What Czech phrases should I learn before visiting the Czech Republic?

Greetings and goodbyes

Dobrý den (literally "good day") is the polite greeting for strangers and staff, and it is what you say walking into a small shop. Ahoj and čau are casual, and both mean hello and goodbye, like ciao; keep them for friends and people your age.

When you leave, say Na shledanou. Czechs write it as two words.

Polite essentials

Prosím is the busiest word in Czech. It means "please", "you're welcome", "here you are", "pardon?" and, from a waiter, "what would you like?". Děkuji is the standard "thank you"; in casual speech you will hear děkuju and díky.

Promiňte covers "excuse me" and "sorry" with strangers; promiň is the casual form. To get past people on a tram, say s dovolením.

Eating and drinking

The toast is Na zdraví! ("to health"). Look the other person in the eye as you clink, and clink with the people around you rather than reaching across the whole table. Before eating, people wish each other Dobrou chuť.

In Czech, menu often means a fixed-price lunch, so ask for the jídelní lístek if you want the full menu. To pay, zaplatím, prosím ("I'll pay, please") is what most people say. Tipping is usually rounding up, or around 10% in tourist restaurants; our Prague tipping guide has the detail.

Shopping and markets

Prices are fixed in shops and at markets, and haggling is not done. The currency is the Czech crown (koruna, Kč), not the euro. Card payment is normal in Prague and most towns, but small stalls, pubs and rural shops may want cash.

Say Dobrý den to the stallholder before you point, and Na shledanou when you leave.

Getting around

Vlevo and vpravo mean "on the left" and "on the right" (where something is); doleva and doprava mean "to the left" and "to the right" (which way to turn). Prague's main station is Praha hlavní nádraží, usually shortened to hlavní nádraží.

Place names change their endings after do (to): Prague is Praha but a ticket "to Prague" is do Prahy. Station staff will understand the plain name too.

Numbers 1 to 10, 100 and 1,000

One and two change with the gender of what you are counting: jeden lístek (one ticket) but jedna káva (one coffee), dva for masculine nouns and dvě for the rest. For ordering, jedno pivo (one beer) and dvě piva (two beers) are the forms you will use most.

Help and emergencies

112 is the general emergency number and answers in English and other languages. The direct lines are 155 (ambulance), 158 (police) and 150 (fire), but they may answer only in Czech.

Etiquette that matters more than words

Say Dobrý den going in and Na shledanou going out of small shops, pharmacies and cafés. Czechs don't usually greet strangers in the street, but walking into a small shop in silence comes across as rude.

Use the polite vy form with adults you don't know. Using the casual ty with a stranger is rude in Czech, not friendly. The phrases above all use vy.

Titles still appear in formal settings. People are pan (Mr) and paní (Mrs, Ms) plus surname, and in hospitals, universities and offices you will hear academic titles used in address, such as pane doktore. A handshake is the normal greeting when you are introduced.

Toast properly. Keep eye contact with each person as you say Na zdraví and clink. Our things to know before visiting the Czech Republic covers money, transport and the other practical surprises.

Frequently asked questions