The Czech Dictionary Guide for Learners

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The Czech Dictionary Guide for Learners

What Is The Best Czech Dictionary?

A good Czech to English dictionary is a must-have tool for Czech learners.

You will need a dictionary, regardless of whether you are just beginning to learn Czech or you are an expert in Czech.

In this article, we will discuss the both physical books and apps:

Books:

  • Best dictionary for learning vocabulary 
  • Best Czech To English dictionary
  • Best Czech-Czech dictionary

Apps:

  • Best online dictionary
  • The best automatic translators that include dictionary functions

 

Physical books

The best dictionary for learning Czech vocabulary

Learners can access the MostUsedWords Czech frequency dictionary to find the most commonly used words in Czech. You will only use the top 2500 words, which are 90% of all the Czech language's 300.000 words.

You will see diminishing results, as the top 10.000 words will allow you to understand 98% and 97% of all Czech text.

Czech is a language that you should learn quickly. Enter our frequency dictionaries. These dictionaries give you practical Czech vocabulary lists based on the frequency you will encounter each word. These books provide:

  • A general frequency list that will allow you to learn the most commonly used Czech words
  • Frequency lists for parts of speech: Czech adjectives, adverbs and nouns.
  • The back of the book contains an A-Z Czech dictionary, which makes it easy to look up Czech words.

 

All Czech entries contain:

  • Their English translation(s)
  • Detailed Part of Speech information
  • IPA phonetic pronunciation, so you'll always know how to pronounce Czech words correctly.
  • Czech to English example sentences, so you can see the vocabulary being used in context.

 

The Czech frequency dictionaries are available from Amazon in Paperback or as PDF eBooks from our website. The total of the most common 10.000 words are divided into four books:

 

  • Czech Frequency Dictionary - Essential Vocabulary - Top 2500 Most Common Czech Words
  • Czech Frequency Dictionary - Intermediate Vocabulary - 2501-2500 Most Common Czech Words
  • Czech Frequency Dictionary - Advanced Vocabulary - Top 5001-7500 Most Common Czech words
  • Czech Frequency Dictionary - Master Vocabulary - Top 7501-10000 Most Common Czech Words

 

For those who study Czech by themselves or in a classroom setting, these frequency dictionaries are great. These are useful tools for quickly building your practical vocabulary.

The limitations are that they do not include all Czech words. These books can still be used for 98% of your Czech language needs. The books also do not touch down on grammar.

 

Best Comprehensive Czech-English dictionary for Learners

Both Collins as well as Oxford offer comprehensive dictionaries that can be used by learners. Both include vocabulary references, which is great. Both are trusted brands. You can purchase them in paperback from Amazon, or use their websites for free.

These standard dictionaries have approximately 120.000 entries and list Czech vocabulary starting from A to Z. These dictionaries are great for finding uncommon words. Their strengths lie in their ability to comprehend grammar and thematic vocabulary lists.

 

Best Czech-English Dictionary

If you're a more advanced user, or need a dictionary to assist with academic research, the English-Czech Czech-English Dictionary can be a great option. It is the Czech language's most comprehensive and authoritative dictionary. It is the oldest Czech-language Dictionary and determines what is correct in Czech.

If you are just beginning to learn Czech, this resource might not be appropriate. This resource is perfect for expats or students who want to improve their Czech fluency.

 

Online Czech Dictionaries & Apps


An online dictionary is your best friend if you have to quickly look up a Czech term. Online dictionaries are faster than physical ones.

Please note that not all Czech dictionary sites are created equal. They can be great for certain situations, but not all. Below are our recommendations for Czech dictionaries that meet many needs.

 

Best All-Round Dictionary (including Conjugations!): WordReference

WordReference is likely to have been recommended by someone who has taken a Czech class. It's our favorite Czech dictionary, and it can be used in many different situations.

WordReference provides translations from English into Czech and English to Czech. This website also contains information on verb conjugations. You will also find information about Czech words in context.

It also allows you to use a Czech dictionary as an added bonus to your immersion in Czech. This is a great way to get around English.

It also has audio playback with European, Mexican, and Argentinian accents.

Wordreference's UI is a drawback. It's straight out of the 1990s and would benefit from a major overhaul. The following dictionary may be better suited for those who are interested in aesthetics.

 

Most Popular Czech Translator: Google Translate

You probably already know about Google Translate. It is both impressive and risky. If it works, it is excellent. If it doesn't work as marketed, you end up with an awkward sentence or an absurd translation.

 

Here are some tips to get the best out of Google Translate:

Google Translate is best used for one word, a few words, or a brief phrase, rather than a long sentence. The site's artificial intelligence is more likely to make errors if your Czech input becomes more complex. 

A shield symbol next to a translation can be a good indicator that it's correct. A shield symbol means an actual person certified the translation.

Don't look at the first Google Translate result. You will get more information below, which may include various translations for the same phrase. These translations may make more sense in your particular context.

 

Best Neural AI Online Czech Translator

If you're looking for a better translator than Google Translate, look at these new AI-powered translators. They both come with a built-in dictionary. Or, at least the paid versions do: 

  • DEEPL
  • Lingvanex

These translations are more precise than Google Translate but will still make mistakes. The paid versions are worth contemplating if you need them for work or school. 

 

So, What Is The Best Czech Dictionary?

It all depends on your circumstances. A Czech frequency dictionary is a fantastic way to quickly comprehend words.

A traditional dictionary for learners is a good choice if you are looking for a dictionary that can be used in general terms with grammar and many words.

Wordreference is a free tool that helps you learn Czech.

Google Translate is an excellent tool for translating sentences or getting definitions. Lingvanex and DeepL are great options for accurate translations of many texts.

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