Czech vocabulary for beginners
If you are starting to learn Czech, the best first step is to build a useful base of everyday words. Basic Czech vocabulary helps you understand simple phrases, create your first sentences and feel more confident when you move to grammar and listening practice.
Below you will find Czech words by topic: greetings, people, home, food, transport, work, common verbs and adjectives. This is a practical starting point for A0–A1 learners.
Greetings and polite words
| Czech | English |
|---|---|
| Ahoj | hi / hello |
| Dobrý den | good day |
| Dobrý večer | good evening |
| Děkuji | thank you |
| Prosím | please / here you are |
| Promiňte | excuse me / sorry |
| Ano | yes |
| Ne | no |
People and family
| Czech | English |
|---|---|
| člověk | person |
| muž | man |
| žena | woman |
| dítě | child |
| rodina | family |
| máma | mom |
| otec | father |
| přítel | friend / boyfriend |
Home and everyday life
| Czech | English |
|---|---|
| dům | house |
| byt | apartment |
| pokoj | room |
| kuchyně | kitchen |
| dveře | door |
| okno | window |
| postel | bed |
| stůl | table |
Food and drinks
| Czech | English |
|---|---|
| chléb | bread |
| voda | water |
| káva | coffee |
| čaj | tea |
| mléko | milk |
| maso | meat |
| rýže | rice |
| polévka | soup |
Transport and city
| Czech | English |
|---|---|
| auto | car |
| autobus | bus |
| vlak | train |
| zastávka | stop |
| cesta | road / way |
| ulice | street |
| město | city |
| obchod | shop |
Work and study
| Czech | English |
|---|---|
| práce | work |
| škola | school |
| učitel | teacher |
| student | student |
| kolega | colleague |
| firma | company |
| peníze | money |
| čas | time |
Basic Czech verbs
| Czech | English |
|---|---|
| být | to be |
| mít | to have |
| jít | to go |
| dělat | to do / to make |
| vědět | to know |
| chtít | to want |
| vidět | to see |
| mluvit | to speak |
Useful adjectives
| Czech | English |
|---|---|
| dobrý | good |
| špatný | bad |
| velký | big |
| malý | small |
| nový | new |
| starý | old |
| rychlý | fast |
| důležitý | important |
How to learn Czech vocabulary effectively
Do not try to memorize a huge list of Czech words in one sitting. It is better to learn small groups of words, listen to pronunciation, repeat them aloud and use them in short phrases. Czech becomes easier when vocabulary is connected to real situations.
- Learn 10–20 new words at a time.
- Group words by topic: home, food, work, transport.
- Repeat older words regularly.
- Use new vocabulary in simple sentences.
- Combine vocabulary with listening and exercises.
How this vocabulary fits into a beginner Czech roadmap
Vocabulary works best when it has a clear order. If you are starting from zero, first learn pronunciation, greetings, daily words and simple sentence patterns. Then connect these words with basic verbs and Czech grammar.
The beginner roadmap explains what to learn in your first 7 days, how to organize the first 30 days and which first 100 Czech words are most useful.
Common mistakes when learning Czech words
1. Learning words without context. It is easier to remember a word when you also learn a short example phrase.
2. Ignoring pronunciation. Czech spelling is quite regular, but pronunciation still needs practice, especially long vowels and sounds such as ř, č, š and ž.
3. Learning too many words at once. A smaller list with regular review is usually more useful than a large list you read only once.
4. Not using words actively. Try to use new Czech words in questions, answers and simple sentences as soon as possible.
What to learn after basic Czech vocabulary
After you know your first Czech words, continue with short phrases, basic questions and simple sentence patterns. This helps you use vocabulary instead of only recognizing it.
The next step is to connect vocabulary with grammar: verbs, word order, cases and common sentence structures. Flunio helps you combine lessons, dictionary search and practice in one place.
FAQ
What Czech vocabulary should beginners learn first?
Start with greetings, numbers, family, food, home, transport, time, common verbs and everyday words you can use in simple sentences.
How many Czech words do I need for basic communication?
For simple everyday communication, 500–1000 common words can be enough if you also learn how to use them in short sentences.
How can I remember Czech words better?
Learn words in small groups, listen to pronunciation, repeat them aloud, use them in short phrases and review them regularly.