Czech feels a bit like an old friend you haven’t seen in years.
The face looks familiar. The way they speak sounds recognizable. You even get the impression that you know exactly what they’re talking about.
And then, suddenly, you realize you don’t.
The Czech language is simultaneously very easy and very treacherous for Poles. Many Czech words resemble Polish ones, and some can be understood without any study at all. But there are also those that mean something completely different from what intuition suggests.
That’s why you don’t need to take a full Czech course before heading to Prague.
It’s enough to learn basic Czech phrases, a few words related to restaurants and public transport, and a handful of linguistic traps.
Especially since even simple phrases like:
Dobrý den.
or:
Děkuji.
can completely change the tone of a conversation.
Czechs usually appreciate it greatly when a Pole at least tries to say something in Czech.
If, on the other hand, you are visiting the city for the first time and want to explore Prague with a local guide in addition to learning some language, check out our tours in Prague with a Polish guide.
Basic Czech Phrases – Start Here
You don’t need hundreds of words.
For a start, ten will suffice.
These are the basic Czech words you will hear in shops, restaurants, hotels, and on the streets of Prague.
| Czech Phrase | In Polish | Approximate Pronunciation | | ------------------ | -------------------------- | ------------------------- | | Dobrý den | good morning / hello | dobry den | | Ahoj | hi | ahoj | | Děkuji | thank you | dziekuji | | Prosím | please / you’re welcome | prosim | | Ano | yes | ano | | Ne | no | ne | | Promiňte | excuse me | promińte | | Nerozumím | I don’t understand | nerozumim | | Mluvíte polsky? | Do you speak Polish? | mluwite polski | | Na shledanou | goodbye | naschledanou |
This is essentially a survival kit.
If you remember only:
Dobrý den, prosím, děkuji, na shledanou
– you already have the foundation for most brief interactions.
How to say “good morning” in Czech?
Dobrý den.
This is the safest Czech greeting.
You can use it in hotels, restaurants, shops, tourist information centers, or when buying tickets.
A Pole will read it practically without any problem:
dobry den.
And it is indeed from “Dobrý den” that you should start a conversation with a Czech stranger.
How to say “goodbye” in Czech?
Na shledanou.
For a Pole, the pronunciation of this phrase might initially seem a bit suspicious.
In practice, it sounds roughly like:
naschledanou.
This is the standard “goodbye in Czech”.
In less formal situations, you can also hear:
Ahoj.
Because “ahoj” can mean both “hi” as a greeting and “bye” as a farewell.
Czech Words You’ll See on the Streets of Prague
While sightseeing in Prague, you will quickly start noticing the same signs.
On metro stations.
On doors.
At bus stops.
At building entrances.
Some are very similar to Polish. Others you simply need to memorize.
| Czech | In Polish | Approximate Pronunciation | | -------- | --------- | ------------------------- | | Vchod | entrance | wchod | | Východ | exit | wychod | | Otevřeno | open | otewrzheno | | Zavřeno | closed | zawrzheno | | Pozor | caution | pozor | | Zákaz | prohibition | zakaz | | Náměstí | square | namniesti | | Ulice | street | ulice | | Hrad | castle | hrad | | Centrum | center | centrum |
What does “Pozor” mean in Czech?
You will see one of these words very frequently:
POZOR!
It doesn’t mean anything strange.
Pozor = caution.
It may appear on stairs, near roadworks, on public transport, or in places where you need to be careful.
So if you see a large sign POZOR in the Czech Republic, it’s best to actually pay attention to what is nearby.
Where is the toilet in Czech?
This is one of the questions that sooner or later interests every tourist.
Especially after two Czech beers.
The simplest thing to say is:
Kde je toaleta?
which means:
Where is the toilet?
You might also see the sign:
WC
– which, of course, requires no translation.
It will also be useful to know:
Prosím, kde je toaleta?
which means:
Excuse me / please, where is the toilet?
It’s worth memorizing this sentence in its entirety.
So if you are wondering how to say “toilet” in Czech, the answer is exceptionally simple:
toaleta.
Here, the Czech language decided not to make life difficult for Poles.
Czech in the Restaurant – Most Important Phrases
A restaurant is one of those places where even a few Czech words can make life much easier.
Not because you won’t be able to order dinner without them.
In Prague’s tourist center, you can easily get by in English.
But saying a few sentences in Czech is just nice.
| Czech | In Polish | Approximate Pronunciation | | ------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------------- | | Pivo | beer | piwo | | Jedno pivo, prosím | one beer, please | jedno piwo prosim | | Jídlo | food | jidlo | | Restaurace | restaurant | restaurace | | Hospoda | pub / tavern | hospoda | | Pivnice | beer hall | piwnice | | Dobrou chuť | bon appétit | dobrou chut | | Kolik to stojí? | how much does it cost? | kolik to stoi | | Účet, prosím | the bill, please | uchet prosim | | Zaplatím kartou | I’ll pay by card | zaplatim kartou |
“The bill, please” in Czech
One of the phrases that is really worth remembering:
Účet, prosím.
which means:
The bill, please.
The word účet means bill.
So you can simply sit at the table and say:
Účet, prosím.
And the staff will know exactly what you mean.
If you are searching online for the answer to the question “how to say ‘bill please’ in Czech?”, you don’t need to construct a long sentence.
In a restaurant, the short:
Účet, prosím
sounds completely natural.
How to say “I’ll pay by card” in Czech?
A useful sentence is:
Zaplatím kartou.
which means:
I’ll pay by card.
You can also ask:
Můžu platit kartou?
which means:
Can I pay by card?
If you want to pay in cash:
Zaplatím hotově.
which means:
I’ll pay in cash.
Card payments are completely normal in Prague’s center, but knowing these two sentences might come in handy in smaller establishments outside the most touristy streets.
How to order a beer in Czech?
Here we come to linguistic knowledge that some consider the most important part of a trip to the Czech Republic.
The simplest version:
Jedno pivo, prosím.
One beer, please.
Two beers:
Dvě piva, prosím.
If you want to sound a bit more local, you can also just say:
Jedno pivo.
But adding prosím never hurts.
The word:
pivo
is exceptionally easy for Poles to remember.
However, what is much more interesting is where Czechs drink this beer.
Hospoda, Pivnice, or Restaurace?
In Prague, you will see several terms for food and drink establishments.
Hospoda
A Hospoda is a traditional Czech pub or tavern.
Don’t automatically associate it with a modern cocktail bar.
A classic hospoda is a place created primarily for sitting, talking, eating, and drinking beer.
Often without much ceremony.
And it is precisely in such places that Czech starts to sound completely different than in a textbook.
Pivnice
A Pivnice is a beer hall or an establishment focused primarily on beer.
And here begins one of the most famous Czech-Polish linguistic traps.
Because the Polish “piwnice” (cellars) and the Czech pivnice sound very similar.
But an even more interesting word exists.
“Cellar” in Czech and the Famous Czech Shop
One of the most frequently searched Czech words by Poles is:
sklep.
Why?
Because in Czech, sklep does not mean shop.
It means:
cellar.
So:
sklep = cellar
while the Polish shop is most often:
obchod.
And this is where the linguistic magic begins.
A Pole might say:
“I’m going to the shop.”
And the Czech understands a word that reminds them of going underground.
So if you are wondering how to say “cellar” in Czech:
sklep.
And how about shop?
obchod.
Transport in Prague – Czech Words Worth Knowing
Public transport in Prague is one of the easiest ways to get around the city.
And that’s why a few Czech transport words will come in handy almost immediately.
| Czech | In Polish | Approximate Pronunciation | | -------------- | -------------------- | ------------------------- | | Tramvaj | tram | tramwaj | | Metro | metro | metro | | Autobus | bus | autobus | | Zastávka | stop | zastawka | | Nádraží | station | nadrazhi | | Hlavní nádraží | main station | hlawni nadrazhi | | Letiště | airport | letishte | | Jízdenka | ticket | jizdenka | | Přestup | transfer | przestup | | Výstup | exit | wystup |
What does “zastávka” mean in Czech?
Zastávka = stop.
For example:
tramvajová zastávka
is a tram stop.
The word sounds funny to a Pole because “zastawka” reminds us of something completely different.
However, in the Czech Republic, you will see it at every turn.
Station in Czech – What Does “Nádraží” Mean?
One of the important words:
nádraží = station
Therefore:
Hlavní nádraží
means:
Main Station.
If you arrive in Prague by train, the name Praha hlavní nádraží will likely be one of the first Czech signs you see.
Airport in Czech
The airport is:
letiště.
You can find Prague’s airport under the name:
Letiště Václava Havla Praha.
If you want to ask:
Jak se dostanu na letiště?
it means:
How do I get to the airport?
How Much Does It Cost in Czech?
Another very practical sentence:
Kolik to stojí?
which means:
How much does it cost?
You can use it practically everywhere:
- in a shop,
- at a market,
- in a restaurant,
- when buying a ticket,
- at a kiosk,
- at a service point.
So if you are wondering how to say “how much does it cost” in Czech, remember:
Kolik to stojí?
Currency in the Czech Republic – Czech Koruna, Not Euro
This is one of the most important pieces of information for people visiting Prague for the first time:
the currency in the Czech Republic is the Czech koruna.
Not the euro.
The Czech currency is:
koruna česká
abbreviated as:
Kč.
| Czech | In Polish | | ------------ | -------------- | | Koruna | koruna | | Koruny | koruny | | Korun | korun | | Sto korun | one hundred korunas | | Dvě stě korun | two hundred korunas | | Tisíc korun | one thousand korunas |
Therefore, the price:
150 Kč
means:
150 Czech korunas.
It’s worth learning to recognize the abbreviation Kč, as you will see it practically everywhere: in menus, shops, ticket windows, and attraction price lists.
Help, Police, and Breakdown – Words for Any Occasion
Let’s hope they won’t be needed.
But it’s good to know them.
| Czech | In Polish | | -------------- | ------------------ | | Pomoc! | help! | | Policie | police | | Nemocnice | hospital | | Lékárna | pharmacy | | Porucha | breakdown / fault | | Ztratil jsem… | I lost… (male) | | Ztratila jsem… | I lost… (female) | | Potřebuji pomoc | I need help | | Kde je lékárna? | where is the pharmacy? | | Nerozumím | I don’t understand |
Particularly interesting is:
porucha.
A Pole hears this word and might have completely different associations.
In Czech:
porucha = breakdown, fault.
So if you see information in the metro or elevator containing the word porucha, it likely means that something is not working.
Funny Czech Words for Poles – Linguistic Traps
And here begins the best part.
Because the similarity between Polish and Czech gives us a huge advantage.
But it also gives us plenty of reasons for misunderstandings.
Such expressions are sometimes called false friends of the translator.
They sound familiar.
They look familiar.
But they mean something else.
Čerstvý – not stale, but fresh
This is a classic.
A Pole sees:
čerstvý chléb
and might think:
“Stale bread? And they’re even proud of it?”
In fact, it’s exactly the opposite.
čerstvý = fresh
So:
čerstvý chléb = fresh breadčerstvé pečivo = fresh pastries
This is precisely why the similarity of languages can be so treacherous.
Sklep – i.e., Cellar
As we mentioned earlier:
sklep = cellar
The Polish shop is:
obchod.
This is one of the most beautiful examples of why it’s sometimes better not to guess the meaning of a Czech word just because it sounds familiar.
Lustr – i.e., Chandelier
A Czech says:
lustr
A Pole automatically imagines a mirror.
Meanwhile, in Czech:
lustr = chandelier
And the Polish mirror is in Czech:
zrcadlo.
Záchod – not just the direction West
It gets interesting with the word:
záchod.
In Czech, it can mean:
toilet / latrine.
Therefore, a sign related to záchodem doesn’t necessarily mean you are being directed towards the setting sun.
Šukat – a word better not used by accident
There are also words where the linguistic similarity can put a Pole in a much more awkward situation.
That’s why it’s worth remembering a simple rule:
not every Polish word can be “Czechified” by changing the ending.
Sometimes the result can be completely different from what you intended.
Škoda – pity, but also Škoda
This is actually a beautiful example of a word that is indeed very similar.
škoda can mean:
- damage,
- loss,
- pity.
The phrase:
To je škoda.
means:
That’s a pity.
But Škoda is, of course, also the name of one of the most famous Czech brands.
Its name is linked to the surname of the Czech industrialist Emil Škoda.
Czech can be exceptionally witty for jokes because of this.
Ahoj in Czech – Why Do Czechs Say “Ahoj” to Each Other?
Ahoj simply means:
hi.
It can be used both as a greeting and a farewell.
However, it is not equivalent to the formal “good morning.”
With a stranger, waiter, hotel employee, or older person, it is safer to start with:
Dobrý den.
Leave “ahoj” for people with whom you are already on more familiar terms.
Prosím – One Czech Word, Several Meanings
One of the most useful Czech words is:
prosím.
It can mean:
please.
For example:
Jedno pivo, prosím.
But it can also appear as an answer to thanks, similar to our:
proszę / you’re welcome.
You will hear it in the Czech Republic non-stop.
If you remember only a few Czech words, prosím should definitely be on that list.
Děkuji or Díky – How to Say “Thank You” in Czech?
The standard form is:
Děkuji.
which means:
Thank you.
Czechs often speak more casually:
Díky.
which is closer to the Polish:
Dzięki.
For a tourist, however, the simple:
Děkuji
is the safest.
Can a Pole Get By in Prague Speaking Polish?
Sometimes yes.
But it’s not worth assuming it always will be.
Czech and Polish are Slavic languages, and many words are similar. If both people speak slowly and try to understand each other, it is often really possible to reach an understanding.
The problem starts when everyone begins to speak quickly.
Then the similarity suddenly disappears somewhere.
That’s why during your stay in Prague, it’s best to have a few basic Czech phrases in mind, and in more complex situations, switch to English if the interlocutor knows it.
However, while sightseeing, you can of course choose a Polish guide in Prague and then the language problem disappears completely.
10 Czech Sentences Worth Saving in Your Phone
If you don’t want to learn the whole list, save these sentences:
- Dobrý den. – Hello.
- Děkuji. – Thank you.
- Prosím. – Please.
- Promiňte. – Excuse me.
- Nerozumím. – I don’t understand.
- Kde je toaleta? – Where is the toilet?
- Kolik to stojí? – How much does it cost?
- Jedno pivo, prosím. – One beer, please.
- Účet, prosím. – The bill, please.
- Můžu platit kartou? – Can I pay by card?
This is more than enough for the first hours in Prague.
The Shortest Czech Lesson Before a Trip to Prague
If we had to reduce this entire dictionary to the absolute minimum, four phrases would remain:
Dobrý den – hello
Prosím – please
Děkuji – thank you
Na shledanou – goodbye
And if you plan a visit to a Czech hospoda, you need a fifth one:
Jedno pivo, prosím.
And practically, you are ready.
What Not to Say in Czech?
The most important rule:
don’t try to force-create Czech words from Polish ones.
Sometimes it works.
Sometimes it doesn’t.
And sometimes it creates a word meaning something you definitely didn’t plan to say to the waiter.
Czech is treacherous for Poles precisely because it seems easy.
When we learn Spanish or Italian, we assume we don’t know the language.
In the Czech Republic, after five minutes, we start believing we are almost bilingual.
And that’s when the problems begin.
Czech Words Are Best Learned on the Street
You can read a hundred dictionaries.
But you only start to understand the language of the city when you hear it.
On a tram.
At a table in a hospoda.
At a market.
In a bakery.
At the cash register.
At a bus stop.
In a conversation between two elderly locals sitting next to you, commenting on the world as if they’ve been doing it in the same spot for forty years.
This is precisely why sightseeing in Prague with someone who knows the city from the inside looks completely different than running between points written in Google Maps.
If you are in Prague for the first time, a good start is Prague in a Nutshell – a walk allowing you to get to know the city’s most important places without turning the whole day into a race.
If you are more interested in the history of Czech kings, Hradčany, and representative Prague, see Royal Prague.
And if you prefer the city after dark, old tales, alleys, and Prague legends, choose Prague in the Shadow of Legends – Spirits of the Old Town.
You can also combine sightseeing with water during a walk and cruise on the Vltava.
All current offers can be found on the CeskaPraga.pl – Tours in Prague with a Polish Guide website.
FAQ – Basic Words and Phrases in Czech
How to say “good morning” in Czech?
In Czech, “good morning” is Dobrý den. It is the most universal and safe greeting in a shop, restaurant, hotel, or when talking to a stranger.
How to say “goodbye” in Czech?
“Goodbye” in Czech is Na shledanou.
How to say “thank you” in Czech?
“Thank you” in Czech is Děkuji. In a more informal conversation, you can also say Díky, which means “thanks.”
How to say “please” in Czech?
“Please” is Prosím. It is one of the most useful Czech words for tourists.
How to say “the bill, please” in Czech?
The simplest thing to say is:
Účet, prosím.
This is the natural way to ask for the bill in a restaurant.
How to say “I’ll pay by card” in Czech?
Zaplatím kartou.
If you want to ask if card payment is possible:
Můžu platit kartou?
How to say “how much does it cost” in Czech?
Kolik to stojí?
How to say “where is the toilet” in Czech?
Kde je toaleta?
What does “sklep” mean in Czech?
The Czech word sklep means cellar. The Polish “shop” is most often obchod in Czech.
What does “čerstvý” mean in Czech?
Čerstvý means fresh, not stale. Therefore čerstvý chléb is fresh bread.
What does “pozor” mean in Czech?
Pozor means caution or “watch out.”
What does “porucha” mean in Czech?
Porucha means breakdown or fault.
How is “stop” in Czech?
Stop is zastávka.
How is “station” in Czech?
Station is nádraží, and Main Station is Hlavní nádraží.
How is “airport” in Czech?
Airport is letiště.
What is the currency in the Czech Republic?
The currency of the Czech Republic is the Czech koruna – koruna česká, denoted by the abbreviation Kč.
Czech for a Pole – You Don’t Need to Speak Perfectly
The most important thing at the end:
don’t worry about your accent.
You don’t need to speak perfectly.
You don’t need to know all the endings.
You don’t need to understand every sentence.
If you walk into a small Prague hospoda and say:
Dobrý den.
then:
Jedno pivo, prosím.
and upon leaving:
Děkuji, na shledanou.
– you have already done more than most tourists.
And perhaps this is how the discovery of Prague begins.
Not with great monuments.
Not with dates.
Not with another photo of the Charles Bridge.
But with just a few words that make you, for a moment, not a person standing on the other side of the language barrier.
And once you’ve learned the first Czech words, all that remains is to go out onto the street and test them in practice.
Best somewhere between a tram, an old tenement house, and the first hospoda.
Because Czech – like Prague itself – is best learned by walking.
The Language Is Best Learned on the Street
The most interesting thing about Czech is that you only start to understand it during conversations in the city – on a tram, at a market, or in a small hospoda.
If you want to learn the city’s history, legends, and places that are hard to find on your own, you can take a walk with a guide.
👉 Prague in a Nutshell.
👑 Royal Prague.
👻 Prague in the Shadow of Legends – Spirits of the Old Town.
🚢 Walk and Cruise on the Vltava.
If you want to avoid linguistic blunders, see where the toilet actually is, and learn which beer to order so you don’t sound like a tourist – choose one of our tours in Prague. Groups are small, guides are patient, and local transport is always within reach.