“This Is My …“ — How to Talk About Your Partner in Czech (Without Accidentally Adopting a Child)
So, you’ve met someone in Czechia. You go out for a few drinks, maybe a coffee, maybe three coffees that suspiciously all come with rum. You’re falling for each other and now comes the scary part: introducing them.
But wait. How do you actually say that in Czech?
“This is my boyfriend.” Sounds easy, right?
Ah, not in Czech. Welcome to relationship vocabulary chaos.
Let’s start simple:
Tohle je můj přítel. – This is my boyfriend.
Tohle je moje přítelkyně. – This is my girlfriend.
Sounds straightforward? Great! Except… not always.
Because přítel and přítelkyně don’t only mean boyfriend/girlfriend. They can also mean… friend. Yes. That’s right. Your Czech sentence could sound romantic or completely platonic depending on context.
Real-life example:
You proudly introduce your Czech date to your coworker: Tohle je můj přítel.
Your coworker smiles politely and says,
“Aha, he’s a nice friend.”
And your přítel stands there, wondering if he’s been downgraded to the friendzone in public.
Vocabulary level: accidentally downgraded.
So… How Do Czechs Know the Difference?
Usually by tone, context, and sometimes… body language. If you’re holding hands, Czechs will probably assume it’s romantic.
If you’re talking about someone from work not so much.
To make it super clear, you can say:
Můj kluk – my boyfriend (literally “my boy”)
Moje holka – my girlfriend (literally “my girl”)
These sound more casual, modern and somehow “teenage”. They’re what most young Czechs actually use. Don’t use it if you are over 20!
What to Say If You’re Over 20 (and Want to Avoid the “Friend” Confusion)
If you’re not 16 anymore and saying Mám kluka (“I have a boy”) makes you feel like you’re back in high school, don’t worry, Czech has a grown-up option for you:
partner / partnerka
To je můj partner. – This is my partner.
To je moje partnerka. – This is my (female) partner.
This one is clear, neutral, and adult-sounding. You won’t confuse anyone, and you’ll sound modern. It’s what many Czechs in their 20s, 30s, or 40s use when they don’t feel like labeling things too romantically (or too officially).
It’s especially handy when:
You’re in a long-term relationship but not married.
You’re not sure what word to use in front of your boss.
You just want to avoid the “friend or lover?” guessing game.
Pro tip: If you want to sound warm and natural, say it with a little smile To je můj partner.” and let context do the rest.
“Tohle je můj muž / moje žena” — When It’s Official
Once things get serious (like toothbrushes, keys, and shared dumplings), you might hear:
Tohle je můj muž. – This is my husband.
Tohle je moje žena. – This is my wife.
In Czech, muž literally means man, but in this context it clearly means husband. Same with žena. It can mean woman or wife, depending on context.
So if you introduce someone with Tohle je moje žena, you’re not just saying “this is my woman.” You’re saying, “This is my wife” — proudly, officially, and probably forever.
Pro tip: If you just met someone at a café, don’t say Tohle je můj muž unless you want to give everyone a small heart attack.
Vocabulary Cheat Sheet
Choose wisely. One wrong word and you’re either married or just friends.
Real Phrases You’ll Actually Use
Mám přítele. – I have a boyfriend.
Mám přítelkyni. – I have a girlfriend.
Jsem zadaný / zadaná. – I’m taken. (literally “occupied”)
Jsem ženatý / vdaná. – I’m married.
Jsem single. – I’m single. (yes, Czechs use single)
Randím. – I’m dating.
Jdeme na rande. – We’re going on a date.
Jsme spolu. – We’re together.
Pro tip: Never translate “we’re seeing each other” literally. Vidíme se just means “we see each other (visually)” not romantic at all. You can however say Vídáme se with the meaning of “We are dating.”
Common Czech Dating Mistakes
Mám kamaráda. – I have a friend. → Sounds totally platonic. Nobody’s jealous.
Mám kluka. – I have a boy. → Fine if you’re dating. Weird if you’re 40. In that case it sound like you have a child (a boy).
Mám muže. – I have a man. → Either sounds proud, or slightly mafia. Depends on delivery.
Někoho mám. – I have someone. → Very common and safe to say, but also what Czechs say when they don’t want to explain their relationship status at family lunch.
Cultural Insight: Czechs and “the Talk”
Czechs don’t usually rush into defining the relationship. There’s no “Are we exclusive?” talk after two dates.
It’s more like: You meet → you hang out → you spend weekends together → suddenly you have a toothbrush at their place → boom, you’re spolu. If you’re not sure where you stand, don’t panic. Czechs aren’t big on labels, but they’re big on honesty.
Want to Sound More Natural in Czech Conversations
Dating vocabulary is one thing. But if you want to flirt, chat, and actually connect you’ll need more than a dating app or the phrase Mám přítele. Grab my new sheet: Czech Dating & Small Talk: Survival Vocabulary.
Learn how to:
Break the ice like a Czech
Give compliments that actually work
Avoid classic language misunderstandings
