Learn Czech from scratch:
basic phrases

Short answer. Start with ready-made phrases, ten a day, learned whole and out loud: Dobrý den (hello), Děkuji (thank you), Nerozumím (I don't understand). Use the formal vy with strangers and officials; stress is always on the first syllable.

In your first weeks in the Czech Republic, grammar is not the point: you need ready-made phrases for typical situations. Here they are, grouped by topic. Learn them whole and out loud, and they will work in a real conversation.

How to read Czech letters

Czech spelling is consistent: once you know the letters, you can read any word aloud. The essentials:

• Stress is always on the first syllable. No guessing.
• The čárka marks length, not stress. On á, é, í, ó, ú, ý you hold the vowel longer, but the stress stays on the first syllable. Length changes meaning: byt is a flat, být is "to be".
• The háček changes the sound: č as "ch" in "church", š as "sh", ž as the "s" in "measure", ň as "ny" in "canyon". ť and ď are soft, close to the "t" and "d" in British "tune" and "duke".
• ř has no English equivalent. The tongue trills as for a rolled "r" while you make a buzzing sound like the "s" in "measure" at the same time. It is one sound, not "r" followed by "zh".
• ě after d, t, n softens the consonant: the first consonant of děkuji is soft. After b, p, v it sounds like "ye" in "yes". After m you hear a soft "n" between the consonant and the vowel.
• ů and ú are the same long "oo". ú is written at the start of a word, ů in the middle and at the end.
• ch counts as one letter and sounds like the "ch" in Scottish "loch". h is voiced, buzzier than English "h".
• y and i sound the same. c is always "ts" as in "cats", j is "y" as in "yes".

Don't spell Czech words the English way in your notes: you will memorise the wrong pronunciation. Listen to a native speaker or a recording and repeat out loud.

Greetings and politeness

• Dobrý den! — Hello! (polite, from morning to evening)
• Dobré ráno! — Good morning!
• Dobrý večer! — Good evening!
• Ahoj! / Čau! — Hi! / Bye! (informal)
• Na shledanou! — Goodbye!
• Dobrou noc! — Good night!
• Děkuji. / Děkuji moc. — Thank you. / Thank you very much.
• Prosím. — Please. It also means "you're welcome" and "here you are", and as a question, Prosím?, it means "Sorry, what?"
• Není zač. — You're welcome.
• Promiňte. — Excuse me. / Sorry.

Formal and informal "you". Like French, Czech has two: vy for strangers, shop staff, doctors and officials, and ty for friends and children. The verb changes too: Jak se máte? (How are you?, formal) and Jak se máš? (informal). Switching to ty is usually offered by the older person or the boss: Můžeme si tykat? — Shall we use "ty"? And say Dobrý den when you walk into a small shop, a doctor's office or a lift with a neighbour.

Introductions

• Jak se jmenujete? — What's your name?
• Jmenuji se Anna. — My name is Anna.
• Těší mě. — Nice to meet you.
• Odkud jste? — Where are you from?
• Jsem z Ukrajiny. — I'm from Ukraine.
• Bydlím v Praze. — I live in Prague.
• Pracuji jako řidič. — I work as a driver.
• Učím se česky. — I'm learning Czech.
• Mluvím trochu česky. — I speak a little Czech.
• Mluvíte anglicky? — Do you speak English?

When you don't understand

• Nerozumím. — I don't understand.
• Můžete to zopakovat? — Could you repeat that?
• Můžete mluvit pomaleji? — Could you speak more slowly?
• Co to znamená? — What does that mean?
• Jak se řekne česky…? — How do you say … in Czech?
• Můžete mi to napsat? — Could you write it down for me?
• Ano. / Ne. / Nevím. — Yes. / No. / I don't know.

Shop and café

• Kolik to stojí? — How much is it?
• Jednu kávu, prosím. — One coffee, please.
• Chtěl bych… / Chtěla bych… — I'd like… (said by a man / by a woman)
• Můžu platit kartou? — Can I pay by card?
• Hotově. — In cash.
• Ještě něco? — Anything else? (at the till) — To je všechno. — That's all.
• Zaplatím, prosím. — The bill, please.
• Je tady volno? — Is this seat free?
• Kde je toaleta? — Where is the toilet?
• Dobrou chuť! — Enjoy your meal!

Getting around

• Kde je zastávka? — Where is the stop?
• Kde je nádraží? — Where is the station?
• Který autobus jede do centra? — Which bus goes to the centre?
• Jednu jízdenku, prosím. — One ticket, please.
• Je to daleko? — Is it far?
• Doleva. Doprava. Rovně. — Left. Right. Straight on.
• Vystupujete? — Are you getting off? (on a crowded tram)

Doctor and pharmacy

• Bolí mě hlava. — I have a headache.
• Bolí mě v krku. — I have a sore throat.
• Mám horečku. — I have a fever.
• Je mi špatně. — I feel unwell.
• Chci se objednat k lékaři. — I'd like to make a doctor's appointment.
• Kde je lékárna? — Where is the pharmacy?
• Pomoc! — Help!
• Zavolejte záchranku! — Call an ambulance! The general emergency number is 112.

Housing and work

• Hledám byt. — I'm looking for a flat.
• Kolik stojí nájem? — How much is the rent?
• Můžu se přijít podívat? — Can I come and have a look?
• Nefunguje topení. — The heating doesn't work.
• Neteče teplá voda. — There's no hot water.
• Přijdu pozdě. — I'll be late.
• Dnes nemůžu. — I can't today.
• Co mám dělat? — What should I do?
• Jsem nemocný. / Jsem nemocná. — I'm ill. (said by a man / by a woman)
• Hezký víkend! — Have a nice weekend!

At the immigration office

At the Ministry of the Interior's office for foreigners (OAMP) and other offices, short phrases are enough. The key is to speak up when you don't understand.

• Dobrý den, mám termín na deset hodin. — Hello, I have an appointment at ten.
• Jsem objednaný. / Jsem objednaná. — I have an appointment. (said by a man / by a woman)
• Kde mám počkat? — Where should I wait?
• Tady je můj pas. — Here is my passport.
• Nerozumím, můžete to zopakovat pomalu? — I don't understand, could you repeat it slowly?
• Jaké dokumenty potřebuji? — Which documents do I need?
• Kde to mám podepsat? — Where do I sign?
• Kdy si to můžu vyzvednout? — When can I pick it up?

For the paperwork itself, see documents for residence in the Czech Republic.

False friends

A few Czech words look familiar but mean something else. For English speakers:

• host — a guest, not a host.
• aktuální — current, up to date, not "actual".

If you also speak Ukrainian or Russian, watch out for these:

• Pozor! — Watch out! Attention! Nothing to do with shame.
• čerstvý — fresh, not stale: čerstvý chléb is fresh bread.
• ovoce — fruit; vegetables are zelenina.
• zápach — a bad smell; a pleasant one is vůně.
• zapomenout — to forget, not to remember.
• stůl — a table; a chair is židle.
• chytrý — clever, not cunning.

How to learn these phrases

Ten a day, out loud. Say each phrase several times and use it in real life the same day: in a shop, on the tram, with a colleague.

Whole phrases, not single words. Můžete to zopakovat? will help you faster than five separate words and a conjugation table.

Review on a schedule. After a day, after three days, after a week. Spaced-repetition flashcards do this for you.

Change the details. Once you know Jednu kávu, prosím., say Jednu jízdenku, prosím. That turns a phrase into a pattern.

Mind the length. It is easy to stress a long vowel. Hold the vowel, but keep the stress on the first syllable.

For more phrases for specific situations, with dialogues and tips, see the Czech phrasebook by topic: restaurants, shopping, the doctor and pharmacy and work.

Basic single words by topic, from family and home to food, numbers and transport, are on the page basic Czech words for beginners.

If your goal is permanent residence, you will need the A2 exam: how the Czech A2 exam works. You can speak Czech with an AI conversation partner from A1 in Talkfirst, with feedback in English after each conversation, pronunciation practice and A1–A2 flashcards. Everyday-life scenes are in beta. Free: 35 voice minutes a week.

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