pan
[ˈpan]
The English phrase "Mr." is translated into Czech as pan.
The word pan is used as a title before a surname or a full name, similar to how "Mr." is used in English. When using this title, it is considered polite to include academic or professional titles, such as Pan Doktor Novák or Pane Profesore.
Meaning: abbreviation of mister (noun)
Which one should you use?
The title pan is used exclusively for men, whereas the equivalent title for a woman is paní.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the word changes depending on its role in a sentence. It changes to panu when addressing a letter to a man or using the phrase with certain verbs (dative case), and it changes to pana when used as a direct object or after certain prepositions (accusative/genitive case).
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the English abbreviation "Mr." in Czech text. Instead, you should use the full Czech word pan.
Did you know?
- In Czech, pan can be used as a generic term for 'man' or 'gentleman', but it is also used ironically to describe someone who thinks they are more important than they actually are.
- In old Czech traditions, the word pan was strictly reserved for the land-owning class, and using it for a peasant would have been an unthinkable social error.
- While pan is the title for a man, the word paní is used both for 'Mrs.' and 'Ms.', as Czech does not distinguish between a woman's marital status in formal address.
Examples in context
- Pan NovákMr. Novák
- Pan Pavel ŠtěpánekMr. Pavel Štěpánek
- Pan Novák je velmi laskavý.Mr. Novak is very kind.
- Kde pracuje pan Černý?Where does Mr. Cerny work?
- Tento pan je můj soused.This gentleman is my neighbor.
Example conversation
Tereza introduces a guest to Jakub.
- TerezaPodívej, to je pan Kraus.Look, this is Mr. Kraus.
- JakubDobrý den, pane Krause.Good day, Mr. Kraus.
- TerezaJakub, pan Kraus je lékař.Jakub, Mr. Kraus is a doctor.
- JakubTěší mě, že vás poznávám.I am pleased to meet you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pan, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
