Czech is a tough language, and with words like “zmrzlina” (ice cream) or “čtvrtek” (Thursday), it’s normal to feel a bit dizzy. The good news is you don’t need to speak it well to make your trip to Prague much easier. Just a few basic Czech phrases will change how people treat you, and you’ll have fun trying to pronounce them.
Greetings and basic courtesy
- Hi: Ahoj (sounds like “ahoy”) — informal, used mostly among young people or friends.
- Hello / Good day: Dobrý den — the polite, formal greeting that works in almost any situation.
- Good night: Dobrou noc
- Please: Prosím
- Thank you: Děkuji (more formal) or Díky (more casual, like “thanks”)
- You’re welcome: Prosím (yes, the same word as “please”; context makes it clear)
- Yes / No: Ano / Ne
- Sorry / Excuse me: Promiňte
- Goodbye: Na shledanou (formal) or Ahoj (the same word works for hello and goodbye, like the Italian “ciao”)
Numbers in Czech
Useful for understanding prices and times, or just for ordering the right number of beers:
| Number | Czech |
| 1 | jedna |
| 2 | dva |
| 3 | tři |
| 4 | čtyři |
| 5 | pět |
| 6 | šest |
| 7 | sedm |
| 8 | osm |
| 9 | devět |
| 10 | deset |
Ordering at a restaurant or bar
- A beer, please: Jedno pivo, prosím
- The check, please: Účet, prosím
- How much is it?: Kolik to stojí?
- (Still) water: Voda (neperlivá). If you don’t say “still,” there’s a good chance you’ll get sparkling water.
- It’s delicious: Je to výborné
- No meat / I’m vegetarian: Bez masa / Jsem vegetarián
Getting around and asking for directions
- Where is…?: Kde je…?
- Metro station: Stanice metra
- Do you speak English?: Mluvíte anglicky?
- I don’t understand: Nerozumím
- Left / Right / Straight ahead: Vlevo / Vpravo / Rovně
In an emergency
- Help!: Pomoc! (pronounced “POH-mots”)
- I need a doctor: Potřebuji lékaře
- Call the police: Zavolejte policii
For the emergency number and more safety tips, see our guide on whether Prague is safe.
A language with a twist: words without vowels
Here’s something that surprises most people: Czech has whole words with no vowels at all, where “r” or “l” act as vowels. The most famous example is “strč prst skrz krk” (literally “stick your finger through your throat”), a classic tongue twister Czechs love to test foreigners with. Say it without stumbling and you’ll get more than a few smiles.
Czech pronunciation tips for English speakers
- The letter ř (as in Dvořák) is the hardest sound in Czech, a mix of a rolled “r” and the “s” in “pleasure.” Even foreigners who’ve lived here for years never quite master it.
- The stress almost always falls on the first syllable of the word, whatever its length.
- Don’t worry too much about sounding perfect. Czechs really appreciate the effort, even if your pronunciation is off.
Do people in Prague speak English?
Most young people in Prague speak English reasonably well, and in tourist areas you’ll always find someone who does. Even so, starting any conversation with a simple “Dobrý den” instead of jumping straight into English tends to open doors. It’s a small gesture that locals notice and appreciate.
If you’d rather pick up these phrases in real situations than memorize a list, our guides on the free walking tours often teach a word or two along the way. It’s a much more fun way to remember them.
