Czech 101

Useful Words and Phrases in Czech

Immersing yourself in a conversation with the locals is a great way to experience the country! Most Czechs realise their mother tongue is a bit tricky for English speakers or foreigners in general, and, thus, they appreciate when some stranger dares to speak Czech with them. Do not worry - you won’t be looked down upon, even when making mistakes.

This list contains some of the most common terms and phrases in the Czech language that may come in handy during your travels. The pronunciation is in the form of an approximate phonetic transcription. Suggestion: try to master your Czech pronunciation by using the slightly atypical “tapped” R sound instead of the “standard” R. Your Czech will sound much more authentic!

The Czech language still uses the T-V distinction. In the Czech society, it’s seen as polite and respectful to prefer the V form (i.e. the second-person plural) when talking to strangers. Hence, we’ve chosen to use the V in this Czech language guide.