Politeness Levels in Czech: Talking to Strangers, Friends, and Your Boss
Learning Czech isn’t just about memorizing vocabulary or wrestling with seven cases (though… that too). It’s also about figuring out how polite you need to be depending on who you’re talking to. One wrong choice, and suddenly you sound like a waiter at a family barbecue or like you’re scolding your boss.
In Czech, this dance between formality and informality is everywhere — on the street, in shops, at the office, even at home. Let’s look at how politeness levels work in real life, and more importantly, how you can avoid awkward slip-ups.
On the Street: Strangers and Quick Encounters
Imagine you’re asking for directions. If you stop an older lady and say: „Prosím vás, kde je zastávka?“ (Excuse me, where’s the bus stop?) Perfect. That’s polite, formal, and exactly what she expects.
But if you accidentally say: „Prosím tě, kde je zastávka?“ She might give you a funny look. Prosím tě (informal “excuse me”) is for friends, not for random grandmas on the street.
Rule of thumb: On the street = vy mode, unless you’re talking to a kid or your buddy.
In Shops and Restaurants
Picture this: you walk into a bakery. The safe bet is always: „Dobrý den, máte rohlíky?“ Formal greeting (Dobrý den) + vy form = gold standard.
Now compare it to: „Čau, máš rohlíky?“ Yes, you’ll probably still get your bread, but the shop assistant will think you’re being cheeky (or drunk).
Never use “ty” with shop assistants…
In restaurants it’s the same: ordering a beer with „Dáte mi jedno pivo, prosím?“ works smoothly. But imagine telling the waiter „Dej mi pivo“. Technically correct grammar… but it sounds like you’re bossing him around. Not great.
At Work: Your Boss vs. Colleagues
Workplace Czech is its own jungle. In many modern companies, colleagues quickly move to ty. Your new teammate might greet you with: „Ahoj, já jsem Petra. Můžeme si tykat?“ (Hi, I’m Petra. Let’s use ty.) And just like that, you’re on informal terms. Great for team spirit.
But your boss? Start formal. Always. „Pane Nováku, můžete mi prosím poslat ten dokument?“ If your boss wants to switch, they’ll suggest it: „Pojďme si tykat.“ Don’t be the eager foreigner who jumps straight into ty with your CEO on day one. It feels pushy and, honestly, a bit weird.
With Friends and Family
Here’s where you can relax. With friends, ty is the default: „Dáš si kafe?“, „Půjdeš dnes večer do hospody?“
Same with close family — parents, siblings, cousins. If you suddenly used vy with your brother-in-law, he’d probably laugh in your face.
The Big Picture
So here’s the deal:
Strangers, service staff, and bosses → start formal (vy).
Friends, kids, and family → informal (ty).
Workplaces → depends on the culture, but wait until someone offers to switch.
And if you mess it up? Don’t panic. Czechs know it’s tricky, and most will just smile and maybe even explain it to you.
Cheat-Sheet to the Rescue
Still sweating over when to use ty and when to use vy? Don’t worry — I’ve made it super simple. Check out my Formal vs Informal Czech Sheet, packed with real examples and clear explanations you’ll actually use.
With practice (and maybe a beer or two), you’ll master Czech politeness without breaking a sweat.
