Learning basic Czech phrases can significantly improve a foreigner’s experience in the Czech Republic. Whether you’re exploring the city, shopping, or dining out, knowing a few key expressions will make daily interactions much smoother.

Phrases that might be useful when:

Greetings and Politeness:

• Dobrý den! (Dob-reeh den)– “Hello” (Formal greeting used during the day – used when I’m around people I don’t know or I’m somewhere for the first time)
• Ahoj! (Ah-hoy)– “Hi!” (Informal greeting between friends)
• Na shledanou! (Nah skleh-dah-noh) – “Goodbye!” (Formal farewell)
• Děkuji! (Dyeh-koo-yee) – “Thank you!”
• Prosím (Proh-seem) – “Please” / “You’re welcome”

Shopping

• Kolik to stojí? (Koh-lik toh stoh-yee?) – “How much does it cost?”
• Mohu platit kartou? (Moh-hoo plah-teet kar-tou?) – “Can I pay by card?”
• Máte to v jiné velikosti/barvě? (Mah-teh toh v yih-neh veh-lee-koh-stee / bar-vyeh?)– “Do you have this in another size/color?”
• Kde najdu [produkt]? (Kdeh nyeye-doo [produkt]?) – “Where can I find [product]?”

In a Restaurant

• Mohu si objednat? (Moh-hoo si ob-yehd-naht?) – “Can I order?”
• Dám si [jídlo/nápoj]. (Dahm si [yeed-loh / nah-poy].) – “I’ll have [food/drink].”
• Účet, prosím. (Oo-chet, proh-seem.) – “The bill, please.”
• Máte vegetariánské možnosti? (Mah-teh veh-geh-tah-ree-ahn-skeh mohzh-nos-tee?)– “Do you have vegetarian options?”

Getting around the City

• Kde je nejbližší zastávka? (Kdeh yeh ney-bli-zhee za-stahv-kah?) – “Where is the nearest stop?” (For public transport)
• Můžete mi pomoci? (Moo-zheh-teh mi poh-moh-tsi?) – “Can you help me?”
• Mluvíte anglicky? (Mluhvee-teh an-glits-ki?) – “Do you speak English?”

Final Tips

Mastering these essential Czech phrases will help you feel more comfortable in everyday situations and enhance your communication with locals. For further learning, you can explore online resources such as video lessons and interactive exercises.