jít / chodit

Unidirectional and Multidirectional Motion on Foot

Level 3

In Czech, verbs of motion distinguish between a single, specific trip and repeated or general movement. Both jít and chodit mean 'to go on foot', but they are used in very different situations.

How It Works

When referring to travel or transportation, both verbs are imperfective and literally mean motion on foot. However, they are also heavily used for attending events, institutions, or visiting places (e.g., going to the cinema, work, or school) regardless of the actual mode of transport. If the focus is specifically on the vehicle or for long-distance travel (like going to another city), you must use jet / jezdit.

1. Jít (Unidirectional / Single Trip)
Use jít when you are on your way somewhere right now, or for a single planned event in the future. It is highly irregular:

  • Present: jdu, jdeš, jde, jdeme, jdete, jdou
  • Past: šel (masc.), šla (fem.), šlo (neut.), šli (masc. anim. pl.), šly (fem./masc. inanim. pl.), šla (neut. pl.). Like all verbs in the past tense, the 1st and 2nd persons require the short auxiliary verb být (e.g., šel jsem, šli jsme).
  • Future: půjdu, půjdeš (never use 'budu' with jít! The negative is nepůjdu, not 'nebudu jít')
  • Imperative: jdi / jděte (go right now). Note: In everyday spoken Czech, people overwhelmingly use the imperative of běžet (běž / běžte) to mean 'go (away)!', and pojď / pojďte / pojďme to mean 'come (here)!' or 'let's go!'.

2. Chodit (Multidirectional / Habitual)
Use chodit with frequency adverbs like často (often) or každý den (every day), for general walking, for attending an institution regularly, or for the physical ability to walk (e.g., Dítě už chodí). It is completely regular:

  • Present: chodím, chodíš, chodí... (Note: the 3rd person plural 'they' is also chodí)
  • Past: chodil, chodila...
  • Future: budu chodit
  • Imperative: choď / choďte (walk regularly / keep walking). Note: Negative commands for motion almost always use the indeterminate verb (e.g., Nechoď tam! for 'Don't go there!').

Important Notes:

  • Both verbs pair with directional prepositions for destinations and origins: do ↔ z/ze (+ genitive), na (+ accusative) ↔ z/ze (+ genitive), and k/ke (+ dative) ↔ od (+ genitive).
  • In colloquial speech, the initial 'j-' in jít is often silent (du, deš), but it is always pronounced when negated (nejdu).
  • The phrase chodit s (+ instrumental) is a common idiom meaning 'to date someone'.
  • Non-motion meanings: Jít is frequently used in common expressions for possibility (To nejde. - It's not possible / It can't be done), functioning (Hodinky nejdou. - The watch isn't working), and subject matter (Jde o... - It is about...).
  • A common myth is that these form an aspect pair. They do not; both are imperfective. However, adding directional prefixes creates standard aspect pairs. Note that the imperfective counterpart of prefixed jít verbs is formed using the bound stem -cházet (e.g., přijít / přicházet), not by adding prefixes directly to chodit.

Examples (5)

  1. Jdu do školy, mám tam za chvíli zkoušku.

    I am going to school, I have an exam there in a bit.

    Word by Word: I-go to school, I-have there in while exam.

    Uses 'jít' because it is a single, specific trip happening right now.

  2. Chodím do školy na Smíchově.

    I go to school in Smíchov.

    Word by Word: I-walk to school on Smíchov.

    Uses 'chodit' because it describes a habitual action (attending school regularly).

  3. Zítra jdu k doktorovi.

    Tomorrow I am going to the doctor.

    Word by Word: Tomorrow I-go to doctor.

    The present tense of 'jít' is perfectly natural for a single, fixed arrangement in the future.

  4. Chodím s Tomášem už rok.

    I have been dating Tomáš for a year.

    Word by Word: I-walk with Tomáš already year.

    This demonstrates the common idiom 'chodit s' meaning to date someone.

  5. O víkendu půjdu do kina.

    I will go to the cinema on the weekend.

    Word by Word: On weekend I-will-go to cinema.

    Shows the unique fused future tense of 'jít' (půjdu).

Common Mistakes

  • The 'Walking Train' Error (using jít for a long trip, for example from Brno to Prague).

    Different MeaningJdu do Prahy.
    Jedu do Prahy.

    While 'jít' literally means walking, it is also used for 'going out' to local destinations like work, school, or the cinema, even if you take a bus. However, for long-distance travel to another city or country, or when focusing on the transport itself, you must use the vehicle equivalent 'jet'.

  • Incorrect Future Tense

    Zítra budu jít do práce.
    Zítra půjdu do práce.

    The verb 'jít' has a special fused future tense: půjdu, půjdeš, půjde... You cannot use the auxiliary verb 'budu' with it. The negative form is 'nepůjdu'.

  • Mismatched Adverbs

    Každý den jdu do parku.
    Každý den chodím do parku.

    Adverbs like 'každý den' (every day) or 'často' (often) indicate repeated, habitual motion. This strictly requires the multidirectional verb 'chodit'.

How It Connects

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jít / choditLevel 3Unidirectional and Multidirectional Motion on Foot

Learn This First

To understand the contrast between unidirectional (jít) and multidirectional (chodit) motion, learners need to be familiar with the basic conjugation of 'jít', the use of directional prepositions like 'do', and the conceptual difference between location and direction.

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jítchodit