What Language Does Prague Speak?

By Anna Duncan

Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic, is a popular tourist destination in Europe. It is known for its stunning architecture, rich history, and vibrant culture. If you’re planning to visit Prague or just curious about the local language, you might be wondering what language does Prague speak?

The official language of Prague and the Czech Republic is Czech. It is a West Slavic language that is closely related to Slovak and Polish. Czech is also spoken in other countries such as Slovakia, Austria, and Poland.

If you’re planning to travel to Prague, it’s helpful to learn some basic phrases in Czech. Here are some useful phrases that can help you get by:

  • Dobrý den – Good day
  • Dobré ráno – Good morning
  • Dobrou noc – Good night
  • Ano – Yes
  • Ne – No
  • Děkuji (vám) – Thank you (formal/informal)
  • Nashledanou – Goodbye (formal)
  • Ahoj/Čau – Hi/Bye (informal)

Czech uses the Latin alphabet with some diacritic marks such as á, č, ď, é, ě, í, ň, ó, ř, š, ť, ú and ž. It may take some time to get used to these letters if you’re not familiar with them.

Czech Language History

Czech has a long and rich history that dates back to the 9th century. It evolved from the Proto-Slavic language that was spoken in Central Europe. Over the centuries, Czech has undergone many changes and influences from other languages such as German, Latin, and French.

During the 20th century, Czech underwent significant changes due to political and historical events. In 1918, Czech became the official language of Czechoslovakia after the country gained independence from Austria-Hungary. In 1993, after the peaceful separation of Czechoslovakia into two independent countries – Czech Republic and Slovakia, Czech became the official language of the newly formed Czech Republic.

Dialects

Like any other language, Czech has many regional dialects that vary depending on geography and local culture. However, Standard Czech is widely understood and spoken throughout the country.

Some of the regional dialects include Moravian dialects spoken in Moravia region, Silesian dialects spoken in Silesia region along with Polish and Lachian (a Slavic minority language), Bohemian dialects spoken in Bohemia region along with German (due to historical reasons).

Conclusion

In conclusion, Prague speaks Czech which is an interesting and complex language with a rich history. Learning some basic phrases can enhance your travel experience and help you communicate better with locals. Don’t be afraid to try speaking some Czech during your visit to Prague!