Is English widely spoken in Prague?

Yes, extensively in the tourist sector, in hotels, restaurants in the historic centre, and among younger people. English is the de facto second language of Prague.

Is Czech hard to learn?

For English speakers, yes -- it is one of the hardest European languages. The US Foreign Service Institute classifies it in Category IV (the most difficult), estimating approximately 1,100 hours of study to reach fluency.

Is Czech similar to Russian?

Both are Slavic languages and share grammatical structure and basic vocabulary, but they are mutually unintelligible. Czech uses the Latin alphabet (with diacritics); Russian uses Cyrillic. They are roughly as similar as Spanish and Romanian.

Is Czech similar to Slovak?

Much more so. Czechs and Slovaks can generally understand each other without a translator, especially the generation that lived through the Czechoslovakia era. They are distinct languages but very closely related.

What is the letter ř and why is it so famous?

The ř is a voiced alveolar fricative trill -- it produces a rolled r and a zh-type fricative simultaneously. It doesn't exist in any other language in the world. Czech children typically learn it between the ages of 4 and 6. For adults learning Czech, it is notoriously difficult to pronounce. To learn more about Czech culture and the history behind the language: The Czech Republic: History, culture and curiosities.

Home/Blog/How Do You Say Thank You in Czech? Useful Phrases for Prague (2026)

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How Do You Say Thank You in Czech? Useful Phrases for Prague (2026)

Pronunciation and basic Czech phrases for travellers in Prague

Ion López Bidaguren

Art historian and licensed tour guide with over 17 years in tourism. Former educator at the Guggenheim Bilbao, guiding in Prague for 10+ years in Spanish, English and Italian.

March 11, 2026 · 9 min read

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