Czech Phrases for Tourists: Hello to Cheers Local Guide
Prague Guide
Czech Phrases Every Tourist Should Know — From Hello to Cheers
By Uliana Formina · top-category licensed Prague guide · 17 years of experience
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The Czech language is not easy. It's a Slavic language with seven grammatical cases, consonant clusters that look unpronounceable on paper, and a letter — ř — that exists in no other language on Earth. The good news: you don't need to speak Czech to visit Prague. English is widely spoken in the tourist center, at hotels, and in restaurants.
But here's what we've noticed after years of guiding visitors through Prague: the tourists who learn even five Czech phrases have a different experience. A simple "Dobrý den" when entering a shop, a "Děkuji" when receiving change — these small gestures shift the interaction. Staff smile more. Recommendations get better. Doors open, sometimes literally.
This guide covers the Czech phrases that actually matter for tourists — the ones you'll use daily, pronounced in a way that won't get blank stares. We've included phonetic guides for every phrase, because Czech spelling and Czech pronunciation follow entirely different logic than English.
Essential Greetings
Czech has a formal/informal split, similar to French "vous/tu" or German "Sie/du." With strangers, shopkeepers, and anyone older, use the formal versions. With bartenders in casual pubs, young people, and anyone who switches to informal first, follow their lead.
Dobrý den (DOB-ree den) — "Good day." The universal formal greeting. Use it when entering any shop, restaurant, museum, or hotel. It works from morning until evening and is never wrong. This single phrase, said with a smile, changes how Czech people respond to you.
Ahoj (AH-hoy) — "Hi/Bye." The informal greeting, used among friends and in casual settings. Yes, it sounds exactly like a sailor's greeting — Czech borrowed it from English seafaring slang in the early 20th century. Use it with bartenders in neighborhood pubs, young hostel staff, or anyone who greets you with it first.
Dobrý večer (DOB-ree VEH-chair) — "Good evening." More formal than Ahoj, appropriate when arriving at a restaurant for dinner or entering an evening event.
Na shledanou (NAH SKHLEH-dah-noh) — "Goodbye." The formal farewell. Say it when leaving any establishment. Shopkeepers notice, and it leaves a better impression than a silent exit.
Čau (chow) — "Bye" (informal). Borrowed from Italian "ciao." Used among friends. You'll hear it constantly on Prague streets.
Insider tip: When you enter a Czech establishment — even a supermarket — saying "Dobrý den" to the cashier or staff is standard etiquette. Not greeting people is considered mildly rude. This catches many visitors off guard, because in some cultures, greeting a supermarket cashier would be unusual.
Please and Thank You
Prosím (PRO-seem) — "Please" / "You're welcome" / "Here you go." This is the Swiss Army knife of Czech words. It means "please" when asking for something, "you're welcome" when someone thanks you, and "here you are" when handing something over. A waiter says "Prosím" when placing your plate down. You say "Prosím" when asking for the bill. Context does all the work.
Děkuji (DYEH-koo-yee) — "Thank you" (formal). The standard thank-you in shops, restaurants, and with anyone you don't know personally.
Díky (DEE-kee) — "Thanks" (informal). Shorter, casual, and used constantly in everyday speech. Fine in pubs, cafés, and with younger people.
Není zač (NEH-nee zahch) — "Don't mention it." The response to Děkuji. You'll hear it, but as a tourist, just smiling and nodding works too.
Insider tip: If someone says "Prosím?" with a rising intonation — like a question — they're saying "Pardon?" or "Can I help you?" It's not an invitation to say please; they're asking you to repeat yourself or state what you need.
At Restaurants and Cafés
Ordering food and drinks is where most tourists actually need Czech, because not every restaurant (especially outside the tourist center) has an English menu. These phrases cover the essentials.
Jedno pivo, prosím (YED-noh PIH-voh, PRO-seem) — "One beer, please." The single most useful phrase in Prague. Czech beer culture runs deep, and ordering in Czech — even just this one line — earns you a nod of approval from the waiter.
Dvě piva, prosím (DVYEH PIH-vah, PRO-seem) — "Two beers, please." Note the grammatical change: "pivo" becomes "piva." Czech nouns shift form depending on quantity. Don't worry about the grammar — just memorize the phrase as a unit.
Účet, prosím (OO-chet, PRO-seem) — "The bill, please." Essential at every meal. In Czech restaurants, the waiter won't bring the bill until you ask — they consider it rude to rush you.
Dám si... (dahm see...) — "I'll have..." The standard way to start an order. "Dám si guláš" (I'll have the goulash), "Dám si kávu" (I'll have a coffee). Even if you can't pronounce the dish name perfectly, starting with "Dám si" signals that you're ordering.
Bez lepku (BEZ LEP-koo) — "Gluten-free." Increasingly relevant and understood at most Prague restaurants.
Jsem vegetarián/vegetariánka (sem VEH-geh-tah-ree-ahn / VEH-geh-tah-ree-ahn-kah) — "I'm vegetarian" (male/female). Czech uses gendered endings. Use the first form if you're male, the second if you're female.
Máte anglický jídelní lístek? (MAH-teh ANG-lits-kee YEE-del-nyee LEE-stek) — "Do you have an English menu?" When all else fails.
Insider tip: In traditional Czech pubs, the waiter tracks your beers with marks on a paper slip at your table. When you want to stop, place a beer coaster on top of your glass — otherwise, they'll keep bringing refills. This system is efficient and charming, but it surprises first-timers who suddenly have four beers tallied when they only remember ordering two.
Numbers and Money
You'll need numbers for prices, addresses, and transit. Czech numbers are not intuitive to English speakers, but the first ten cover most situations.
Number | Czech | Pronunciation
1 | Jeden/Jedna | YEH-den / YED-nah
2 | Dva/Dvě | DVAH / DVYEH
3 | Tři | TRZHEE
4 | Čtyři | CHTIH-rzhee
5 | Pět | PYET
6 | Šest | SHEST
7 | Sedm | SEH-dum
8 | Osm | OH-sum
9 | Devět | DEH-vyet
10 | Deset | DEH-set
Kolik to stojí? (KOH-lik toh STOH-yee) — "How much does it cost?" Possibly the most practical phrase in this entire guide. Point at the item, say this, and the shopkeeper will either tell you or show you on a calculator.
Česká koruna (CHES-kah KOH-roo-nah) — "Czech crown." The local currency, abbreviated CZK or Kč. Prague does not use the Euro. Many tourist-area shops accept Euros, but at terrible exchange rates — always pay in crowns.
Můžu platit kartou? (MOO-zhoo PLAH-tyit KAR-toh) — "Can I pay by card?" Most Prague restaurants, shops, and transit accept contactless cards, but smaller pubs and market stalls may be cash-only.
Insider tip: When using an ATM in Prague, always choose to be charged in Czech crowns (CZK), not your home currency. The "dynamic currency conversion" option that ATMs offer is a legal way to charge you a 5–10% markup. Czech-language ATMs from major banks (Česká spořitelna, Komerční banka, ČSOB) are the safest choice. Avoid the yellow Euronet machines in tourist areas.
Getting Around
Prague's public transit is excellent — trams, metro, and buses connect the entire city. Trolleybus 59, which replaced bus 119 in 2024, now runs the airport route. These phrases help when navigating.
A private guide makes all the difference when exploring this part of Prague.
Kde je...? (GDEH yeh) — "Where is...?" Follow with a place name. "Kde je metro?" (Where is the metro?), "Kde je náměstí?" (Where is the square?). Even if the response comes in Czech, the pointing gesture that accompanies it is universal.
Vlevo (VLEH-voh) — "Left."
Vpravo (VPRAH-voh) — "Right."
Rovně (ROV-nyeh) — "Straight ahead."
Zastávka (ZAH-stahv-kah) — "Stop" (transit stop). You'll see this word on every tram and bus stop sign. Knowing it helps you confirm you're in the right place.
A good thing to know: Prague seniors aged 65 and over ride public transport for free — they just need to carry a passport as proof of age. If you're traveling with older family members, this saves money and simplifies logistics.
Emergency Phrases
You'll likely never need these, but having them ready provides peace of mind.
Pomoc! (POH-mots) — "Help!"
Zavolejte záchranku (ZAH-voh-ley-teh ZAHKH-rahn-koo) — "Call an ambulance."
Zavolejte policii (ZAH-voh-ley-teh POH-lee-tsee-yee) — "Call the police."
Potřebuji lékaře (POH-trzhe-boo-yee LEH-kah-rzhe) — "I need a doctor."
Mluvíte anglicky? (MLOO-vee-teh ANG-lits-kee) — "Do you speak English?" This is the universal escape hatch when your Czech runs out. Most people under 40 in Prague speak at least some English. Older generations may speak German or Russian instead.
Emergency number: 112 (European standard) or 155 (ambulance), 158 (police), 150 (fire). All operators on 112 speak English.
How to Say Cheers — Na Zdraví!
Na zdraví! (NAH ZDRAH-vee) — "To health!" The Czech toast, used for beer, wine, spirits, and even non-alcoholic drinks in festive settings. It's the single phrase that will come up most often in social situations.
The ritual matters: make eye contact with each person you're clinking glasses with. Not making eye contact during a toast is considered bad luck (and bad manners) in Czech culture. In a group, go around the table — glass to glass, eyes to eyes. It takes a moment longer, but it's the Czech way.
Insider tip: When toasting with beer, Czechs typically clink the bottom of the glass, not the rim. And never cross arms with someone else who's also toasting — untangle first, then clink. These small details mark the difference between a tourist reciting a phrase and someone who actually understands the culture.
For a full immersion into Czech drinking culture, our guide to Czech beer covers the traditions, the styles, and where to find the best pours in Prague. And if you want to experience it firsthand with unlimited drinks, fire shows, and medieval pageantry, our Medieval Dinner experience is an evening where "Na zdraví!" gets a serious workout.
Pronunciation Guide — The Sounds That Trip Up English Speakers
Czech pronunciation is actually more consistent than English — once you learn the rules, every word is pronounced exactly as it's spelled. The stress always falls on the first syllable. Here are the sounds that need specific attention:
Ř (rzhee) — The uniquely Czech consonant. It sounds like a simultaneous "r" and "zh" — the tip of the tongue trills while the blade creates friction. The closest approximation for English speakers: say "r" and "zh" at the same time, quickly. The word "Dvořák" (the composer) is your practice word. Don't worry about perfecting it — Czechs appreciate the attempt and will understand you even with an approximate version.
Č (ch) — Like "ch" in "church." Český = CHES-kee.
Š (sh) — Like "sh" in "ship." Šest = SHEST.
Ž (zh) — Like the "s" in "measure." Žižkov = ZHIZH-kof.
Ě (yeh) — Softens the preceding consonant and adds a "ye" sound. Děkuji = DYEH-koo-yee.
Á, É, Í, Ó, Ú/Ů — The háček (ˇ) changes the sound; the čárka (´) or kroužek (°) simply lengthens it. Á is a long "ah," í is a long "ee," etc. The vowel quality stays the same; it just lasts longer.
Ch — In Czech, "ch" is a single letter (not two). It sounds like the "ch" in Scottish "loch" — a soft, throaty friction. It comes after "h" in the alphabet.
Insider tip: The word "zmrzlina" (ice cream) — ZMRZ-lee-nah — is a favorite Czech challenge for foreigners. Four consonants in a row, no vowel in sight. Czech handles consonant clusters that look impossible but are, once you hear them spoken, entirely logical. Try ordering one: "Jednu zmrzlinu, prosím." If the server laughs, it's with you, not at you.
How to Practice Before Your Trip
Download a pronunciation app that includes audio samples from native Czech speakers — hearing the sounds is far more useful than reading phonetic guides. Focus on the ten phrases you'll use most: Dobrý den, Prosím, Děkuji, Na shledanou, Jedno pivo prosím, Účet prosím, Kolik to stojí, Kde je, Na zdraví, and Mluvíte anglicky.
On our All Prague in One Day walking tour, your guide will coach you through key phrases as you encounter them — ordering at a real pub, greeting a shopkeeper, toasting properly. It's the fastest way to learn, because the practice happens in context, not in a textbook.
Experience It With a Private Guide
Learning phrases from a page is one thing. Using them with a local who corrects your pronunciation in real time, explains the cultural context, and laughs with you through the attempts — that's something else entirely. Our guides are native Czech speakers who genuinely enjoy teaching visitors the language basics. By the end of a walking tour through Old Town and across Charles Bridge, you'll have practiced your Czech in at least half a dozen real interactions.
Is Czech hard to learn for English speakers? Czech is classified as a Category IV language by the US Foreign Service Institute — meaning it takes roughly 1,100 class hours to reach professional proficiency. For a tourist visit, though, you only need 10–15 phrases, and the pronunciation rules are consistent. The effort-to-reward ratio is excellent.
Do people in Prague speak English? In the tourist center, hotels, and restaurants — yes, widely. Younger Czechs (under 40) generally speak English well. In residential neighborhoods and with older generations, English is less common. Having basic Czech phrases bridges the gap.
What's the hardest Czech sound for English speakers? The letter "r" with a hacek (ř) — a simultaneous trill and fricative that exists in no other language. Most Czechs won't expect you to pronounce it correctly, and an approximation ("rzh") is always understood and appreciated.
Should I try speaking Czech even if I'm bad at it? Absolutely. Czechs are famously reserved with strangers, but attempting their language — however imperfectly — breaks the ice faster than anything else. A badly pronounced "Dekuji" is worth more than a perfectly enunciated "Thank you."
What does "Na zdravi" literally mean? "Na zdravi" translates to "To health" — the standard Czech toast used with any drink. Remember to make eye contact with each person when clinking glasses. Not doing so is considered bad luck.
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