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).

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.

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.