I can say hello and goodbye in the morning, afternoon, and evening, say thank you, apologize, and invite someone in — and choose the ty form for a female friend and the vy form for the teacher.
Dobrý den or Ahoj: what to say to whom
Dobrý den or Ahoj: what to say to whom
Learn these phrases as a whole and choose them by the situation, not by the translation.
Look at WHO you are talking to: Czech has two “you” forms. ty: friends, family, children, students your age; vy: strangers, the teacher, a doctor, a neighbor, a salesperson. With ty, the first name; with vy, no first name.
Some phrases add -te in the vy form: promiň → promiňte, pojď dál → pojďte dál, měj se hezky → mějte se hezky, Jak se máš? → Jak se máte? Ahoj and čau are only for ty (čau: “hi” and “bye”); dobrý den and na shledanou are for anyone you don't know.
Time of day: dobré ráno in the morning, dobrý den during the day, dobrý večer meeting in the evening, dobrou noc before bed. On the phone: haló.
prosím has three meanings: “please” when you ask; “here you are” handing something over; “pardon?” when you didn't hear. The reply to děkuju is není zač or prosím.
To apologize: pardon (ty and vy), promiň / promiňte, omlouvám se. The reply: to nevadí, to je v pořádku. Yes is ano (jo with a friend), no is ne; aha means “oh, I see”.
Length isn't stress: pro- is stressed in prosím, na in na shledanou.
Common mistakes:
• × “Ahoj!” to the teacher → Dobrý den!
• × “Promiň!” to a stranger on the streetcar → Promiňte! / Pardon!
• × “Čau!” leaving a store → Na shledanou!
• × “Jak se máš?” to your neighbor, Ms. Říhová → Jak se máte?
Who gets ty, who gets vy
With ty: a friend, a child, a student your age; with vy: an adult you don't know, the teacher, a neighbor, a doctor, in a store.
| What to say | With ty | With vy |
|---|---|---|
| saying hello | ahoj, čau | dobrý den |
| saying goodbye | ahoj, čau | na shledanou |
| how are you | Jak se máš? | Jak se máte? |
| apologizing | promiň | promiňte |
| inviting someone in | pojď dál | pojďte dál |
| wishing someone well | měj se hezky | mějte se hezky |
| how you address someone | by first name | no name, or “pan / paní + last name” (lesson 3) |
Prosím: three meanings
One word, three situations: the situation decides, not the translation.
| When | What to say | In English |
|---|---|---|
| you ask for something | prosím | please |
| you hand something over | prosím | here you are |
| you didn't catch it | prosím? | pardon? |
| you reply to děkuju | není zač / prosím | you're welcome / my pleasure |
Lesson notes
Dobrý den or Ahoj: what to say to whom
Learn these phrases as a whole and choose them by the situation, not by the translation.
Look at WHO you are talking to: Czech has two “you” forms. ty: friends, family, children, students your age; vy: strangers, the teacher, a doctor, a neighbor, a salesperson. With ty, the first name; with vy, no first name.
Some phrases add -te in the vy form: promiň → promiňte, pojď dál → pojďte dál, měj se hezky → mějte se hezky, Jak se máš? → Jak se máte? Ahoj and čau are only for ty (čau: “hi” and “bye”); dobrý den and na shledanou are for anyone you don't know.
Time of day: dobré ráno in the morning, dobrý den during the day, dobrý večer meeting in the evening, dobrou noc before bed. On the phone: haló.
prosím has three meanings: “please” when you ask; “here you are” handing something over; “pardon?” when you didn't hear. The reply to děkuju is není zač or prosím.
To apologize: pardon (ty and vy), promiň / promiňte, omlouvám se. The reply: to nevadí, to je v pořádku. Yes is ano (jo with a friend), no is ne; aha means “oh, I see”.
Length isn't stress: pro- is stressed in prosím, na in na shledanou.
Common mistakes:
• × “Ahoj!” to the teacher → Dobrý den!
• × “Promiň!” to a stranger on the streetcar → Promiňte! / Pardon!
• × “Čau!” leaving a store → Na shledanou!
• × “Jak se máš?” to your neighbor, Ms. Říhová → Jak se máte?