Essential Czech Phrases

Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.

Here are the bare minimum of Czech words and phrases you need to know to survive.

Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

If you need help with pronunciation,
please see the Pronunciation Guide below.

Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ...

The Top 10 ...

Ahoj.

Hello.
Na shledanou.
Goodbye.
Mluvíte anglicky?
Do you speak English?
Nerozumím.
I don't understand.
Trochu.
A little.
Ano/Jo. Ne.
Yes. No.
Kolik to stojí?

How much is it?
Přiliš drahý. Dobře.
Too expensive. OK.
Molím.
Please.
Děkuji (mockrát).
Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ... The Top 20 ...
	Jak se jmenujete? What is your name? Jmenuji se ... My name is ... Jak se máte? How are you? Dobře. A vy? Fine. And you? Kde je ...? Where is ...? Kde je záchod? Páni/Ženy Where is the toilet? Men/Women Je mi líto. Promiňte. Sorry. Excuse me. Žádný problém. No problem. Chci ... I want ... Nechci ... I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ...

The Top 30 ...

Odkud jste?
Where are you from?
Jsem z Austrálie.
I am from Australia.
Účet, molím.
The bill, please.
Ztratil jsem se. (man)
Ztratila jsem se. (woman)
I'm lost.
Stůj! Počkejte!
Stop! Wait!
Tady, tam.
Here, there.
Taxi. Hotel. Letiště. Nádraží.
Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station.
Líbi se mi ...
I like ...
Nelíbi se mi ...
I don't like ...

jeden, dva, tři, čtyři, pět.
one, two, three, four, five.
šest, sedm, osam, devět, deset.
six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

*Or choose your country:
z Ameriky - from America
z Kanady - from Canada
z Anglie - from England
z Irska - from Ireland
z Nového Zélandu - from New Zealand

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ...

Useful Extras ...

Na zdraví!
Cheers!

dobrý / špatný
good / bad
velký / malý
big / small
blíko / daleko
near / far
méňe / víc
less / more
jiný / dost
another / enough

Jsem vegetarián. (man)
Jsem vegetariánka. (woman)
I am vegetarian.
Nejím maso.
I don't eat meat.
... kuře.
... chicken.
... rybu.
... fish.

Jsem alergický na ořechy. (man)
Jsem alergická na ořechy. (woman)
I am allergic to nuts.
... arašídy.
... peanuts.
... ryby.
... fish.
... plody moršké.
... seafood.
... vejce.
... eggs.

Pronunciation Guide

Vowels:
An acute accent lengthens the vowel.
ě is the sound ye as in yes (IPA jɛ)
ů is a long u
y is pronounced as i

Consonants:
c is pronounced ts as in cats
č is pronounced as ch as in church (tʃ)
ch is pronounced as kh as in loch or Bach (x)
ď is pronounced as gʲ, almost like dʲ (ɟ)
j is pronounced as y as in yell (IPA j)
ň is pronounced is pronounced as ny as in canyon (ɲ)
ř is pronounced as a trilled r with the tongue a little higher, allowing a small sound of ʒ
š is pronounced as sh as in shop (ʃ)
ť is pronounced as kʲ, almost like tʲ (IPA c)
ž is pronounced as zh as in pleasure (ʒ)