one piece of the puzzle. If you want help with all seven Czech cases in one place, grab my Czech Cases Cheat Sheet.

It includes:

• A breakdown of each case

• Example sentences

• Prepositions and verbs

• Learning tips and habits

• A printable summary table