Ways to say it
| Czech | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| přítel | [ˈpr̝̊iːtɛl] (narrow) | masculine |
| kluk | [ˈkluk] (narrow) | masculine |
| milenec | [ˈmɪlɛnɛt͡s] (narrow) | masculine |
The term is used to describe a male partner in a romantic relationship. While přítel is the standard term, it can be ambiguous because it can also mean 'friend' depending on the context of your conversation.
Which one should you use?
Use přítel for a standard boyfriend or friend. Use kluk colloquially to refer to a boyfriend, similar to saying 'my guy' in English. If you mean a lover in a sexual or highly intimate sense, use milenec.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Přítel is the formal and standard term. For a more diminutive or informal way to say boyfriend, you can use přítelíček. In casual speech, kluk is frequently used.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the masculine gender, the word is přítel. When přítel is used as the direct object of a sentence, such as in 'I have a boyfriend', it changes to the accusative form přítela.
When do people say it?
For a romantic nickname, speakers might use srdíčko, which means 'sweetheart'.
Did you know?
- The word přítel shares an ancient root with the English word 'dear', both tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European source meaning 'to love' or 'to be dear'.
- The term milenec is much more heavy and loaded than 'lover' might sound in English, often implying a strictly sexual or extramarital affair.
- Because přítel is ambiguous, Czech speakers often rely on possessive adjectives like můj meaning 'my' to signal that they are talking about a romantic partner.
Examples in context
- Je Tom její přítel?Is Tom her boyfriend?This sentence is useful for asking if someone is a boyfriend.Tatoeba #11752233 by Ergulis, translation #11752236 by Ergulis
- Je se svým přítelem.She's with her boyfriend.This sentence shows the use of the word in a prepositional phrase.Tatoeba #9703636 by Ergulis, translation #8396252 by Amastan
- Můj přítel je trans.My boyfriend is trans.This sentence demonstrates using the word to describe a person's identity.Tatoeba #13407081 by imboreeed, translation #13100824 by rul
- …tohle je můj přítel David.This is my boyfriend David.
- …tohle je můj přítelíček Tomáš.This is my boyfriend Tomáš.
- …tohle je můj frajírek Petr.This is my boyfriend Petr.
- 23 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucie is introducing her partner to Lukáš.
- LucieLukáši, tohle je můj přítel.Lukáš, this is my boyfriend.
- LukášAhoj, moc rád tě poznávám.Hi, it is very nice to meet you.
- LucieMůj přítel pracuje jako lékař.My boyfriend works as a doctor.
- LukášTo je skvělé, rád se s ním seznámím.That is great, I would love to get to know him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “boyfriend” translations and entries přítel, kluk, milenec, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kluk, přítel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
