Czech Connectors That Will Make You Sound Instantly Local
Tired of Sounding Like Google Translate? Let’s be honest. Most Czech learners hit a point where they speak like this:
Já včera kino. Film dobrý. Já unavený.
Which is technically Czech. Ale taky to zní jako robot, který vyhrál v tombole 10 volných lekcí češtiny.
The magic upgrade? Czech connectors. These little words that glue your thoughts together and make you sound like someone who actually lives here and occasionally argues with strangers in tramvaj č. 9.
I have for you TOP 5 connectors, které používají všichni Češi každý den. A ty je můžeš začít používat taky. Jako… hned.
Takže… – The Czech Conversation Steering Wheel
If Czech conversation were a car, takže is the steering wheel. Czechs use it to:
change topic
summarize
complain
complain again
wrap up a complaint
Examples you’ll hear on every corner:
Takže… krátce… je to v háji. So... in short... it's screwed.
Takže jako nic novýho. So nothing new.
Takže… jdeme? So... shall we go?
Use it when you want to sound confident. Takže… moving on.
Protože… – The Czech Reason Machine
No Czech story is complete without an explanation, excuse, or justification.
That’s why protože rules.
Nepřijdu, protože pracuju. I'm not coming because I'm working.
Nejedu tam, protože tam byli loni všichni turisti. I'm not going there because all the tourists were there last year.
Dám si pivo… protože proč ne. I'll have a beer... because why not.
Insider tip: If you want to sound extra Czech, sometimes say protože prostě. Because… reasons.
Jinak… – The Secret Czech “btw, warning, or alternative universe” word
This connector is ridiculously useful.
Czechs use jinak to mean:
otherwise
by the way
if not
or else
totally unrelated thing I'm about to say
Listen:
Máš bundu? Jinak tam umrzneš. Do you have a jacket? Otherwise you'll freeze there.
A co jinak… viděla jsi ten nový film? And what else... have you seen that new movie?
Pošlu ti zprávu. Jinak na to zapomenu. I'll send you a message. Otherwise I'll forget.
Learn it → start sounding like someone who has lived in Žižkov for 5 years.
Každopádně… – The Elegant Czech Reset Button
This is a classy connector. A perfect way to continue your story after a dramatic detour:
Každopádně… kde jsme to byli? Anyway... where were we?
Každopádně, to zvládneš. Anyway, you can do it.
Každopádně, objednáme si dezert. Anyway, let's order dessert.
It’s basically Czech for: “Anyway, back to the point, my friend.”
Jako… – Your Ticket to Real, Messy, Beautiful Czech
Oh boy. Jako is the Swiss army knife of Czech fillers. You hear it from teenagers, babičky, influencers i programátory.
Meaning changes based on intonation:
hesitation: Já jako nevím… I don't know...
emphasis: To bylo jako fakt dobrý. That was really good.
filler: A ona jako že jo… And she was like, yeah...
disbelief: Jako vážně? Seriously?
If you use it too much, you’ll sound like a Czech teenager. But just the right amount? Local. Instantly.
Want the Full Upgrade?
This post gives you just a taste of how powerful Czech connectors can be: how they instantly make your Czech smoother, funnier, and way more natural.
But if you want to:
stop speaking “telegraph Czech”
connect your sentences like a pro
finally understand kdyby, protože, takže, jestli, aby…
see everything clearly explained with real-life examples
learn from two super-useful tables (yes, full paradigms!)
and level up your fluency (and yes… sound a little sexy in Czech)
…then the Czech Conjunctions Sheet is exactly what you need.
