How to say hello and thank you in Czech, and when to use which

Walk into a small Czech shop or a doctor's waiting room and the first thing you notice is the greeting. People say hello to a room of strangers and goodbye when they leave. It isn't ceremony, it's just how things work, and a foreigner who does the same earns instant goodwill.

Hello

Dobrý den (DOB-ree den) literally means "good day". It is the standard formal hello, usable from the early morning until the evening, to a shop assistant, a neighbour, a waiter or a stranger. When in doubt, use it.

Dobré ráno (DOB-reh RAH-no) is "good morning", used less than the English equivalent. Dobrý večer (DOB-ree VEH-cher) is "good evening" and replaces dobrý den after the working day.

Ahoj (AH-hoy) is the casual hello among friends and people of the same age and, quirkily, it also means goodbye. It sounds like the sailor's "ahoy", and it is easy to remember. Čau (chow), borrowed from Italian, is similar and very common among younger people. Neither is for the clerk at the post office. For the underlying logic of when to be formal, the article on vy or ty, the Czech "you" is a good companion.

Goodbye

Na shledanou (nah SKHLEH-da-no) is the formal goodbye, literally "until seeing again". Use it when you leave a shop, a restaurant or an office. The casual version is nashle, and among friends ahoj does both jobs. Dobrou noc (DOH-broh nots) means "good night", said to someone as they go to bed.

Thank you

Děkuji (DYEH-koo-yi) is the careful, polite form, found in writing, on signs and in formal speech. Děkuju (DYEH-koo-yoo) is the everyday version you will actually hear. Díky (DEE-ky) is the casual "thanks", and Moc děkuji or Děkuju moc means "thank you very much".

The "ě" in děkuji is the trap. It softens the "d", so the word starts like "dyeh", not "deh". If you want the full rule, the guide to pronouncing Czech letters covers it.

Prosím, the Swiss army knife

Prosím (PRO-seem) is the word that does everything. It means "please", it means "you are welcome", it means "here you are" when handing something over, and with a rising tone it means "pardon?" or "how can I help?". A waiter might say it as he arrives at your table. A shop assistant might say it when it is your turn. You say it when you pass the salt. It is the one word that makes you sound local fastest.

A practical rehearsal helps. Next time you buy a coffee, run the sequence in your head: hello as you reach the counter, the order, thank you as the cup arrives, goodbye as you turn. It takes about four seconds and soon feels natural. Czechs generally do not expect perfection, and a mispronounced děkuji still lands as politeness.

Small words that help

Ano (AH-no) is yes, and ne (neh) is no, though in speech many people say jo for yes. Promiňte (PRO-min-yteh) means "excuse me" or "sorry", used to get attention or push past someone on the tram. Pardon works as well, and is used the same way. Na zdraví (nah ZDRAH-vee) means "cheers", literally "to health", and it is worth knowing before your first beer. Dobrou chuť (DOH-broh khoot) is "enjoy your meal", which a waiter or your companions may say before eating.

Manners behind the words

Czech manners are more formal than the English-speaking world assumes, up to a point. Greeting a room is normal in doctors' waiting rooms, in lifts and in small shops. Eye contact during a toast matters. Shaking hands on meeting is common in business and among adults. People address strangers and older people with vy (the formal "you"), and wait for the other person to suggest the informal ty. Titles such as pan (Mr) and paní (Mrs or Ms) are normal with a surname.

You don't need to speak Czech to be treated well, and most people in central Prague will switch to English the moment they hear an accent. The greeting is courtesy, and it is received as courtesy.

Next steps

Ordering food and asking directions are in Czech phrases every visitor should know, and the map is tackled in how to pronounce Czechia, Prague and common place names. Say the first five phrases aloud on the way to the shop. Saying them in public is the hard part.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say hello in Czech?

Dobrý den (good day) is the standard formal hello. Ahoj is the casual version for friends.

How do you say thank you in Czech?

Děkuji in careful speech, děkuju in everyday speech, and díky for a casual thanks.

Does ahoj mean hello or goodbye?

Both. Among friends, ahoj works as hello and goodbye.

What does prosím mean?

Please, you are welcome, here you are, and pardon, depending on the situation and the tone.