Traveling to the Czech Republic can be a thrilling and enriching experience. Whether you are exploring the historic streets of Prague, hiking in the Bohemian Forest, or tasting the world-renowned Czech beer, knowing some basic Czech phrases can greatly enhance your journey. While many Czechs, especially in urban areas, speak English, making an effort to speak their language can lead to more meaningful interactions and a deeper understanding of the culture.
This article provides a comprehensive guide to essential Czech phrases that will help you navigate your travels in the Czech Republic. From greetings and basic expressions to specific phrases for dining, transportation, and emergencies, you’ll be well-prepared to communicate effectively during your trip.
Basic Czech Phrases
Before diving into more specific situations, it’s important to learn some basic Czech phrases that will be useful in almost any context. Here are some fundamental expressions to get you started:
Hello – Ahoj (ah-hoy) / Dobrý den (doh-bree den)
Goodbye – Sbohem (sbo-hem) / Na shledanou (nah-skleh-dah-noh)
Please – Prosím (pro-seem)
Thank you – Děkuji (dyeh-koo-yi)
Yes – Ano (ah-no)
No – Ne (neh)
Excuse me / Sorry – Promiňte (pro-min-tye)
Do you speak English? – Mluvíte anglicky? (mloo-vee-teh ahn-glits-kee)
I don’t understand – Nerozumím (neh-roh-zoo-meem)
How much does it cost? – Kolik to stojí? (koh-leek toh stoh-yee)
Where is the bathroom? – Kde je toaleta? (kdeh yeh toh-ah-leh-tah)
Greetings and Introductions
When meeting people in the Czech Republic, it’s polite to start with a greeting. Here are some phrases to help you make a good first impression:
Good morning – Dobré ráno (doh-breh rah-noh)
Good afternoon – Dobré odpoledne (doh-breh ohd-poh-led-neh)
Good evening – Dobrý večer (doh-bree veh-cher)
Good night – Dobrou noc (doh-broh ohts)
My name is… – Jmenuji se… (yih-meh-noo-yi seh…)
What is your name? – Jak se jmenujete? (yahk seh yih-meh-noo-yeh-teh)
Nice to meet you – Těší mě (tyeh-shee mye)
Numbers and Time
Understanding numbers and how to tell time can be incredibly useful, whether you’re shopping, catching a train, or making reservations. Here are the basics:
Numbers:
1 – Jeden (yeh-den)
2 – Dva (dvah)
3 – Tři (tshree)
4 – Čtyři (chtyeh-rzhee)
5 – Pět (pyet)
6 – Šest (shest)
7 – Sedm (seh-duhm)
8 – Osm (oh-suhm)
9 – Devět (deh-vyet)
10 – Deset (deh-set)
Time:
What time is it? – Kolik je hodin? (koh-leek yeh hoh-deen)
It’s one o’clock – Je jedna hodina (yeh yehd-nah hoh-dee-nah)
It’s two o’clock – Jsou dvě hodiny (ysoh dvye hoh-dee-nee)
Dining Out
Dining in the Czech Republic can be a delightful experience, especially if you know how to order and ask for what you need. Here are some useful phrases for restaurants and cafes:
Menu – Jídelní lístek (yee-del-nee lee-stehk)
Waiter / Waitress – Číšník (chee-shneek) / Servírka (sehr-veer-kah)
I would like… – Dal bych si… (dahl bikh si…) / Dala bych si… (dahlah bikh si…) (for a female speaker)
Can I have the bill, please? – Můžu dostat účet, prosím? (moo-zhoo doh-staht oo-chet pro-seem?)
Cheers! – Na zdraví! (nah zdrah-vee)
Delicious – Výborné (vee-bor-neh)
Vegetarian – Vegetarián (veh-geh-tah-ree-ahn)
Common Dishes and Drinks
To make your dining experience even better, here are some common Czech dishes and drinks you might encounter:
Goulash – Guláš (goo-lahsh)
Roast Pork – Vepřo knedlo zelo (veh-pzho kneh-dloh zeh-loh)
Potato Pancakes – Bramborák (bram-boh-rahk)
Beer – Pivo (pih-voh)
Wine – Víno (vee-noh)
Coffee – Káva (kah-vah)
Tea – Čaj (chai)
Transportation
Navigating transportation in the Czech Republic is easier with a few key phrases. Whether you’re taking a taxi, bus, tram, or train, these expressions will help you get around:
Where is the bus stop? – Kde je autobusová zastávka? (kdeh yeh ow-toh-boo-soh-vah zah-stahv-kah)
Where is the train station? – Kde je vlakové nádraží? (kdeh yeh vlak-oh-veh nah-drah-zhee)
Ticket – Jízdenka (yee-zden-kah)
One-way ticket – Jednosměrná jízdenka (yehd-noh-smyehr-nah yeez-den-kah)
Round-trip ticket – Zpáteční jízdenka (zpah-tehch-nee yeez-den-kah)
How much is a ticket to…? – Kolik stojí jízdenka do…? (koh-leek stoh-yee yeez-den-kah doh…?)
Where can I buy a ticket? – Kde si můžu koupit jízdenku? (kdeh si moo-zhoo koh-pit yeez-den-koo)
Accommodations
Finding a place to stay and making sure your needs are met is crucial for a comfortable trip. Here are some phrases to help you with accommodations:
Hotel – Hotel (hoh-tel)
Hostel – Hostel (hoh-stel)
Reservation – Rezervace (reh-zehr-vah-tseh)
Do you have a room available? – Máte volný pokoj? (mah-teh vohl-nee poh-koy)
I have a reservation – Mám rezervaci (mahm reh-zehr-vah-tsee)
How much is a room per night? – Kolik stojí pokoj na noc? (koh-leek stoh-yee poh-koy nah noh-ts)
Check-in – Přihlášení (pzhih-lah-sheh-nee)
Check-out – Odhlášení (ohd-lah-sheh-nee)
Shopping
Whether you’re buying souvenirs or essentials, these phrases will help you shop with confidence:
How much is this? – Kolik to stojí? (koh-leek toh stoh-yee)
Can I try this on? – Můžu si to vyzkoušet? (moo-zhoo si toh viz-koh-sheht)
Do you have this in another size? – Máte to v jiné velikosti? (mah-teh toh v yih-neh ve-lee-koh-stee)
I’m just looking – Jen se dívám (yen seh dee-vahm)
I’ll take it – Vezmu si to (vez-moo si toh)
Receipt – Účet (oo-chet)
Bag – Taška (tah-shka)
Emergencies
In case of emergencies, knowing how to ask for help is crucial. Here are some important phrases to use in such situations:
Help! – Pomoc! (poh-mots)
Call the police – Zavolejte policii (zah-voh-lay-teh poh-lee-tsee)
Call an ambulance – Zavolejte sanitku (zah-voh-lay-teh sah-nit-koo)
I need a doctor – Potřebuji lékaře (poh-treh-boo-yi leh-kah-zheh)
I’m lost – Ztratil jsem se (ztrah-til ysehm seh)
Where is the nearest hospital? – Kde je nejbližší nemocnice? (kdeh yeh nay-bleezh-shee neh-moh-tsnee-tseh)
Pharmacy – Lékárna (leh-kahr-nah)
I am allergic to… – Jsem alergický na… (ysem ah-lehr-gee-tskee nah…) / Jsem alergická na… (ysem ah-lehr-gee-tskah nah…) (for a female speaker)
Making Friends
Traveling is not just about seeing new places but also about meeting new people. Here are some phrases that can help you make friends and have engaging conversations:
Where are you from? – Odkud jste? (ohd-kood steh)
What do you do? – Co děláte? (tso dyeh-lah-teh)
Would you like to join me? – Chcete se ke mně připojit? (hchteh-teh seh keh mnyeh pshih-poh-yeet)
Can you recommend a good restaurant? – Můžete doporučit dobrou restauraci? (moo-zheh-teh doh-poh-roo-chit doh-broh oo rehs-tow-rah-tsee)
Let’s go for a walk – Půjdeme na procházku (poo-yeh-deh-meh nah proh-khah-zkoo)
What do you like to do in your free time? – Co rád děláte ve volném čase? (tso raht dyeh-lah-teh veh vohl-nem chah-seh)
Politeness and Cultural Sensitivity
Showing respect and politeness is important in any culture. Here are some phrases to help you navigate social interactions with grace:
Excuse me – Promiňte (pro-min-tye)
I’m sorry – Omlouvám se (ohm-loh-vahm seh)
Can I help you? – Můžu vám pomoci? (moo-zhoo vahm poh-moh-tsee)
How can I help? – Jak mohu pomoci? (yahk moh-hoo poh-moh-tsee)
That’s very kind of you – To je od vás moc milé (toh yeh ohd vahs mohts mee-leh)
You’re welcome – Není zač (neh-nee zahch)
Conclusion
Learning a few key Czech phrases can make a significant difference in your travel experience. Not only will it help you navigate everyday situations more smoothly, but it will also endear you to the locals and open the door to more authentic cultural exchanges. Practice these phrases before your trip, and don’t be afraid to use them during your travels. The effort you put into speaking Czech, even if it’s just a few words, will be greatly appreciated and will enrich your journey through this beautiful country. Happy travels!
