Fractions and Decimals - Zlomky a desetinná čísla¶
Fractions - Zlomky¶
Fractions represent a part of a whole or a number of equal parts.
These words are derived from cardinal numerals.
| Cardinal numeral | Fraction | ENG |
|---|---|---|
| dva | polovina | half |
| tři | třetina | third |
| čtyři | čtvrtina | fourth |
| pět | pětina | fifth |
| šest | šestina | sixth |
| sedm | sedmina | seventh |
| osm | osmina | eight |
| devět | devítina | ninth |
| deset | desetina | tenth |
| jedenáct | jedenáctina (and so on with the suffix -ina) |
eleventh |
| sto | setina | hundredth |
| tisíc | tisícina | thousandth |
Grammatically, fractions are feminine nouns that follow the declension pattern of the model word škola, from Group 1.
To illustrate the grammar, here is an example using the fraction desetina (tenth):
| # | Pronounced as | Case |
|---|---|---|
| \( \frac{1}{10} \) | jedna desetina | NOM SG |
| \( \frac{2}{10} \) | dvě desetiny | NOM PL |
| \( \frac{3}{10} \) | tři desetiny | NOM PL |
| \( \frac{4}{10} \) | čtyři desetiny | NOM PL |
| \( \frac{5}{10} \) | pět desetin | GEN PL |
| \( \frac{6}{10} \) | šest desetin (and so on in GEN PL) |
GEN PL |
Decimals - Desetinná čísla¶
In writing, Czech uses the symbol , —called desetinná čárka—to separate whole numbers from decimal fractions.
| ENG | CZE |
|---|---|
| 7.5 | 7,5 1 |
However, when spoken, this symbol is represented by the word celá (meaning whole). This word behaves as a feminine hard adjective.
See the following examples of usage:
| # | Spoken form Simplified version |
Note |
|---|---|---|
| 0,1 | nula celá (a) jedna desetina nula celá jedna |
NOM SG The word nula can also be pronounced as žádná |
| 1,1 | jedna celá (a) jedna desetina jedna celá jedna |
NOM SG |
| 2,1 | dvě celé (a) jedna desetina dvě celé jedna |
NOM PL |
| 3,1 | tři celé (a) jedna desetina tři celé jedna |
NOM PL |
| 4,1 | čtyři celé (a) jedna desetina čtyři celé jedna |
NOM PL |
| 5,1 | pět celých (a) jedna desetina pět celých jedna |
GEN PL |
| 6,1 | šest celých (a) jedna desetina šest celých jedna |
GEN PL |
| ... and so on in GEN PL |
Note
The conjunction a (and) is optional but typically used in formal or precise speech.
The object of the fraction takes the genitive singular form. The following examples use the neuter noun procento:
- 0,1 % → nula celá a jedna desetina procenta
- 0,2 % → nula celá a dvě desetiny procenta
- 0,3 % → nula celá a tři desetiny procenta
- 0,4 % → nula celá a čtyři desetiny procenta
- 0,5 % → nula celá a pět desetin procenta ...and so on.
In spoken Czech, we often observe various modifications of the standard rules:
| Standard | Spoken |
|---|---|
| nula celá a jedna desetina procenta | nula celá jedno procento nula celá jedna procent |
| nula celá a dvě desetiny procenta | nula celá dvě procenta |
| nula celá a pět desetin procenta | nula celá pět procent |
These variations typically do not hinder understanding.
-
In English, commas are often used to group digits in large numbers for readability:
1,000 (one thousand).
In Czech, a space is used instead:
1 000 (one thousand).