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|Name=Czechia
|Type=Topic
|Topic Type=Background
|Background=Languages
|Rating=Standardized
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| link1=[[Czechia Genealogy|Czechia]]
| link1=[[Czechia Genealogy|Czechia]]
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==Description==
The '''Czech''' language (divided into three dialects in '''Bohemia''', four dialects in '''Moravia''', and two dialects in '''Czech Silesia''') is the official language of Czechia.<br>
There is also the transitional '''Cieszyn Silesian''' dialect as well as the Polish language in Cieszyn Silesia, both spoken in '''Czech Silesia'''.<br>
Various Sudeten German dialects are currently practically extinct: present Czech Germans speak mainly '''Czech''' or '''Standard German'''.<br>
'''Czech Sign Language''' is the language of most of the deaf community.
As of 2022 there are 14 officially recognized minorities which enjoy the right to use their language in communication with authorities and in courts of law. They are (alphabetically): <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Demographics of the Czech Republic," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_Czech_Republic#Officially_recognized_minorities, accessed 22 May 2023.</ref>
*'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarusians Belarusians]'''
*'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarians Bulgarians]'''
*'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croats Croatians]'''
*'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germans Germans]'''
*'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greeks Greeks]'''
*'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarians Hungarians]'''
*'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_people Poles]'''
*'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romani_people Romani people]'''
*'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russians Russians]'''
*'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusyns Rusyns]'''
*'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbs Serbians]'''
*'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovaks Slovaks]'''
*'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainians Ukrainians]'''
*'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnamese_people Vietnamese]'''
'''[https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Czechia_Languages#:~:text=Record%20Research%20Help Additional Record Search Help]'''
==Word List(s)==
For word lists and help researching in Czech records, see:
*[[Czech Genealogical Word List]]
*[[Czechia Handwriting]]
*[[Czechia Reading Aids]]
*[[German Genealogical Word List]]
*[[Latin Genealogical Word List]]
*[[Polish Genealogical Word List]]
'''Czech'''
*[https://wikitravel.org/en/Czech_phrasebook Czech phrasebook (Wikitravel)]
*[https://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/czech.php Useful Czech phrases (Omniglot)]
==Alphabet and Pronunciation==
'''Czech'''
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czech_phonology Czech phonology (Wikipedia)]
*[https://forvo.com/languages/cs/ Czech pronunciation dictionary (Forvo)]
*[https://www.omniglot.com/writing/czech.htm Czech Alphabet and Pronunciation (Omniglot)]
'''[https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Czechia_Languages#:~:text=the%20Czech%20Republic.-,Czech%20Grammar,-Czech%20language%20is Czech Grammar Help]'''
==Language Aids and Dictionaries==
'''Czech'''
*[https://slovnik.seznam.cz/preklad/anglicky Czech to English (Seznam.cz)]
*[https://glosbe.com/en/cs English to Czech Dictionary (Glosbe)]
*[https://www.lexilogos.com/english/czech_dictionary.htm Czech dictionary (Lexilogos)]
*[https://www.duolingo.com/course/cs/en/Learn-Czech Learn Czech (Duolingo)]
* Čermák, František. ''A Course of Czech language = Základní učebnice češtiny.'' Praha: Universita Karlova, 1991. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/123244822 WorldCat].
'''Dictionaries in Czech Language''':<br>
* Pařez, Jan. ''Česko-anglický příruční slovník genealogický.'' Prague: Scriptorium, 2016. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/1096191713 WorldCat]. (This dictionary is a must for the Czech researchers when records and documents are written in Czech. It includes occupations, causes of death etc. Supplements include Czech alphabet, a dictionary of personal names and a dictionary of supreme land and court offices.)
* Lutonský, Boleslav. ''Lexikon genealoga.'' Praha: B. Lutonský, 2003. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/53271779 WorldCat]. (Genealogical vocabulary that includes not only old-fashioned expressions that the researcher may encounter in their work, but also terms used in archival material (such as old documents, land tablets, urbarium, estate records etc.), overview of guilds, and important crafts. It also includes a chapter on measurements, a chapter on currency and a list of frequently used abbreviations.)
* Lutonský, Boleslav and Jaroslav Černý. ''Latinsko-německo-český slovník nemocí, úrazů a příčin smrti a výrazů s nimi souvisejících (nejen) pro genealogy.'' Praha: Ringier ČR, 1995. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/36612303 WorldCat]. (Latin-German-Czech dictionary of diseases, injuries and causes of death: and terms related to them (not only) for genealogists)
{| style="float:right; margin-right:30px"
|-
| style="padding-right:0px"|
|[[Image:Handy Czech-English Genealogical Dictionary.jpg|thumb|right|150px|<center>Handy Czech-English Genealogical Dictionary<center>]]
|[[Image:Lexikon.jpg|thumb|left|150px|<center>Lexikon<center>]]
|}
==Additional Resources==
*[https://www.britannica.com/place/Czech-Republic Czech Republic (Britannica)]
*[https://wikitravel.org/en/Czech_Republic Czech Republic (Wikitravel)]<br>
'''Record Research Help'''<br>


<!--{12090747748960} -->Most of the people in the Czech Republic speak the Czech language. Czech is a Slavic language related to Slovak, Polish and Russian. However, Czech was not recognized as an official language until 1877 in Bohemia and 1905 in Moravia. It was seldom used as a written language until the late 1800s. Except for modern records of the 1900s, records in the Czech Republic were written mostly in Latin and German. Other languages sometimes used in Czech records include [[Media:Old_Church_Slavonic_Numbers%2C_Dates%2C_and_Months_by_Matthew_Bialawa.pdf|Old Church Slavonic]], Polish, Hebrew, and Yiddish.
<!--{12090747748960} -->Most of the people in the Czech Republic speak the Czech language. Czech is a Slavic language related to Slovak, Polish and Russian. However, Czech was not recognized as an official language until 1877 in Bohemia and 1905 in Moravia. It was seldom used as a written language until the late 1800s. Except for modern records of the 1900s, records in the Czech Republic were written mostly in Latin and German. Other languages sometimes used in Czech records include [[Media:Old_Church_Slavonic_Numbers%2C_Dates%2C_and_Months_by_Matthew_Bialawa.pdf|Old Church Slavonic]], Polish, Hebrew, and Yiddish.
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<br>
<br>


'''Czech Grammar'''<br>
For word lists and help researching in Czech records, see:
Czech language is highly inflective, words may have different endings depending on usage.<br>
*[[Czech Republic Genealogical Word List]]
 
*[[Czech Republic Handwriting]]
*Josef, syn Antonína Ryby a Anny roz. Novákové = Josef, son of Antonín Ryba and Anna Novaková
*[[Czech Republic Reading Aids]]
*Manželství mezi Michalem Dostalíkem a Anežkou Marii Seidlerovou = Marriage between Michal Dostalík and Anežka Marie Seidlerová<br>
*[[German Genealogical Word List]]
*[[Latin Genealogical Word List]]
*[[Polish Genealogical Word List]]


''Česká abeceda/The Czech Alphabet''<br>
=== Česká abeceda/The Czech Alphabet ===


A, a, Á, á B, b C, c, Č, č D, d, Ď, ď E, e, É, é, ě F, f G, g H, h Ch, ch I, i, Í, í J, j K, k L, l M, m N, n, Ň, ň O, o, Ó, ó P, p Q, q R, r, Ř, ř S, s, Š, š T, t, Ť, ť U, u, Ú, ú, ů V, v W, w X, x Y, y, Ý, ý Z, z, Ž, ž  
A, a, Á, á B, b C, c, Č, č D, d, Ď, ď E, e, É, é, ě F, f G, g H, h Ch, ch I, i, Í, í J, j K, k L, l M, m N, n, Ň, ň O, o, Ó, ó P, p Q, q R, r, Ř, ř S, s, Š, š T, t, Ť, ť U, u, Ú, ú, ů V, v W, w X, x Y, y, Ý, ý Z, z, Ž, ž  
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a,á  b  c,č  d,ď  e,é,ě  f  g  h  ch  i,í  j  k  l  m  n,ň  o,ó  p  (q)  r,ř  s,š  t,ť  u,ú,ů  v  (w)  (x)  y,ý  z,ž   
a,á  b  c,č  d,ď  e,é,ě  f  g  h  ch  i,í  j  k  l  m  n,ň  o,ó  p  (q)  r,ř  s,š  t,ť  u,ú,ů  v  (w)  (x)  y,ý  z,ž   


''Pronunciation''
=== Pronunciation ===


{| class="MsoNormalTable FCK__ShowTableBorders"
{| class="MsoNormalTable FCK__ShowTableBorders"
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NOTE: the letter combination “CH" is treated as a single character and is alphabetized after the letter “H”  
NOTE: the letter combination “CH" is treated as a single character and is alphabetized after the letter “H”  


''Reading Old Texts''<br>
=== Grammar  ===
 
Czech language is highly inflective, words may have different endings depending on usage.
 
*Josef, syn Antonína Ryby a Anny roz. Novákové = Josef, son of Antonín Ryba and Anna Novaková
*Manželství mezi Michalem Dostalíkem a Anežkou Marii Seidlerovou = Marriage between Michal Dostalík and Anežka Marie Seidlerová
 
=== Language of the Records  ===
 
A basic knowledge of a few languages is required to read Czech records. Obtain a copy of the various genealogical lists available at the FamilySearch Library or click on the links below.
*[[Czech Republic Genealogical Word List]]
*[[Czech Republic Handwriting]]
*[[Czech Republic Reading Aids]]
*[[German Genealogical Word List]]
*[[Latin Genealogical Word List]]
*[[Polish Genealogical Word List]]
 
=== Reading Old Texts ===


Here are some letter combinations you may encounter in the old texts and their modern equivalents:  
Here are some letter combinations you may encounter in the old texts and their modern equivalents:  
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'''cz''' read as '''c''' or '''č'''<br>'''cž/čz''' read as '''č'''<br>'''rz/rž''' read as '''ř'''<br>'''ss''' read as '''š'''<br>'''g''' read as '''j'''<br>'''y''' read as '''y''' or '''j''' <br>'''j''' read as '''í'''<br>'''v''' read as '''u''' (at the beginning of words)<br>'''ie''' read as '''ě'''<br>'''au''' read as '''ou'''<br>'''w''' read as '''v'''<br>
'''cz''' read as '''c''' or '''č'''<br>'''cž/čz''' read as '''č'''<br>'''rz/rž''' read as '''ř'''<br>'''ss''' read as '''š'''<br>'''g''' read as '''j'''<br>'''y''' read as '''y''' or '''j''' <br>'''j''' read as '''í'''<br>'''v''' read as '''u''' (at the beginning of words)<br>'''ie''' read as '''ě'''<br>'''au''' read as '''ou'''<br>'''w''' read as '''v'''<br>


==References==
=== Language Aids  ===
 
See the examples of the Czech Script Alphabet at [http://www.genea.cz/uploads/media/Pisma1Full.pdf a to m] [http://www.genea.cz/uploads/media/Pisma2Full.pdf n to ž]
 
=== Dictionaries  ===
 
{| style="float:right; margin-right:30px"
|-
| style="padding-right:0px"|
|[[Image:Handy Czech-English Genealogical Dictionary.jpg|thumb|right|150px|<center>Handy Czech-English Genealogical Dictionary<center>]]
|[[Image:Lexikon.jpg|thumb|left|150px|<center>Lexikon<center>]]
|}
 
Helpful publications at the FamilySearch Library are:
 
*Pařez, Jan. ''Česko-anglický příruční slovník genealogický = Handy Czech-English genealogical dictionary.'' Praha: Scriptorium, 1999. (FS Library INTL Book 491.86321 P216c 1999).<br>This dictionary is a must for the Czech researchers when records and documents are written in Czech. It includes occupations, causes of death etc. Supplements include Czech alphabet, a dictionary of personal names and a dictionary of supreme land and court offices.
 
*Lutonský, Boleslav. ''Lexikon genealoga.'' (Lexikon of genealogist). Praha: B. Lutonský, c2003. (FS Library INTL Book 943.71 D26L). <br>Genealogical vocabulary that includes not only old-fashioned expressions that the researcher may encounter in their work, but also terms used in archival material (such as old documents, land tablets, urbarium, estate records etc.), overview of guilds, and important crafts. It also includes a chapter on measurements, a chapter on currency and a list of frequently used abbreviations. Text in Czech.
 
*Lutonský, Boleslav/Černý, Jaroslav. ''Latinsko-německo-český slovník nemocí, úrazů a příčin smrti: a výrazů s nimi souvisejících (nejen) pro genealogy.'' (Latin-German-Czech dictionary of diseases, injuries and causes of death: and terms related to them (not only) for genealogists). Praha: Ringier ČR, 1995. (FS Library INTL Book 929.103 L977L ). <br>Causes of death as recorded in the death registers in Latin, German and Czech with their Czech translations.


[[Category:Czechia Language and Handwriting]] [[Category:Language and Handwriting]]
[[Category:Czech_Republic Language and Handwriting]] [[Category:Language and Handwriting]]

Revision as of 21:18, 8 December 2022

Czechia Topics
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Beginning Research
Record Types
Czechia Background
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Most of the people in the Czech Republic speak the Czech language. Czech is a Slavic language related to Slovak, Polish and Russian. However, Czech was not recognized as an official language until 1877 in Bohemia and 1905 in Moravia. It was seldom used as a written language until the late 1800s. Except for modern records of the 1900s, records in the Czech Republic were written mostly in Latin and German. Other languages sometimes used in Czech records include Old Church Slavonic, Polish, Hebrew, and Yiddish.

1930--1945 Linguistic Map: After World War II, the German population left the Czech Republic.

1930 linguistic map.png

For word lists and help researching in Czech records, see:

Česká abeceda/The Czech Alphabet[edit | edit source]

A, a, Á, á B, b C, c, Č, č D, d, Ď, ď E, e, É, é, ě F, f G, g H, h Ch, ch I, i, Í, í J, j K, k L, l M, m N, n, Ň, ň O, o, Ó, ó P, p Q, q R, r, Ř, ř S, s, Š, š T, t, Ť, ť U, u, Ú, ú, ů V, v W, w X, x Y, y, Ý, ý Z, z, Ž, ž

The Czech alphabet uses several letters in addition to the 26 letters used in the English alphabet. These are á, č, ď, é, ě, í, ň, ó, ř, š, ť, ú, ů, ý, ž. The letter combination ch is also considered a single letter and is alphabetized after h. Letters q, w, x are used only in words of foreign origin.

Czech dictionaries and indexes use the following alphabetical order:

a,á b c,č d,ď e,é,ě f g h ch i,í j k l m n,ň o,ó p (q) r,ř s,š t,ť u,ú,ů v (w) (x) y,ý z,ž

Pronunciation[edit | edit source]

A
a
:
o

sound in on

Á
á
:
a

sound in father

B
b
:
b

sound in back

C
c
:
ts

sound in bits

Č
č
:
ch

sound in chat

D
d
:
d

sound in dog

Ď
ď
:
g

sound in ginger

E
e
:
e

sound in led

É
é
:
ea

sound in wear

Ě
ě
:
ye

sound in yes

F
f
:
f

sound in fast

G
g
:
g

sound in gas

H
h
:
h

sound in help

CH
ch
:
ch

sound in loch (aspirated)

I
i
:
i

sound in sit

Í
í
:
ee

sound in bee

J
j
:
y

sound in youth

K
k
:
k

sound in kiss

L
l
:
l

sound in land

M
m
:
m

sound in man

N
n
:
n

sound in new

Ň
ň
:
ny

sound in canyon

O
o
:
o

sound in home

Ó
ó
:
oa

sound in boat

P
p
:
p

sound in peak

R
r
:
r

sound in ran (often rolled)

Ř
ř
:
rsh

sound like 's' in marsh

S
s
:
s

sound in sun

Š
š
:
sh

sound in shoe

T
t
:
t

sound in top

Ť
ť
:
ty

sound like 't' in tune

U
u
:
u

sound in put

Ú
ú
:
oo

sound in pool

Ů
ů
:
oo

sound in pool

V
v
:
v

sound in van

Y
y
:
i

sound in bit

Ý
ý
:
ee

sound in bee

Z
z
:
z

sound in zoo

Ž
ž
:
zh

sound like 's' in measure

Qq, Ww, Xx

are used in foreign words only

NOTE: the letter combination “CH" is treated as a single character and is alphabetized after the letter “H”

Grammar[edit | edit source]

Czech language is highly inflective, words may have different endings depending on usage.

  • Josef, syn Antonína Ryby a Anny roz. Novákové = Josef, son of Antonín Ryba and Anna Novaková
  • Manželství mezi Michalem Dostalíkem a Anežkou Marii Seidlerovou = Marriage between Michal Dostalík and Anežka Marie Seidlerová

Language of the Records[edit | edit source]

A basic knowledge of a few languages is required to read Czech records. Obtain a copy of the various genealogical lists available at the FamilySearch Library or click on the links below.

Reading Old Texts[edit | edit source]

Here are some letter combinations you may encounter in the old texts and their modern equivalents:

cz read as c or č
cž/čz read as č
rz/rž read as ř
ss read as š
g read as j
y read as y or j
j read as í
v read as u (at the beginning of words)
ie read as ě
au read as ou
w read as v

Language Aids[edit | edit source]

See the examples of the Czech Script Alphabet at a to m n to ž

Dictionaries[edit | edit source]

Handy Czech-English Genealogical Dictionary
Lexikon

Helpful publications at the FamilySearch Library are:

  • Pařez, Jan. Česko-anglický příruční slovník genealogický = Handy Czech-English genealogical dictionary. Praha: Scriptorium, 1999. (FS Library INTL Book 491.86321 P216c 1999).
    This dictionary is a must for the Czech researchers when records and documents are written in Czech. It includes occupations, causes of death etc. Supplements include Czech alphabet, a dictionary of personal names and a dictionary of supreme land and court offices.
  • Lutonský, Boleslav. Lexikon genealoga. (Lexikon of genealogist). Praha: B. Lutonský, c2003. (FS Library INTL Book 943.71 D26L).
    Genealogical vocabulary that includes not only old-fashioned expressions that the researcher may encounter in their work, but also terms used in archival material (such as old documents, land tablets, urbarium, estate records etc.), overview of guilds, and important crafts. It also includes a chapter on measurements, a chapter on currency and a list of frequently used abbreviations. Text in Czech.
  • Lutonský, Boleslav/Černý, Jaroslav. Latinsko-německo-český slovník nemocí, úrazů a příčin smrti: a výrazů s nimi souvisejících (nejen) pro genealogy. (Latin-German-Czech dictionary of diseases, injuries and causes of death: and terms related to them (not only) for genealogists). Praha: Ringier ČR, 1995. (FS Library INTL Book 929.103 L977L ).
    Causes of death as recorded in the death registers in Latin, German and Czech with their Czech translations.
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