Sametová revoluce
The Velvet Revolution
November 1989, day by day: a student march turns into a national movement, keys ring out over Wenceslas Square, and a playwright becomes president.
You will practice: Passive constructions (byli zavražděni, byl zvolen), imperfective narration with reflexives (shromažďovaly se), and genitive quantities (stovky tisíc lidí, po více než čtyřiceti letech).
Words to know
Skim these before you read — they carry the story. Tap the star to add one to your saved words.
- událostevent
- dějinyhistory (as a discipline/events)
- pádfall, collapse
- režimregime
- krveprolitíbloodshed
- demonstracedemonstration
- zásahintervention, crackdown
- hněvanger
- společnostsociety
- stávkovatto strike, to go on strike
- náměstísquare
- klíčkey
- vládagovernment
- veřejnostthe public
- svobodafreedom
Did you get it?
4 quick questions — no grades, just a comprehension check.
1. Why is the revolution called “velvet”?
2. What happened on Národní třída on 17 November 1989?
3. Why did people jingle their keys on Wenceslas Square?
4. Who was elected president in December 1989?
Too hard? Pick an easier text in the Czech reading library. Understanding most of a text without translations is the goal — struggling through is not.