International Tour
Basic Czech For Beginners
Basic Czech Phrases
- How do you do (exactly ‘Good day’) = Dobry den (dobree den)
- Good morning = Dobre rano (dobreh rahno)
- Good evening = Dobry vecer (dobree vecher)
- Good night = Dobrou noc (dobrow nots)
- Goodbye = Na shledanou (naskhedanow)
- Please = Prosim (proseem)
- Thank You = Dekuji (dyekuyi)
- Excuse me = S dovolenim (s dovolenyeem)
- I´m sorry = Lituji (lituyi)
- Excuse me = Prominte (promintey)
- Yes = Ano (ano)
- No = Ne (neh)
- Do you speak English? = Mluvite anglicky? (mluveete anglitsky?)
- I don’t understand = Nerozumim (nerozumeem)
- Please, write it down = Prosim napiste to (proseem napishte to)
- Where is (a bank) = Kde je (kde ye) banka (banka)
- Currency exchange = Smenarna (smnyenahrna)
- Bathroom = Toaleta, Zachod (toaleta, zahkod)
- Men = Muzi, Pani (muzhi, pahnyi)
- Women = Zeny, Damy (zheny, dahmy)
- How much does it cost? = Kolik to stoji (kolik to stoyee)
- Waiter! = Pane vrchni! (pane vrkhnyee)
- One beer, please = Jedno pivo prosim (yedno pivo proseem)
- Waitress! = Slecno! (slechno)
- The check, please! = Platit, prosim (platyit proseem.)
If you learn nothing else, try to use these phrases:
- Prosím (pro-seem) = Possibly the most useful word in Czech. It means: 1) Please, 2) Here you are, 3) You’re welcome, 4) What did you say?, 5) I’ll have … and can generally be used in times of doubt.
- Děkuju (dyeh-kooyoo) = Thank you
- Ano (ah-noh) = Yes. Ano is often shortened to no, sometimes resulting in cross-language confusion.
- Ne (neh) = No. Fairly straightforward and direct.
- Dobrý den (dob-ree den) = Hello, Good afternoon.
- Nashledanou (nus-hle-dah-no) Good bye.
- Ahoj (ah-hoy) = Hi. or Bye. Much like Aloha this word can be used both when meeting and leaving. You will often hear Czechs saying hi while waving you goodbye. Čau is another informal equivalent.
- Kdejetoaleta? (kdehyehtoh-ah-le-ta) Where is the bathroom? Obviously useful but getting you into the realm of phrases where you need to understand the answer.
- Kolik to stojí? (koh-leek tohstoh-yee) How much is it? Ditto.
- Co je to? (tso yeh toh) What is it? This phrase is especially useful to expand your vocabulary.
Fun Czech Phrases
- Z technických důvodů zavřeno. = Closed due to technical reasons.
- Volané číslo neexistuje = The number you are calling does not exist.
- Ukončete výstup a nástup, dveře se zavírají! = Stop getting off or getting on, the doors are closing! (Prague subway announcement)
- Příští zastávka: Náměstí Republiky = Next stop: Náměstí Republiky
- Máte přání? = May I help you?
- Dám si jedno pivo prosím. = I’ll have a beer please.
- Kolik to stojí? = How much does it cost?
- Zaplatíme. = We’re ready to pay. (asking for the bill at a restaurant)
- Je tu obsazeno? = Is this seat taken?
- Smím prosit? = Would you like to dance?
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