Because visiting institutions and public offices can be challenging (even for Czech people!), today in intermediate 5-minute Czech, we'll have a look at some of the vocabulary we encounter when sending a letter, postcard or package.
5-minute Czech - Intermediate
Pošta - we use this word to describe both the institution (the complete name is Česká pošta) and the actual building or office („pošta u nádraží“)
- pošta is one of NA-words, we say: „Jsem na poště“ (LOKÁL) a „Jdu na poštu“ (AKUZATIV)
If you want to send a letter or a package, first you need to write the address (adresa):
(Vážený) Pan oslovení (address - for a woman: Paní)
Jan Novák jméno (name)
Václavské náměstí 1 ulice, číslo domu (street, the house number)
110 00 Praha 1 PSČ /poštovní směrovací číslo/, město (post code, city)
Česká republika stát (country - when sending a letter abroad)
At the post office, you can send „dopis“ (a letter), „pohled“ / „pohlednici“ (postcard) or „balík“ (package). Formally, all of these are called „zásilka“ (postal item). Formally we also don't say „dopis“, we say „psaní“.
We put the letter into „obálka“ (envelope) and things we are sending into „krabice“ (box). You can put the letter or postcard into „poštovní schránka“ (postbox) on the street, but in that case, you need a „poštovní známka“ (stamp), which you can buy at the post office or newsagent.
At the post office you choose whether you want „obyčejné psaní“ (ordinary letter) or „doporučené psaní“ (registered letter).
„Doporučené psaní“ is more expensive, but it is useful if you are sending something valuable or you need a confirmation that the item was delivered. If you are sending „doporučené psaní“, you first need to fill in „podací lístek“ (posting form), which you can find at the post office or online. You need to fill in your address - „odesílatel“ (sender) and the address of person you are sending a letter to - „adresát“ (addressee).
