What is the correct translation and what is the meaning

Learning Czech Forum - Ask a Tutor
1

What is the correct translation and what is the meaning of the word zač here ?

2

“Co je to zač?” is equal to “Kdo to je?” = Who is he or who is she?
The coloquial Czech language does not make sense to the foreigners, I suppose :slight_smile:

In some cases, “zač” is a short form of “za co” which means “what for”

I have also found some examples:

  • Thanks a lot. You’re welcome - Mockrát děkuji. Nemáš zač.(Nemáš za co)
  • Who do you think I am? - Zač mě máš? (Za co mě máš)
  • I know what kind of people they are. - Vím, co jsou zač. (Vím, kdo jsou)
  • I have nothing to be ashamed of. - Nemám se zač stydět. (Nemáš se za co stydět)
  • Give him hell! - Ukaž mu, zač je toho loket!
3

Thank you. That was indeed very helpful ! :slight_smile:
The only similar sentence I already know is : “To není zač” . It doesn`t matter.

4

You’re welcome :slight_smile:
It doesn`t matter.: To je jedno. Na tom nezáleží. To nevadí.

“To není zač” does not make so much sense :slight_smile:

5

Hmmm Je zajimavy. My Slovak wife says that Co je to zac? is not a very nice way of enquiring about somebody. Is it different in Czech? Neni zac je stejny jak ,De nada in Spanish. And yes Rhodisa To neni zac doesn’t make sense,only correct usage is neni zac and as my Czech teacher used to say Neptej se proc, jen to rekni!!

6

(…) … za co (…)

Interesting. In Austrian dialect we say “za wos” (für was, “zu was soll das gut sein” - Hochdeutsch: “wozu soll das gut sein”).

Za wos host des gmocht. Wozu hast du das gemacht? What did you do that for?