Ways to say it
| Czech | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ústa | [ˈuːsta] (narrow) | neuter, plural |
| pusa | [ˈpusa] (narrow) | feminine, informal |
| tlama | [ˈtlama] (narrow) | feminine |
All three forms refer to the opening of a creature through which food is ingested. While ústa is the standard and neutral term, pusa is a common informal way to refer to a mouth and can also mean a kiss in certain casual contexts. Tlama is specifically used to refer to the mouth or snout of an animal, but when used to describe a human's mouth, it is considered derogatory.
Which one should you use?
ústa is the neutral, standard term used for anatomical or general purposes. pusa is the informal version used in everyday conversation. tlama differs from the others as it refers to an animal's mouth or is used pejoratively for humans.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ústa is the formal and neutral standard. pusa is informal and is often used when speaking to children or in very casual settings. For highly technical or medical contexts, the term ústní dutina is used. tlama is derogatory when applied to people.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
This means it only exists in the plural form and does not have a singular form. It is a neuter noun.
Did you know?
- The word pusa has possible linguistic relatives in English, such as the archaic verb 'to buss', which also means to kiss.
- While ústa is the standard term for 'mouth', it is a plural-only noun and has no singular form.
- Using pusa when speaking to adults in a formal setting can sound inappropriately childish or overly intimate.
Examples in context
- Pusa dítěte je červená.The mouth of the child is red.This sentence uses pusa to describe a child's mouth.Tatoeba #11988065 by aldar, translation #11987963 by carlosalberto
- Proč máte otevřená ústa?Why is your mouth open?This sentence uses ústa to ask why a mouth is open.Tatoeba #10344490 by aldar, translation #4393579 by Lepotdeterre
- Potřebuji si vypláchnout ústa.I need to rinse my mouth.This sentence uses ústa to describe rinsing the mouth.Tatoeba #3513114 by nueby, translation #436901 by lukaszpp
- Prosím, otevřete ústa.Please, open your mouth.
- Přestaň mluvit, zavři tu hubu.Stop talking, shut your mouth.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mouth” translations and entries ústa, pusa, tlama, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pusa, tlama, ústa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
