Czech Stoicism: Why Czechs Don’t Smile (and Why You’ll Love Them Anyway)
Why do Czechs look so serious all the time? Don’t worry. They’re not mad at you. It’s just Czech stoicism: the art of being calmly realistic, quietly sarcastic, and deeply genuine. Learn why Czechs don’t do small talk, why their friendships last forever, and how to smile less but mean it more.
How Many Rohlíky Make You Czech?
Ever seen a Czech walking down the street with a plastic bag full of bread rolls? It’s not a joke. It’s daily reality. The legendary rohlík is the quiet hero of Czech life: eaten at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and possibly at 2 AM after a few beers. Let’s talk about why Czechs can’t live without it.
“Finished?” – The Ultimate Czech Word (and Why You Should Learn More Czech)
Czechs can survive entire restaurant conversations with one English word: “Finished?”. But if you want to survive outside Prague, you’ll need more than that. Here’s a funny look at Czech English and why learning real Czech is worth it.
How to Practice Czech Speaking for the CCE Exam
Speaking Czech doesn’t have to be terrifying! This guide shows how to prepare for the CCE A2 and B1 speaking exams with fun, practical tips from talking to yourself and shadowing Czech audio to mastering picture tasks and real-life dialogues.
How to Practice Czech Reading for the CCE Exam
Reading Czech doesn’t have to feel like torture. This guide shows how to practice for the CCE A2 and B1 reading exams using fun, real-life materials from comics and news to blogs, books, and recipes, plus strategies to make Czech reading actually enjoyable.
How to Improve Your Czech Writing for A2 and B1 CCE Exam
Worried about the writing part of the Czech CCE exam? This article explains what the Writing section looks like at A2 and B1 levels and gives you practical tips, strategies, and resources to write clear, structured Czech texts and avoid the mistakes that cost points.
How to Practice Czech Listening for the CCE Exam
Struggling with Czech listening? This article explains how the Listening section works in the CCE A2 and B1 exams and gives you practical strategies to train your ears every day from radio and podcasts to movies, music, and micro-habits that really work.
How to Pass the CCE–B1 Exam (Czech Citizenship Gateway)
Planning to apply for Czech citizenship? The CCE–B1 exam is your gateway. This article explains the exam format, common mistakes, and preparation strategies for reading, listening, writing, and speaking — plus a step-by-step study plan to guide you.
Which Czech Exam Should You Take? CCE–A2 vs. CCE–B1 Explained
Confused about which Czech exam you need? This article breaks down the difference between CCE–A2 (for permanent residence) and CCE–B1 (for citizenship). Learn what each exam looks like, where to take it, and how to prepare with step-by-step study plans.
Why Czech People Look Confused When You Speak (And How to Fix It)
Why do Czechs sometimes stare at you with that “confused face”? It’s not about your accent, it’s about tiny grammar traps: cases, aspect, gender, and formality. In this article, I’ll show you the most common mistakes learners make and how to fix them.
KAM vs. KDE: Stop Mixing Them Up Once and for All
KDE or KAM? To English speakers they both look like “where,” but in Czech they separate standing still from moving somewhere. This article uses funny examples, real-life dialogues, and simple tricks to make sure you never confuse them again (and stop accidentally teleporting in Czech!).
Mít rád, líbit se, chutnat: The Secret Rules of Saying “I Like” in Czech
In Czech, “to like” isn’t one-size-fits-all. Depending on whether you’re talking about people, cities, food, or hobbies, you need mít rád, líbit se, or chutnat. Learn the difference (and avoid saying Mám tě rád when you really mean Miluju tě)
“She Was Born with Three Legs” – Why Duolingo Isn’t Enough for Your Czech
Duolingo makes learning Czech fun but if after three years you can only say that your horse is wearing green pants (and still can’t order a beer), it’s time to move on. Here’s why real-life Czech practice matters and how to do it.
Politeness Levels in Czech: Talking to Strangers, Friends, and Your Boss
Navigating Czech politeness can feel like social gymnastics. Should you say ty or vy? Dobrý den or Čau? In this post, we break down how to talk to strangers, shop assistants, your boss, and your friends — with real-life examples to help you sound natural (and avoid awkward looks).
Top Awkward Mistakes Learners Make with Ty and Vy
Czech can trip you up in funny ways — especially with ty and vy. One wrong choice and suddenly you sound too formal with a friend or too casual with your boss. In this post, we’ll laugh through the most common mistakes foreigners make and show you how to nail Czech politeness without breaking a sweat.
Vykání vs. Tykání: Czech Social Gymnastics
Mastering Czech isn’t just about vocabulary and cases — it’s about knowing when to say ty and when to stick with vy. In this article, we unpack the unwritten rules of vykání vs. tykání, with real-life examples that show how a single word can shift you from polite distance to friendly closeness.
Why You’re Forgetting Czech Words (And How to Make Them Stick)
You're learning Czech, putting in the hours, but the words still slip through your fingers? You're not alone. In this post, we’ll explore why your brain keeps forgetting Czech words (spoiler: it’s not your fault) — and how to make them finally stick. With tips from memory science, your own brain quirks, and a few tricks from the Painless Czech Guidebook, you’ll start remembering not just what a word means, but where you saw it, how it sounds, and why it matters.