I'm going there in January and I don't know what to expect (apart from freezing me nipples off)
What language(s) do they speak there?
2007-11-25 08:51:41 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Europe (Continental) ➔ Other - Europe
Czech - this is a Slavic language with similarities to Polish and Croatian. Most of the people involved with the tourist trade also speak German and English (often at the same time!)
2007-11-25 08:58:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
In Prague the main language is Czech, though German is also commonly spoken and people involved in the tourist industry commonly speak at least some English - though when I stayed there in 1999 I had a slight multilingual discussion with the hotel receptionist to find out which mutual language we could use, and we finally settled on French, since I don't speak much Czech and she didn't speak much English! Everyone who went to school during the Communist period will have learnt Russian, but don't try to use it as they still haven't forgiven the 1968 invasion - they don't really like Russians at all, I was in a restaurant once with a bilingual Czech/English menu, but the waiter deliberately gave the Russian couple at the next table a Czech-only menu and was really giving them a hard time. Belgium is complicated. In Brussels the main language is French, but the north of the country, Flanders, including the area all round Brussels, they speak Flemish which is a form of Dutch, while in the south of the country, Wallonia, they speak French, and in the far east there are a few areas where they speak German. The thing is that the French and Flemish speakers dislike each other intensely (they have completely separate political parties, television networks, and there was a nasty train crash about 10 years ago which was blamed on a Flemish-speaking signaller refusing to speak French to a colleague on the other end of the telephone line), so it is ALWAYS better to try speaking English first as that doesn't offend anyone. Romanians speak Romanian, which contrary to someone else's answer is NOT related to Russian - it's a Latin-based language like Italian, French, Spanish and Portuguese, though heavily influenced by neighbouring Slavic languages. The Romanians are very proud of having been part of the Roman Empire, and indeed that's where the country's name comes from. I would have thought that knowledge of English is not very widespread, especially outside Bucharest, though you might stand a better chance of younger people understanding it.
2016-05-25 22:22:24 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm from Prague, and we speak Czech. We do have menus in both Czech and English in some places.
Czech Republic and Republic of Slovakia were once the long name, Czechoslovakia - some people still speak Slovak, but Czech Republic's official is Czech.
You can check out (I list in both English and Czech for your convience):
- Old Town Square/Staroměstské náměstí
- Orloj (Astronomical Clock)
- Old Town Hall/Staroměstská radnice (next to Orloj)
- Charles Bridge/Karlův most
- Charles Square/Karlovo náměstí
- Prague Castle/Pražský hrad
- National Theatre/Národní divadlo (only if you're interested)
- Welceslas Square/Václavské náměstí
- Hradčany (borough, near Prague Castle)
Always buy tickets before boarding, and use a ticket in the yellow machines either at subway station, or on the bus or tram.
You are always welcome to take a day trip to Český Krumlov (that is, if you wish and/or have enough time).
The younger people do understand English or at least some, just enough to help tourists if any.
You can bring a Czech-English phrasebook if you want, I think you can get it off eBay. Not everything is correct as said on the Internet. For example, it said "jak se mate?", when really, it is "jak se mas?". If you wonder what's that, it means "how are you?"
One more thing, Old Town is cheaper than New. :)
2007-11-25 16:30:57 · answer #3 · answered by borninprague 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They speak the languages of the Czech Republic, like Czech or Slovakian/Slovak, because Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic.
Why are you going to Prague of all places in Europe, and why in January of all months?
2007-11-25 09:24:32 · answer #4 · answered by ramonesrule1994 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Prague is capitol of the Czech Republic, which means native language is Czech. However, many people speak English, German and many more. Just don't be rude when you go there and try to speak a little bit of Czech.
2007-11-26 11:02:24 · answer #5 · answered by V G 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Prague has been regarded as one of the most wonderful cities on earth since Middle Ages and you understand not eliminate the opportunity to see it, with hotelbye . Adjectives such as for instance “golden“, “city of a hundred spires“, “the crown of the world“ were attributed to Prague and for a reason. The Historic Centre of Prague that's been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1992 and with its 866 hectares is the largest old town hub on this record on the planet and that is one among the lovely places Prague has to offer.
2016-12-16 00:57:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Haha - its absolutely freezing in Prague right now so in January....EEEK!!
im an expat and i cant handle the cold!
ive got a sheepskin coat, mitts, hat and ear muffs - but what you really need is thermal underwear :-)
they speak Czech here its a grotty old language derived from Slavic languages. Nearly all understand and speak English! but be warned, most people are hostile, its the way they are.
dont bother bringing a phrasebook, you wont need it. besides ones you can buy here are cheaper!!
A few words
Dobry Den - Dobree Den - Good Day
Ahoj - A hoy - Hi (very informal)
Ano/jo(yo) - yes (you may hear "no" which also means yes)lol
Ne - no
Jak se mas/mate? - Yak se mash(informal) mah-tey?(formal)
Dobre, Dekuji - Dob-ze (like s in measure), deku-yee - Fine, thank you
Dik -(LOL) - deek- thanks (LOL - incase you hear this, its informal, theyre not swearing at you)
prosim - proseem - please/youre welcome
dekuji moc - deku-yee mots - thank you very much
kolik to stoji? - kolik to sto-yee? - how much is it?
kde je______? - kde yeh_______? - where is ________?
jedno pivo prosim - yed-no pee-vo prosim - 1 beer please
jeste jednou - jesh-tey jed-nao - another one please
to say 2 beers you would say twice beer instead of 2 beers, so you say Dvakrat Pivo prosim (trikrat = 3 stirikrat=4 (phonetically))
have a wonderful time in prague its a beautiful place!
off the top of my head -
visit wenceslas sq.
old town sq. + astronomical clock
charles bridge
prague castle
and jewish quarter (but remember its closed on friday and saturday)
P.M me if you need more help!
Naschle (nas-kle) Bye
i just want to add - please remember to buy tickets from yellow machines or newsagents for the public transport! theres a hefty fine if youre caught without a ticket - its called a "tourist fine" lol
and watch your bag/purse/wallet/pocket in the tourist areas! prague's a very safe place in general, but pickpockets are everywhere in the world. there are 2 types of pickpockets here, one the usual type that will do you on public transport or when your looking at monuments too busy taking holiday snaps!lol and the other are women, tarty cheap women that linger onto men, flirt with you, steal your money and run away.
2007-11-25 10:22:37 · answer #7 · answered by X puppy_love X 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I'm a czech girl and we speak Czech. We also understand slovakian(spoken language in Slovakia) as we were one republic in the past...
2007-11-25 22:48:48 · answer #8 · answered by **Diana** 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They speak Slovakia, Czech
2007-11-25 19:14:55 · answer #9 · answered by Sam 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Czech
2007-11-25 08:56:44 · answer #10 · answered by tropa 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋