jmenovat se

Giving One’s Name

Level 1

In Czech, you don't usually say 'My name is...'. Instead, you use the reflexive verb jmenovat se, which literally means 'to call oneself'.

How It Works

Here is how to conjugate jmenovat se in the present tense:

  • (já) jmenuji se / jmenuju se (I am called)
  • (ty) jmenuješ se (you are called - informal)
  • (on/ona/to) jmenuje se (he/she/it is called)
  • (my) jmenujeme se (we are called)
  • (vy) jmenujete se (you are called - formal/plural)
  • (oni) jmenují se / jmenujou se (they are called)

Key Rules:
1. Drop the pronoun: Because the verb ending tells us who is speaking, Czechs usually drop words like já (I) or ty (you).
2. The position of "se": The word se is a clitic, meaning it must go in the second position of the sentence. If you start with the verb, it comes right after: Jmenuji se... If you start with a pronoun, it tucks in between: Já se jmenuji...
3. Formal vs. Casual: For "I", jmenuji se is standard and polite, while jmenuju se is very common in casual spoken Czech. The exact same dynamic applies to the "they" form: jmenují se is standard, while jmenujou se is casual.

Negation:
To make the verb negative, attach the prefix ne- directly to the verb, not to the pronoun se: Nejmenuji se... (My name is not...).

Asking for a Name:
To ask someone their name, use the question word Jak (How), not Co (What).

  • Jak se jmenuješ? (What is your name? - informal)
  • Jak se jmenujete? (What is your name? - formal/plural)

Literally, you are asking 'How do you call yourself?'

Alternatives:
While you can say Moje jméno je... (My name is...), it sounds very stiff and formal. In casual settings, you can also simply use the verb být and say Jsem Eva (I am Eva).

Examples (5)

  1. Jmenuji se Petr.

    My name is Petr.

    Word by Word: Call-I myself Petr.

    The most natural and standard way to introduce yourself.

  2. Jak se jmenujete?

    What is your name?

    Word by Word: How yourself call-you?

    The formal way to ask someone's name.

  3. Jak se jmenuješ?

    What is your name?

    Word by Word: How yourself call-you?

    The informal way to ask someone's name.

  4. Můj bratr se jmenuje Tomáš.

    My brother's name is Tomáš.

    Word by Word: My brother himself calls Tomáš.

    Notice how 'se' stays in the second position, right after the subject 'Můj bratr'.

  5. Já se jmenuju Jana.

    My name is Jana.

    Word by Word: I myself call Jana.

    When using 'já' for emphasis, 'se' must immediately follow it. 'Jmenuju' is the casual spoken form.

Common Mistakes

  • Dropping the word 'se'.

    Jmenuji Petr.
    Jmenuji se Petr.

    The reflexive pronoun 'se' is a mandatory part of the verb. Without it, the sentence is incomplete.

  • Putting 'se' in the wrong position.

    Já jmenuji se Eva.
    Já se jmenuji Eva.

    Because 'se' is a clitic, it must strictly occupy the second position in the clause, immediately following the first element ('Já').

  • Using 'Co' instead of 'Jak' to ask for a name.

    Co se jmenuješ?
    Jak se jmenuješ?

    In English, you ask 'What is your name?', but in Czech, you must ask 'How do you call yourself?' using the word 'Jak' (How). Using 'Co' (What) is incorrect here.

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jmenovat seLevel 1Giving One’s Name

Learn This First

To learn how to give one's name using 'jmenovat se', a learner should first understand the basic concept of present tense conjugation in Czech and be familiar with the orthography of long vowels used in verb endings.

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