Basic Nouns

1. Voda

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water; works with pointing

   Grammar Note

   The form shown is the first case (nominative). Czech has seven cases: vodu, vody, vodou.

2. Jídlo

   Food

   Usage

   The general word when you are looking for something to eat

3. Peníze

   Money

   Usage

   Comes up when paying or changing currency

   Grammar Note

   "Peníze" is used only in the plural.

4. Toaleta

   Toilet

   Usage

   The word alone is enough to ask for directions

5. Kapesníky

   Tissue

   Usage

   For asking at a shop or a diner

6. Lék

   Medicine

   Usage

   The core word at a pharmacy, paired with your symptom

7. Zavazadlo

   Luggage

   Usage

   For checking in, picking up, or storing bags

8. Klíč

   Key

   Usage

   For collecting or returning it at hotel reception

9. Jízdenka

   Ticket

   Usage

   The ticket for buses, trams and trains; an admission ticket is "vstupenka"

10. Pas

    Passport

    Usage

    Comes up at every check-in and border control

11. Telefon

    Phone

    Usage

    Refers to the device and to making a call

12. Nabíječka

    Charger

    Usage

    When you want to borrow one at a hotel or café

13. Nádraží

    Station

    Usage

    The easiest landmark to name when asking directions

14. Nemocnice

    Hospital

    Usage

    The first word you need if you fall ill

15. Policie

    Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents; the word alone gets help

16. Obchod

    Shop

    Usage

    The general word when hunting for somewhere to buy things

17. Pokoj

    Room

    Usage

    For negotiating a stay or confirming a room number

18. Cesta

    Road

    Usage

    Used when asking directions, often over a map

19. Rodina

    Family

    Usage

    Comes up in small talk about who you are travelling with

20. Jméno

    Name

    Usage

    For confirming a booking or introducing yourself

21. Hlava

    Head

    Usage

    A body part to point at when showing where it hurts; "my head hurts" is "Bolí mě hlava"

22. Oči

    Eyes

    Usage

    Point at this for eye trouble; one eye is the singular "oko"

    Grammar Note

    "oči" is an irregular plural (from the old dual); the singular is "oko"

23. Zuby

    Teeth

    Usage

    Point at this for toothache; one tooth is "zub" and a dentist is a "zubař"

24. Hrdlo

    Throat

    Usage

    The throat proper; in everyday speech a sore throat is "Bolí mě v krku", using "krk" (neck/throat)

25. Břicho

    Belly / stomach

    Usage

    The belly as a body area; the stomach as an organ is a different word, "žaludek"

26. Záda

    Back

    Usage

    Point at this for back pain; "my back hurts" is "Bolí mě záda"

    Grammar Note

    "záda" is a plural-only neuter noun; it has no singular form

27. Bedra

    Lower back

    Usage

    The lower back. Everyday Czech says "Bolí mě v kříži" for lower-back pain, but "kříž" on its own means a cross, so the word used here is "bedra"

28. Noha

    Leg / foot

    Usage

    Czech "noha" covers both the leg and the foot; the foot alone is "chodidlo". Point at the exact spot that hurts

29. Ruka

    Hand

    Usage

    The hand; in everyday speech "ruka" often covers the whole arm as well. The arm alone is "paže"

30. Hrudník

    Chest

    Usage

    The anatomical chest — use this to report chest pain, since "prsa" refers to the breasts

31. Hasičský vůz

    Fire engine

    Usage

    The word for a fire engine; colloquially also "hasičské auto"

32. Konzulát

    Consulate

    Usage

    For finding your country's consulate after losing a passport; the embassy in the capital is "velvyslanectví"

Browse all TravelPhrases languages