Czech Language
http://www.prague-guide.co.uk/articles/101/1/Czech-Language/Page1.html
By Libor Kapicka
Published on 06/29/2007
The national language is Czech. However, English is widely spoken (especailly younger generation), as is German and Russina (mostly by older generation).
The national language is Czech. However, English is widely spoken (especailly younger generation), as is German and Russina (mostly by older generation).
The Czech language can be quite difficult to learn and many English speakers find it very hard to pronounce. If you’re keen to learn some basic words and phrases we recommend a Czech phrase book from Lonely Planet. Believe or not even knowing a few short sentences will always please the locals, who will be pleased at your efforts and admire your trying. There are also courses for English tourist willing to learn the Czech language. Czechs usually speak German, English or Russian as a second language though their ability will vary, this may be more obvious when talking with older generations. Before the turn over in 1989 learning Russian was compulsory in schools. These days almost no one will learn Russian and most people prefer to speak English or German.
Czech dialects and Common Czech. The modern Czech language (Standard Czech) is generally based on the medieval literary Czech (approximately its state in the 16th century). It is practically only a formal, bookish language used in a media and people don't use it in friendly contacts. The language of normal communication is the so-called Common Czech, which is actually the current form of the dialect of Central Bohemia and especially Prague. This "bilingualism" came into being in the 19th century, during the era of the Czech national revival that led to the renaissance of Czech literature after 200 years of its hard suppression. Since the speech of contemporary ordinary people was uncultivated, the revivalists started to use the language of medieval literature. This language norm later became official, yet the speech of ordinary Czechs remained the same and continued in its development. Today some features of Common Czech slowly penetrate into the official language and the differences partly decrease. Common Czech has also largely pushed out all former Bohemian dialects and became the only tool of informal communication in Bohemia (although some regional differences may exist).
Pronaucination for some special letters in Czech alphabet:
ch like English h
ř like rs in Persian
č like ch in church
ě like ye in yes
j like y in yellow
c like is in tsetse
ň like the n in Canute š like the sh in shine
ž like the s in pleasure
Worried that you can't understand Czech language?
It is always better if you know the language which is used in the country you are going to. However it is not necessary. If you talk English or German you are all set in Prague.
The Czech language can be quite difficult to learn and many English speakers find it very hard to pronounce. If you’re keen to learn some basic words and phrases we recommend a Czech phrase book from Lonely Planet. Believe or not even knowing a few short sentences will always please the locals, who will be pleased at your efforts and admire your trying. There are also courses for English tourist willing to learn the Czech language. Czechs usually speak German, English or Russian as a second language though their ability will vary, this may be more obvious when talking with older generations. Before the turn over in 1989 learning Russian was compulsory in schools. These days almost no one will learn Russian and most people prefer to speak English or German.
Czech dialects and Common Czech. The modern Czech language (Standard Czech) is generally based on the medieval literary Czech (approximately its state in the 16th century). It is practically only a formal, bookish language used in a media and people don't use it in friendly contacts. The language of normal communication is the so-called Common Czech, which is actually the current form of the dialect of Central Bohemia and especially Prague. This "bilingualism" came into being in the 19th century, during the era of the Czech national revival that led to the renaissance of Czech literature after 200 years of its hard suppression. Since the speech of contemporary ordinary people was uncultivated, the revivalists started to use the language of medieval literature. This language norm later became official, yet the speech of ordinary Czechs remained the same and continued in its development. Today some features of Common Czech slowly penetrate into the official language and the differences partly decrease. Common Czech has also largely pushed out all former Bohemian dialects and became the only tool of informal communication in Bohemia (although some regional differences may exist). Pronaucination for some special letters in Czech alphabet:
ch like English h
ř like rs in Persian
č like ch in church
ě like ye in yes
j like y in yellow
c like is in tsetse
ň like the n in Canute š like the sh in shine
ž like the s in pleasure
Worried that you can't understand Czech language?
It is always better if you know the language which is used in the country you are going to. However it is not necessary. If you talk English or German you are all set in Prague.
Czech to English and English to Czech Online Dictionary.
Well this dictionary is in Czech but is one of best on the net. Very easy to use just remember Anglicky mean English, Cesky mean Czech and Preloz mean Translate. It also has other 5 languages to translate from and to.
www.slovnik.cz
Online Dictionary
www.wordbook.cz
All about Czech language & culture
www.bohemica.cz
Survival English to Czech Dictionary.
Beer - Pivo
Girls - Holky
Toust - Na Zdravi
Do you speak english? Mluvite Anglicky?
Hello or Good Day - Nazdar, Ahoj, Cau
Good moming/Good afternoon Dobré - jitro/Dobré odpoledne
Good evening/Good night - Dobry večer/Dobrou noc
YES - ANO / JO
NO - NE
Sorry/Excuse me - Prominte
Thanks - Dekuji