Prague is a city where Gothic spires meet hipster cafés, and while many locals speak English, tossing out a few Czech phrases will earn you goodwill - or at least stop waiters from sighing. Here’s what you actually need.
Basics to avoid looking lost
- Dobrý den (do-bree den) – The universal greeting. Use it everywhere, from shops to tram drivers.
- Prosím (pro-seem) – Means both “please” and “you’re welcome”. Handy when a waiter slams your beer down.
- Děkuji (dyeh-koo-yee) – “Thank you”. Nod while saying it to double the politeness.
Tip: Czechs appreciate effort, not perfection. Butcher the pronunciation with confidence - they’ll still prefer it over defaulting to English.
Ordering food (and beer)
Pivo
[ˈpɪvo]“Beer”
The sacred liquid of Prague. Say “Jedno pivo, prosím” (yed-no pivo, pro-seem) for “One beer, please”.
- Jídelní lístek (yee-del-nee lees-tek) – “Menu”. Point at it helplessly if the waiter ignores you.
- Platit (pla-teet) – “To pay”. Wave your card while saying it to avoid the dreaded bill wait.
Navigating the city
Prague’s trams are efficient until you realise you’re going the wrong way. These phrases help:
- Kde je…? (gde ye) – “Where is…?” Slot in stanice metra (metro station) or toaleta (toilet).
- Jízdenku, prosím (yeez-den-koo pro-seem) – “A ticket, please”. Buy one before boarding trams to avoid fines.
When things go wrong
- Pomoc! (po-mots) – “Help!” Hopefully never needed, but good to know.
- Nerozumím (neh-roh-zoo-meem) – “I don’t understand”. Useful when someone rapid-fires Czech at you.
For more Czech essentials, check out our guide to 150 everyday Czech words or how to pronounce tricky Czech sounds.
