Language/Czech/Vocabulary/Ordering-Food

Czech Vocabulary → At the Restaurant → Ordering Food

As a Czech language teacher with 20 years of experience, I believe that one of the best ways to experience Czech culture is to try its delicious cuisine. In this lesson, we will learn common Czech food and drink vocabulary and how to order them at a restaurant. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently order food and drinks at a Czech restaurant like a native speaker.

Czech Food Vocabulary

Before we start, let's take a look at some common Czech food and drink vocabulary:

Czech	Pronunciation	English
Bramboráky	brahm-boh-raa-kee	potato pancakes
Svíčková	s-veech-koh-vaa	Beef sirloin with cream sauce and cranberries
Goulash	gooh-lash	Goulash
Pivo	pee-voh	Beer
Kofola	koh-foh-laa	Kofola (a Czech cola-like beverage)
Voda	voh-duh	Water
Víno	vee-noh	Wine

Make sure to practice these words by repeating them multiple times. Don't worry if you don't get the pronunciation perfect right away, keep practicing - it will improve over time.

Ordering Food at a Czech Restaurant

When you are ready to order your food, the waiter or waitress will usually start by asking you what you would like to drink. To order drinks, you can use the phrases "Dám si..." (I'll have...) or "Chtěl bych si..." (I would like...).

For example:

• Dám si pivo. (I'll have a beer.)
• Chtěl bych si vodu s citronem, prosím. (I would like water with lemon, please.)

After ordering drinks, you can move on to ordering your meal. Here are some useful phrases for ordering food:

• Já si dám... (I'll have...)
• Chtěl bych si objednat... (I would like to order...)

For example:

• Já si dám svíčkovou. (I'll have Beef sirloin with cream sauce and cranberries.)
• Chtěl bych si objednat bramboráky. (I would like to order potato pancakes.)

If you have any dietary restrictions or allergies, it's important to let your waiter or waitress know. You can say:

• Nemohu jíst... (I can't eat...)
• Mám alergii na... (I'm allergic to...)

For example:

• Nemohu jíst maso. (I can't eat meat.)
• Mám alergii na ořechy. (I'm allergic to nuts.)

When your food arrives, it's common to say "Dobrou chuť!" (Enjoy your meal!) to your dining companions.

Asking for the Bill and Tipping

When you are ready to pay the bill, you can say "Prosím účet" (Can I have the bill, please?). In Czech restaurants, it's common to tip around 10% for good service. You can leave the tip on the table or give it directly to your waiter or waitress.

Dining Etiquette

In Czech restaurants, it's polite to wait for your dining companions to order before you order. It's also considered rude to start eating before everyone at your table has been served. Don't forget to say "Děkuji" (Thank you) to your waiter or waitress when they bring your food or drinks.

Conclusion

In this lesson, we learned common Czech food and drink vocabulary and how to order them at a restaurant. Remember to practice these phrases and vocabulary in real-life situations to improve your speaking skills. Czech cuisine is a big part of Czech culture, and by learning these phrases, you'll be able to fully experience Czech hospitality and traditions.

Sources

• Czech cuisine
• Czech beer

Table of Contents - Czech Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Alphabet and Pronunciation

• Consonants
• Vowels
• Accents and Special Characters

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Introduction to Nouns
• Personal Pronouns
• Demonstrative Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Verbs

• Introduction to Verbs
• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Introduction to Adjectives
• Introduction to Adverbs
• Comparative and Superlative Forms

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Greetings and Farewells
• Asking for and Giving Information
• Small Talk and Expressing Likes and Dislikes

  ---

At the Restaurant

• Ordering Food
• Asking for the Bill and Tipping
• Dining Etiquette

  ---

Daily Life

• Shopping
• Transportation
• Health and Medical Emergencies

  ---

History and Traditions

• History and Czech Lands
• Festivals and Celebrations
• Czech Cuisine

  ---

Art and Heritage

• Czech Literature
• Architecture and Landmark
• Czech Film and Music