Czech Republic Language Guide

Welcome to learning Czech Republic language!

Do you want to learn Czech language, where you will be able to speak the language when you visit, or do you just want to learn it? No problem either way!”

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10 Facts about Czech

1. Indo-European Roots: Czech belongs to the West Slavic branch of the Indo-European language family, sharing linguistic ties with other Slavic languages like Slovak and Polish.
2. Official Language: Czech is the official language of the Czech Republic, where the majority of the population communicates in this language.
3. Alphabet: The Czech alphabet is based on the Latin script but includes unique characters such as č, š, ž, and ř, which add specific phonetic distinctions to the language.
4. Phonetic Language: Czech is known for its phonetic nature, where words are pronounced as they are written, making it relatively straightforward for learners to grasp pronunciation rules.
5. Cases: Czech utilizes a system of grammatical cases (nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, vocative, and locative) to convey relationships between words in a sentence, allowing for nuanced expression.
6. Vocabulary Influences: Czech has been influenced by neighboring languages, particularly German, due to historical interactions and geographical proximity.
7. Verb Conjugation: Czech verbs undergo conjugation based on person, number, and gender. There are three genders in Czech: masculine, feminine, and neuter.
8. Complex Verb Prefixes: Czech often uses prefixes to modify verb meanings, and understanding these prefixes is essential for mastering the language.
9. Common Vocabulary Roots: Czech shares common vocabulary roots with other Slavic languages, making it easier for speakers of related languages to recognize and learn new words.
10. Czech Dialects: While the standard Czech language is widely used, there are regional dialects, with Moravian and Silesian dialects being notable examples, each characterized by unique linguistic features.

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Czech Alphabet

A	Á	B	C	Č	D	Ď	E	É	Ě	F	G	H	CH
I	Í	J	K	L	M	N	Ň	O	Ó	P	Q	R	Ř
S	Š	T	Ť	U	Ú	Ů	V	W	X	Y	Ý	Z	Ž

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Czech Words

Czech	English
Ahoj	Hello
Dobrý den	Good day
Děkuji	Thank you
Prosím	Please
Ano	Yes
Ne	No
Dům	House
Kůň	Horse
Modrý	Blue
Kniha	Book
Rádio	Radio
Město	City
Jídlo	Food
Pivo	Beer
Pozdrav	Greeting
Čas	Time
Rodina	Family
Škola	School
Světlo	Light
Voda	Water

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Days of the Week

Czech	English
Pondělí	Monday
Úterý	Tuesday
Středa	Wednesday
Čtvrtek	Thursday
Pátek	Friday
Sobota	Saturday
Neděle	Sunday

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Months

Czech	English
Leden	January
Únor	February
Březen	March
Duben	April
Květen	May
Červen	June
Červenec	July
Srpen	August
Září	September
Říjen	October
Listopad	November
Prosinec	December

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Numbers

Czech	English
Jedna	One
Dva	Two
Tři	Three
Čtyři	Four
Pět	Five
Šest	Six
Sedm	Seven
Osm	Eight
Devět	Nine
Deset	Ten

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Czech Phrases

Czech	English
Dobré ráno	Good morning
Dobrý den	Good day
Dobrý večer	Good evening
Dobrou noc	Good night
Jak se máš?	How are you?
Mluvíte anglicky?	Do you speak English?
Kde je…?	Where is…?
Kolik to stojí?	How much does it cost?
Děkuji	Thank you
Prosím	Please

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Czech Dialects

There are a few Czech dialects: the Prague Dialect, the Moravian Dialect, Silesian Czech, and the Central Bohemian Dialect.

Prague Dialect

1. The Prague Dialect is considered the standard form of the Czech language, serving as a linguistic benchmark for educational purposes.
2. Reflecting the cultural and historical centrality of Prague, this dialect carries the influence of the capital city’s linguistic patterns.
3. It plays a crucial role in language courses, providing learners with a foundational understanding of Czech pronunciation and vocabulary.
4. The dialect sets pronunciation standards, contributing to the clarity and uniformity of spoken Czech.
5. As the language spoken in the capital, the Prague Dialect represents the cultural and administrative heart of the Czech Republic.

Czech	English
Dobrý den, jak se máte?	Good day, how are you?
Kde je nádraží?	Where is the train station?
Mluvíte anglicky?	Do you speak English?
Prosím vás, kávu s mlékem.	Please, coffee with milk.
Jak se jmenujete?	What is your name?

Moravian Dialect

1. The Moravian dialect is a regional variation of the Czech language spoken primarily in the Moravia region of the Czech Republic.
2. It has distinct features in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar that set it apart from the standard Czech spoken in Bohemia.
3. The Moravian dialect has been shaped by historical influences, including the region’s unique cultural and linguistic history.
4. While it has its own characteristics, speakers of the Moravian dialect generally maintain mutual intelligibility with standard Czech speakers.
5. The Moravian dialect contributes to the cultural identity of the Moravian region, reflecting the linguistic diversity within the Czech Republic.

Moravian	English
Jak se máš?	How are you?
Kde je hospoda?	Where is the pub?
Pojďme na zahrádku.	Let’s go to the garden (pub garden).
Co je to za muzika?	What kind of music is this?
Jak se jmenuješ?	What is your name?

Silesian Czech

1. Silesian Czech is a regional variation spoken in the Silesia region, covering parts of the Czech Republic and Poland.
2. Due to historical and geographical factors, Silesian Czech has been influenced by the Polish language, resulting in distinct features in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar.
3. Silesian Czech is tied to the cultural heritage of the Silesia region, reflecting the historical and cultural connections between Czech and Polish communities.
4. While maintaining a core of mutual intelligibility with standard Czech, Silesian Czech may have unique linguistic elements that distinguish it from the standard language.
5. The use of Silesian Czech contributes to the local identity of the Silesia region, fostering a sense of belonging and cultural distinctiveness among its speakers.

Silesian Czech	English
Jak się masz?	How are you?
Koła jest moje miasto.	Katowice is my city.
Idziemy na flance.	Let’s go to the pub.
Co to za jedzonko?	What kind of food is this?
Jak masz na imię?	What is your name?

Central Bohemian Dialect

1. The Central Bohemian Dialect is spoken in the central part of the Bohemia region, including areas around the capital, Prague.
2. It shares many features with the standard Czech language, as the central region has historically played a significant role in shaping linguistic norms.
3. The dialect is influenced by the language spoken in Prague, the capital, serving as a linguistic bridge between regional and standard Czech.
4. The Central Bohemian Dialect contributes to the local cultural identity, reflecting historical and social connections within the Bohemian region.
5. Speakers of the Central Bohemian Dialect generally maintain mutual intelligibility with standard Czech, although there may be subtle regional differences in pronunciation and vocabulary.

Central Bohemian Czech	English
Jak se máš?	How are you?
Kde je hospoda?	Where is the pub?
Hele, co je novýho?	Hey, what’s new?
Chci kafe s mlíkem, prosím.	I’d like coffee with milk, please.
Jak se jmenuješ?	What is your name?

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Czech Grammar and Syntax

1. Case System: Czech features a grammatical case system, with seven cases: nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, vocative, locative, and instrumental. Nouns, pronouns, and adjectives change their forms based on the case they are in.
2. Noun Declension: Nouns in Czech decline based on case, number (singular or plural), and gender (masculine, feminine, or neuter). This means that a noun’s form can change significantly depending on its grammatical context.
3. Verb Conjugation: Verbs in Czech are conjugated based on person, number, and tense. There are three persons (first, second, and third), three numbers (singular, dual, and plural), and three tenses (past, present, and future). Verbs may also vary based on aspect (perfective or imperfective).
4. Aspect System: Czech distinguishes between perfective and imperfective verbs. Perfective verbs express completed actions, while imperfective verbs convey ongoing or repeated actions.
5. Adjective Agreement: Adjectives must agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and case. Like nouns, adjectives also decline according to these parameters.
6. Word Order: Czech generally follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) word order. However, due to the flexibility of the case system, word order can be more flexible than in English. The most important information often comes at the beginning or end of a sentence.
7. Pronouns: Pronouns in Czech also decline based on case, number, and gender. Personal pronouns have distinct forms for each person and gender.
8. Prepositions: Prepositions in Czech govern specific cases, influencing the form of nouns and pronouns that follow them. The choice of case depends on the relationship between the preposition and the subsequent noun or pronoun.
9. Negation: Negation in Czech involves the use of the word “ne” placed before the verb. Double negation is common, and the word “ani” is often used for emphasis.
10. Vocabulary and Idiomatic Expressions: Czech has a rich vocabulary with influences from other Slavic languages, German, and Latin. Learning common idiomatic expressions can enhance language fluency.

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