Getting By in Czech: The Survival Kit
This is the checkpoint of Chapter 1: a dozen phrases that, strung together, get you through an entire day in Czechia — lost, hungry, confused, and politely triumphant.
Finding Your Way
Kde je…? — where is…? Attach anything: Kde je nádraží? (the station), Kde je toaleta? (urgent), Kde je tramvaj? Open politely with Promiňte — excuse me.
Promiňte, kde je nádraží?
Excuse me, where is the station?
Note: promiňte opens, kde je asks — the survival sentence frame.
Asking the Price
Kolik to stojí? — how much does it cost? Literally "how much does it stand". Pointing plus dám si covers the rest of any transaction.
Kolik to stojí?
How much is it?
Sto korun.
A hundred crowns.
Dám si to. Děkuju!
I'll take it. Thanks!
Prosím.
Here you are.
When You're Lost for Words
The four phrases that rescue every conversation:
| Czech | English |
|---|---|
| Nerozumím. | I don't understand. |
| Nevím. | I don't know. |
| Mluvíte anglicky? | Do you speak English? (polite) |
| Mluvte prosím pomaleji. | Please speak slower. |
Little Big Words
The syllables that keep conversations alive: ano (yes), jo (yeah), ne (no), možná (maybe), taky (also — Já taky! me too), moc (very/much — děkuju moc), dobře (fine/okay).
— Praha je krásná! — Jo, moc. Já taky myslím.
— Prague is beautiful! — Yeah, very. I think so too.
Note: Three little words carry a whole exchange.
Common Mistakes
- Skipping promiňte. Launching kde je at a stranger without it lands brusque — excuse first, ask second.
- Mluvíš anglicky to a shopkeeper. Strangers get the polite -te: mluvíte.
- Freezing when lost. Nerozumím + mluvte pomaleji restarts any conversation — say them early and often.
What You Can Do Now
You can survive a full tourist day: find the station, ask prices, admit confusion gracefully, and keep talking. That's the A0 checkpoint — Chapter 2 teaches you to live here.