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Basic Czech Greetings and Everyday Phrases

Czech distinguishes formal and informal greetings with entirely different words, not just a different pronoun — here are the essentials for both.

Dobrý den (DOH-bree den) — Hello / Good day (formal)

The standard formal greeting for shops, strangers, and anyone older; works at any time from morning through early evening.

Ahoj (AH-hoy) — Hi / Bye (informal)

One of the few words that works as both hello and goodbye among friends and peers — too casual for formal situations.

Děkuji (DYEH-koo-yee) — Thank you

The standard thank-you in both formal and informal settings.

Prosím (PROH-seem) — Please / You're welcome

Like Greek "parakalo," this single word covers both "please" and the reply to "thank you."

Ano (AH-noh) — Yes

Often shortened to a quick "no" in very casual speech — potentially confusing for English speakers, since it sounds like the opposite of what it means.

Ne (neh) — No

Short and direct in essentially every context.

Promiňte (PROH-min-teh) — Sorry / Excuse me

Used both to apologize and to politely get someone's attention, such as asking for directions.

Na shledanou (nah SKHLEH-dah-noh) — Goodbye (formal)

The formal farewell; among friends, the same "Ahoj" used for hello doubles as the goodbye.

Formal and informal greetings sound completely different

Unlike languages that shift formality with just a pronoun, Czech uses genuinely different words: "Dobrý den" and "Na shledanou" for formal situations, versus the all-purpose "Ahoj" among friends and peers. Using the formal set as a default is the safer choice with anyone you don't already know.

Czech spelling includes marks not found in English

Letters like ř, ě, and the háček accent mark (ˇ) change pronunciation significantly and appear throughout everyday Czech; "ř" in particular, found in names like Dvořák, is widely considered one of the hardest single sounds for non-native speakers to master.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ahoj really used for both hello and goodbye?

Yes — much like "aloha" in Hawaiian, it works in both directions among people who already know each other, though it is too informal for shops, offices, or anyone you've just met.

Is Czech similar to Russian?

Both are Slavic languages and share some vocabulary roots, but they are not mutually intelligible in practice, and Czech uses the Latin alphabet rather than Cyrillic.