Czech-English Dictionary: Most Common Words & Essential Phrases
Most Common Czech Words: The Essential 100
Mastering the most frequently used Czech words is a strategic approach to language acquisition. These high-frequency terms cover approximately half of all spoken and written communication, making them indispensable for beginners.
| Czech Word | IPA Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| ja | /ja/ | I |
| ty | /ti/ | You (singular informal) |
| on | /on/ | He |
| ona | /ona/ | She |
| ono | /ono/ | (It, neuter) |
| my | /mi/ | We |
| vy | /vi/ | You (plural/formal) |
| oni | /oni/ | (They, masculine) |
| co | /tso/ | What |
| kdo | /kto/ | Who |
| to | /to/ | This, that (neuter) |
| ten | /tjen/ | This, that (masculine) |
| ta | /ta/ | This, that (feminine) |
| byt | /bit/ | To be |
| mit | /mit/ | To have |
| rict | /ritc/ | To say, tell |
| jít | /jit/ | To go |
| videt | /vitjet/ | To see |
| chtit | /xtit/ | To want |
| moct | /mots/ | To be able to, can |
| vedet | /vjet/ | To know |
| dat | /dat/ | To give |
| dělat | /dje-lat/ | To do, make |
| den | /den/ | Day |
| čas | /tchat-s/ | Time |
| rok | /rotk/ | Year |
| země | /zjem-e/ | Country |
| město | /mjesto/ | City |
| práce | /prats-je/ | Work |
| ruka | /ruk-a/ | Hand |
| /oko/ | Eye | |
| život | /zhitot/ | Life |
| žena | /zje-na/ | Woman |
| muž | /muzh/ | Man |
| dítě | /djit-ye/ | Child |
| jedna, dva, tři... | /jend-na/, /dv-a/, /tshi/... | One, two, three... |
| velký | /vel-ki/ | Big |
| maly | /mali/ | Small |
| dobrý | /dobri/ | Good |
| špatný | /spat-ni/ | Bad, wrong |
| novy | /nov-i/ | New |
| stary | /stat-ri/ | Old |
| první | /prv-ni/ | First |
| druhý | /druk-hi/ | Second |
| další | /dals-i/ | Next, following |
| kazdý | /kaz-di/ | Every |
Czech-English Phrases for Everyday Situations
The following phrases will help you navigate common situations in Czech-speaking environments.
| Czech Phrase | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Dobrý den | Hello (formal) |
| Ahoj | Hi, Hello (informal) |
| Na shledanou | Goodbye |
| Dobrou noc | Good night |
| Jednělístek prosím | Menu, please |
| Co doporučujete? | What do you recommend? |
| Zaplatím prosím | I would like to pay, please |
| Bez masa | No meat |
| Nerozumím | I don't understand |
| Mluvíte anglicky? | Do you speak English? |
| Kde je...? | Where is... |
| Jak se dostanu do...? | How do I get to... |
| Kolik to stojí? | How much does it cost? |
| Je to moc drahé | This is too expensive |
| Můžete rozmenit? | Can you change money? |
| Pomoc! | Help! |
| Zavolejte policii/záchranku | Call the police/ambulance |
| Kde je nemocnice? | Where is the hospital? |
| Prosím | Please |
| Děkuji | Thank you |
| Pardon, Promiňte | Excuse me, Sorry |
Czech Pronunciation Guide: Reading Czech-English Dictionaries
The pronunciation of Czech words can be challenging for English speakers due to differences in phonetics. However, with a few key rules and guidelines, you can navigate Czech texts more confidently.
Stress in Czech is always on the first syllable of a word. Additionally, Czech uses háček letters (c/c, s/s, z/z, r/r) which modify the pronunciation of certain consonants. Long vowels are marked with an acute accent and should be pronounced longer than their short counterparts.
| Written | IPA Pronunciation | Sounds like (English Approximation) |
|---|---|---|
| c, č | /ts/, /tʃ/ | tz, ch |
| s, š | /s/, /ʃ/ | s, sh |
| z, ž | /z/, /ʒ/ | z, zh |
| r | /r/ | (rolled r) |
| a | /aː/ | ah (long) |
| e | /eː/ | eh (long) |
| i | /iː/ | ee (long) |
| o | /oː/ | oh (long) |
| u | /uː/ | oo (long) |
Czech Words Borrowed from English (and Vice Versa)
The Czech language has adopted many words from English, particularly in the realms of technology and modern life. However, these are often recognisable due to shared Latin or German roots rather than direct borrowing.
Conversely, some Czech words sound similar to their English counterparts but have entirely different meanings—a phenomenon known as false friends. These can be tricky for learners who assume a word's meaning based on its similarity in sound.
| Czech Word | Sounds like (English) | Actual Meaning | False Friend (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| pocitac | computer | (no direct borrowing, but recognisable) | - |
| telefon | telephone | (shared Latin/German roots) | - |
| internet | Internet | (shared Latin/German roots) | - |
| hotel | hotel | (shared Latin/German roots) | - |
| taxi | taxi | (shared Latin/German roots) | - |
| sport | sport | (shared Latin/German roots) | - |
| film | film | (shared Latin/German roots) | - |
| noviny | novice | Newspapers | Novice (false friend) |
| horký | horky | (Hot, adjective form of horec) | Horky (false friend) |
How to Use a Czech-English Frequency Dictionary
A frequency dictionary organises words based on their usage frequency rather than alphabetically. This approach ensures that learners focus on the most commonly encountered vocabulary, making it an efficient tool for language acquisition.
The entry format in such dictionaries typically includes the Czech word, its IPA pronunciation, part of speech, English definition, and example sentences in both languages. By learning the top 1,000 words, you can understand approximately 85% of everyday Czech text, making this an invaluable resource for practical communication.
Build Your Czech Vocabulary with a Frequency Dictionary
The fastest way to become fluent in Czech is to learn the most common words first — the ones that appear again and again in everyday speech and writing. Our Czech Frequency Dictionaries cover the 10,000 most common Czech words, each entry with IPA pronunciation, part of speech, English translation, and a bilingual example sentence. Start with the 1,000 most frequent words and you will understand roughly 85% of everyday Czech.