Food & Drinks

1. Jedno pivo, prosím

   YED-no PI-vo PRO-seem

   One beer, please

   Usage

   Classic phrase for ordering a beer at a restaurant or bar

   Grammar Note

   Czech Republic is a top beer nation. "pivo" is neuter gender so "jedno" is used

2. Jídelní lístek, prosím

   YEE-del-nyee LEES-tek PRO-seem

   The menu, please

   Usage

   Used to request a menu at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "Jídelní lístek" literally means "food list". The English word "menu" is also widely understood

3. Jsem vegetarián

   ysem VE-ge-ta-ri-yahn

   I am a vegetarian

   Usage

   Used to inform about dietary restriction. Female form: vegetariánka

   Grammar Note

   Czech nouns have grammatical gender. Male: vegetarián, female: vegetariánka

4. Účet, prosím

   OO-chet PRO-seem

   The bill, please

   Usage

   Used to ask for the bill after eating

   Grammar Note

   Tipping (spropitné) is not obligatory but around 10% is customary. Many places prefer cash

5. Svíčková na smetaně

   SVEECH-ko-vah na SME-ta-nye

   Beef tenderloin in cream sauce (Czech national dish)

   Usage

   Czech national dish: marinated beef tenderloin in cream sauce, served with bread dumplings (knedlíky)

   Grammar Note

   "na smetaně" uses locative case after preposition "na" to describe the cooking method

6. Knedlíky

   KNED-lee-ki

   Bread dumplings

   Usage

   Traditional Czech side dish — steamed bread dumplings that soak up sauces

   Grammar Note

   Singular: knedlík. Related to German "Knödel". Served alongside nearly all Czech main dishes

7. Mám alergii na lepek

   mahm A-ler-gi-yi na LE-pek

   I have a gluten allergy

   Usage

   Used to declare a food allergy. Replace "lepek" with other foods as needed

   Grammar Note

   "alergii" is the accusative form. Replace: "na ořechy" (nuts), "na mléko" (dairy)

8. Je to výborné!

   ye to VEE-bor-ne

   It's excellent / delicious!

   Usage

   Used to compliment the food to the cook or waiter

   Grammar Note

   "výborné" is the neuter predicative form. Similar: "Moc dobré!" (very good!)

9. Bez masa, prosím

   bez MA-sa PRO-seem

   Without meat, please

   Usage

   Used to request a dish without meat

   Grammar Note

   Preposition "bez" (without) requires genitive case. "masa" is the genitive of "maso" (meat)

10. Chci si objednat

    khtsi si OB-yed-nat

    I would like to order

    Usage

    Used to signal to the waiter that you are ready to order

    Grammar Note

    Reflexive "si" indicates ordering for oneself. More polite: "Rád bych si objednal" (I would like to order)

11. Rýže

    Rice (cooked)

    Usage

    Point to this to ask for rice as a side; Czech uses "rýže" for both raw and cooked rice, and on a menu it means cooked. A side dish is a "příloha"

12. Chléb

    Bread

    Usage

    A loaf of the rye-wheat bread eaten with meals; colloquially "chleba". The small white rolls are different words: "rohlík" and "houska"

13. Nudle

    Noodles

    Usage

    Noodles, always plural; Italian-style pasta is usually called "těstoviny"

14. Pálivé

    Spicy (hot)

    Usage

    Chilli heat; "ostré" is used the same way. "Kořeněné" means well-seasoned, not hot

    Grammar Note

    The form shown is the neuter singular, agreeing with "jídlo"; masculine is "pálivý" and feminine "pálivá"

15. Sladké

    Sweet

    Usage

    Describes a sweet taste; "no sugar" is "bez cukru"

    Grammar Note

    The form shown is the neuter singular; masculine "sladký", feminine "sladká"

16. Syrové

    Raw (uncooked)

    Usage

    Means uncooked; "well done, please" is "Dobře propečené, prosím"

    Grammar Note

    The form shown is the neuter singular; masculine "syrový", feminine "syrová"

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