You can always use the general zapnout / vypnout (“switch on / off”) for any device. But for lights specifically, Czech has dedicated, more natural verbs.

1. Light ON: zapnout světlo = rozsvítit

rozsvítit is the special “make the light shine” verb.

Rozsviť, prosím. Je tu tma.
Turn on the light, please. It’s dark in here.

Commands: Rozsviť! (to one person) / Rozsviťte! (plural or formal) — “Turn on the light!”

2. Light OFF: vypnout světlo = zhasnout

zhasnout is “to put the light out.”

Zhasni, jdeme spát.
Turn off the light, we’re going to sleep.

Commands: Zhasni! / Zhasněte! — “Turn off the light!”

3. The Moravian twist: rožnout

Travel to Moravia and you’ll hear a completely different verb for switching a light on: rožnout.

Rožni! / Rožněte!
Turn on the light! (the Moravian version of Rozsviť! / Rozsviťte!)
Quick guide: zapnout / vypnout = general on/off (any device); rozsvítit / zhasnout = specifically for lights; rožnout = the colloquial Moravian word for rozsvítit. Say rožni in Prague and you’ll get a smile.

Master rozsvítit and zhasnout for lights, keep zapnout / vypnout for everything else — and enjoy knowing rožnout as your little bit of Moravian flair.

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