Learning a new language can be both an exciting and challenging endeavor. When it comes to Czech, a West Slavic language spoken by over 10 million people primarily in the Czech Republic, getting started with the basics is essential. Mastering fundamental vocabulary at the A1 level will provide a strong foundation for everyday communication and help you navigate common situations. This article will outline some of the most important Czech words to know for A1 level learners, categorized into various themes to aid your learning process.

Greetings and Basic Phrases

When you first start learning Czech, it’s crucial to be able to greet people and use basic phrases. Here are some essential greetings and phrases:

– Ahoj – Hello/Hi (informal)
– Dobrý den – Good day/Hello (formal)
– Dobré ráno – Good morning
– Dobrý večer – Good evening
– Dobrou noc – Good night
– Nashledanou – Goodbye (formal)
– Čau – Bye (informal)
– Prosím – Please/You’re welcome
– Děkuji – Thank you
– Promiňte – Excuse me/Sorry
– Ano – Yes
– Ne – No

These greetings and basic phrases will help you make a good first impression and show respect in various social situations.

Numbers

Understanding numbers is fundamental in any language, especially when it comes to everyday activities such as shopping, telling time, and handling money. Here are the numbers from 1 to 10 in Czech:

1. Jedna
2. Dva
3. Tři
4. Čtyři
5. Pět
6. Šest
7. Sedm
8. Osm
9. Devět
10. Deset

Knowing these numbers will help you in many day-to-day activities, such as ordering food, buying tickets, and more.

Days of the Week and Months

Learning the days of the week and the months is essential for scheduling, making plans, and understanding dates. Here are the days of the week:

– Pondělí – Monday
– Úterý – Tuesday
– Středa – Wednesday
– Čtvrtek – Thursday
– Pátek – Friday
– Sobota – Saturday
– Neděle – Sunday

And here are the months of the year:

– Leden – January
– Únor – February
– Březen – March
– Duben – April
– Květen – May
– Červen – June
– Červenec – July
– Srpen – August
– Září – September
– Říjen – October
– Listopad – November
– Prosinec – December

Common Nouns

Nouns are the building blocks of any language. Here are some common nouns that will help you describe the world around you:

– Dům – House
– Byt – Apartment
– Auto – Car
– Pes – Dog
– Kočka – Cat
– Jídlo – Food
– Voda – Water
– Káva – Coffee
– Čaj – Tea
– Chléb – Bread
– Rodina – Family
– Přítel – Friend (male)
– Přítelkyně – Friend (female)
– Škola – School
– Práce – Work

These nouns will help you in everyday conversations and make it easier to describe your surroundings and activities.

Pronouns

Pronouns are essential for constructing sentences and referring to people or things. Here are some basic Czech pronouns:

– Já – I
– Ty – You (informal)
– On – He
– Ona – She
– Ono – It
– My – We
– Vy – You (formal or plural)
– Oni – They

Using the correct pronoun is crucial for clear and effective communication.

Common Verbs

Verbs are action words that describe what someone or something is doing. Here are some essential verbs for beginners:

– Být – To be
– Mít – To have
– Dělat – To do/make
– Jít – To go (on foot)
– Jet – To go (by vehicle)
– Jíst – To eat
– Pít – To drink
– Spát – To sleep
– Vědět – To know
– Vidět – To see
– Slyšet – To hear
– Mluvit – To speak

Learning these verbs will allow you to describe actions and form simple sentences.

Conjugating Verbs

In Czech, verbs are conjugated based on the subject pronoun. Here is an example with the verb “být” (to be):

– Já jsem – I am
– Ty jsi – You are (informal)
– On/Ona/Ono je – He/She/It is
– My jsme – We are
– Vy jste – You are (formal or plural)
– Oni jsou – They are

Understanding verb conjugation is crucial for creating correct and meaningful sentences.

Adjectives

Adjectives are words that describe nouns, giving more information about them. Here are some common Czech adjectives:

– Velký – Big
– Malý – Small
– Dobrý – Good
– Špatný – Bad
– Nový – New
– Starý – Old
– Horký – Hot
– Studený – Cold
– Krásný – Beautiful
– Ošklivý – Ugly

These adjectives will help you describe people, places, and things more precisely.

Prepositions

Prepositions are words that show the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence. Here are some basic Czech prepositions:

– Na – On/At
– V – In
– Pod – Under
– Nad – Above
– Vedle – Next to
– Před – In front of
– Za – Behind
– Mezi – Between

Using prepositions correctly will help you describe locations and relationships between objects.

Question Words

Being able to ask questions is a fundamental part of communication. Here are some common Czech question words:

– Kdo – Who
– Co – What
– Kde – Where
– Kdy – When
– Proč – Why
– Jak – How

These question words will enable you to gather information and engage in more interactive conversations.

Common Expressions

Certain expressions are used frequently in everyday conversation. Here are some useful Czech expressions:

– Jak se máte? – How are you? (formal)
– Jak se máš? – How are you? (informal)
– Mám se dobře – I am well
– Mám se špatně – I am not well
– Kolik to stojí? – How much does it cost?
– Kde je toaleta? – Where is the bathroom?
– Co to je? – What is it?
– To je krásné – That is beautiful

These expressions will help you navigate daily interactions and express yourself more naturally.

Conclusion

Mastering these fundamental Czech words and phrases at the A1 level will provide you with a solid foundation for further learning. Practice using them in context, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes—language learning is a gradual process, and every effort you make brings you closer to fluency. As you become more comfortable with these basics, you’ll find it easier to expand your vocabulary and tackle more complex aspects of the Czech language. Happy learning!