Talkfirst
Czech phrasebook
by topic
Ready-made phrases for specific situations in Czechia, with English translations, a dialogue and practical tips.
- RestaurantCzech restaurant phrases with English translations for cafés and pubs: getting a table, ordering, allergies, the bill and tipping. A café dialogue.
- ShoppingCzech shopping phrases with English translations: the shop floor, groceries, the checkout, returns and warranty claims. A dialogue and tips for newcomers.
- At the doctor and pharmacyCzech phrases for the doctor, hospital and pharmacy with English translations: registering with a GP, symptoms, prescriptions and sick notes. A dialogue.
- At workCzech phrases for work with English translations: a job ad, the interview, contract and pay, shifts, holidays, sick leave, notice. A sample interview.
Short answer. This Czech phrasebook has 4 topics: restaurants, shopping, the doctor and pharmacy, and work, each with English translations, a dialogue and tips. There is no phonetic respelling on purpose: learn whole phrases and swap the details, so once you know Dám si kávu, order tea, soup or water the same way.
Each topic brings together phrases from Talkfirst's Czech decks, a short dialogue from a scene that the AI conversation partner plays out loud, and tips on how things work in Czechia. If you are just starting, read Czech for beginners: essential phrases first: it covers greetings, politeness and how to read Czech letters.
Why there is no phonetic spelling here
People often look for Czech phrases "with pronunciation" spelled out in English letters, but English spelling cannot show Czech sounds well: the ř sound, which English does not have, the long vowels marked with a čárka (á, é, í, ú) or a kroužek (ů), the softened consonant before ě. If you learn a phrase from a respelling, the wrong pronunciation sticks, and fixing it later is harder than learning it right from the start. Czech is read almost exactly as it is written and the stress is always on the first syllable, so the beginner's guide covers the reading rules in one evening; after that, listen to each phrase and repeat it out loud. In Talkfirst you can play every phrase on its flashcard and say it to the AI conversation partner.
Learn whole phrases and swap the details: once you know Dám si kávu, order tea, soup or water the same way. One phrase becomes a template for a dozen situations.
Basic single words by topic, from family and home to food, numbers and transport, are on the page basic Czech words for beginners.