Heading to Prague and wondering how to order a beer, ask for the bill, or say you want to pay by card in Czech?
Relax.
In most restaurants in central Prague, you’ll get by with English, and sometimes even Polish. But knowing a few simple Czech phrases makes life significantly easier.
Below, each phrase is accompanied by a simplified pronunciation guide written in Polish. This isn’t strict linguistic notation, but a practical tip for Poles: roughly how to read the word so a Czech person understands you without issue.
Saying "Good Day" in Czech
Dobrý den Pronounce: dobri den Meaning: Good day / Hello
This is one of the most essential phrases. In the Czech Republic, it’s customary to greet staff when entering a restaurant, shop, or café.
For goodbye, you can say:
Na shledanou Pronounce: na schle-danou Meaning: Goodbye
Don’t worry if it doesn’t sound perfect the first time. Czechs know well that this phrase isn’t the easiest for Poles to master.
How to Say "Please" in Czech
Prosím Pronounce: prosiim Meaning: Please
This is one of the most useful words during your stay in the Czech Republic.
Example:
Jedno pivo, prosím. Pronounce: jedno piwo, prosiim Meaning: One beer, please
And just like that, you’re ready to order something.
How to Order Food in Czech
A very handy phrase is:
Dám si… Pronounce: daam si Meaning: I’ll have…
For example:
Dám si guláš. Pronounce: daam si gulaasz Meaning: I’ll have goulash
Or:
Dám si smažený sýr. Pronounce: daam si smażeni siir Meaning: I’ll have fried cheese
You can also simply say:
Prosím jeden guláš. Pronounce: prosiim jeden gulaasz Meaning: One goulash, please
You don’t need to construct perfect sentences. In a restaurant, it’s much more important to speak simply and clearly.
How to Order Beer in Czech
This is one of the phrases Poles memorize the fastest.
Jedno pivo, prosím. Pronounce: jedno piwo, prosiim Meaning: One beer, please
If you want two:
Dvě piva, prosím. Pronounce: dwie piwa, prosiim Meaning: Two beers, please
You might also hear:
Malé Pronounce: malee Meaning: SmallVelké Pronounce: welkee Meaning: Large
And if you want to order another round:
Ještě jedno, prosím. Pronounce: jesztie jedno, prosiim Meaning: One more, please
This sentence comes in especially handy in the Czech Republic.
How to Say "Check, Please" in Czech
This is one of the most frequently searched phrases by Polish travelers.
The most practical version is:
Zaplatím, prosím. Pronounce: zaplatim, prosiim Meaning: Check, please / I’d like to pay
You can also say:
Účet, prosím. Pronounce: uuczet, prosiim Meaning: Bill, please
So, if you’ve been searching Google for:
- ask for bill in Czech,
- check please in Czech,
- bill please in Czech,
the easiest phrase to remember is:
Zaplatím, prosím. Pronounce: zaplatim, prosiim
How to Say "I’ll Pay by Card" in Czech
The simplest way:
Kartou, prosím. Pronounce: kartou, prosiim Meaning: By card, please
You can also ask:
Můžu platit kartou? Pronounce: mużu platit kartou? Meaning: Can I pay by card?
This is a very useful phrase, especially in smaller establishments outside the most touristy center.
How to Say "Cash" in Czech
Hotově Pronounce: hotowie Meaning: Cash
The waiter might ask:
Kartou, nebo hotově? Pronounce: kartou, nebo hotowie? Meaning: Card or cash?
You reply:
Kartou, prosím. Pronounce: kartou, prosiim
or:
Hotově. Pronounce: hotowie
How to Say "Separate or Together" in Czech
If you’re dining in a group, the waiter might ask:
Dohromady, nebo zvlášť? Pronounce: dohromady, nebo zwlaszcz? Meaning: Together or separate?
If you want to pay together:
Dohromady. Pronounce: dohromady Meaning: Together
If separately:
Zvlášť. Pronounce: zwlaszcz Meaning: Separate
How to Say "Thank You" in Czech
Děkuji Pronounce: dziekuji Meaning: Thank you
You might also hear the more casual:
Díky Pronounce: diiki Meaning: Thanks
How to Say the Food Was Good
The simplest way:
Bylo to dobré. Pronounce: bylo to dobree Meaning: It was good
Or:
Výborné! Pronounce: wiiborne! Meaning: Excellent!
You can also say:
Děkuji, bylo to výborné. Pronounce: dziekuji, bylo to wiiborne Meaning: Thank you, it was excellent
Essential Czech Restaurant Phrases – Quick Cheat Sheet
If you only want to memorize the most important things before your trip, save this list:
Dobrý den Pronounce: dobri den Hello
Prosím Pronounce: prosiim Please
Jedno pivo, prosím Pronounce: jedno piwo, prosiim One beer, please
Dám si guláš Pronounce: daam si gulaasz I’ll have goulash
Ještě jedno, prosím Pronounce: jesztie jedno, prosiim One more, please
Zaplatím, prosím Pronounce: zaplatim, prosiim Check, please / I’d like to pay
Účet, prosím Pronounce: uuczet, prosiim Bill, please
Kartou, prosím Pronounce: kartou, prosiim By card, please
Můžu platit kartou? Pronounce: mużu platit kartou? Can I pay by card?
Dohromady Pronounce: dohromady Together
Zvlášť Pronounce: zwlaszcz Separate
Děkuji Pronounce: dziekuji Thank you
Na shledanou Pronounce: na schle-danou Goodbye
Czech Letters – How to Read Them in Polish
At first glance, Czech looks very similar to Polish. However, there are a few letters that might surprise you.
š is pronounced roughly like Polish szč is pronounced like czž is pronounced like żě often makes the preceding consonant sound soft
ý is a long ií is a long iá is a long aů / ú is a long u
However, you don’t need to learn Czech phonetics rules before a weekend in Prague. Just use our simplified Polish-style pronunciation guide.
Do You Need to Know Czech in Prague?
No.
In Prague’s tourist center, you’ll usually get by easily with English. In many places, staff also understand basic Polish words.
But knowing a few Czech phrases really helps.
Just saying:
Dobrý den – dobri den
and:
Děkuji – dziekuji
makes the conversation start in a completely different way.
Sightseeing First, Then a Czech Pub
If you’re in Prague for the first time, it’s worth learning about the city’s history and curiosities alongside its cuisine.
On you’ll find tours of Prague with a Polish guide.
After sightseeing, all that remains is to find a good Czech pub and put your new knowledge to use:
Jedno pivo, prosím. Pronounce: jedno piwo, prosiim
And later:
Zaplatím, prosím. Pronounce: zaplatim, prosiim
And your first practical Czech lesson can be considered passed.
Five Phrases Worth Really Remembering
If you don’t want to learn the whole list, just remember these:
Dobrý den – dobri den – hello
Prosím – prosiim – please
Děkuji – dziekuji – thank you
Zaplatím, prosím – zaplatim, prosiim – check, please
Kartou, prosím – kartou, prosiim – by card, please
With this set, you’ll handle most Czech restaurants with ease.
And if the waiter answers you very quickly in Czech and you stop understanding anything?
No stress.
Then you simply switch to English.