Czech language from scratch!
The Czech language is one of the ancient Slavic languages, spoken by about 11 million people. While it presents a fascinating challenge for English speakers, its highly logical structure and phonetic spelling make it a rewarding language to learn. Learning Czech opens the door to free higher education in the Czech Republic, a rich literary tradition, and one of the most dynamic markets in Central Europe. Lingust will help you get started – for free and at your own pace.
About the Czech language course on the site
The site offers free online Czech language lessons, based on the self-study guide by . The uniqueness of this course is its structured approach that breaks down Slavic grammar for beginners, guiding you step-by-step. The answers to the exercises are provided via tooltips when you hover over the key icon: 
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- Step-by-step approach – designed to help English speakers grasp the logic of Slavic languages
- Everyday communication – dialogues and texts on daily topics
- Grammar and vocabulary – progressing smoothly from simple to complex
- Exercises with keys – test your knowledge after each lesson
Go to → the list of lessons ← (Click)
Is the Czech language difficult?
For English speakers, Czech has a reputation for being challenging, but don’t let that deter you. Unlike English, the spelling is completely phonetic — once you learn the alphabet, you can read almost any word correctly. However, watch out for false friends: host means “guest” (not someone receiving guests), sympatický means “nice” or “likable” (not sympathetic), and aktuální means “current” (not actual).
The main challenge is pronunciation. The sound ř (as in the name Dvořák) has no equivalent in any major European language. The grammar is also complex, featuring 7 cases. While this might be a new concept for English speakers, cases provide incredible precision in meaning. With its Latin-based alphabet and diacritical marks, you will be able to start reading from the very first lesson.
Why learn the Czech language?
- Free education. Studying in the Czech language at public universities in the Czech Republic is free for all foreigners. Charles University in Prague is one of the oldest in Europe (founded in 1348).
- Literature. Karel Čapek (author of the play “R.U.R.”, in which his brother Josef coined the word “robot”), Milan Kundera, Bohumil Hrabal, Nobel laureate Jaroslav Seifert – Czech literature is rich and diverse.
- Travel. Prague, Český Krumlov, Karlovy Vary, the Moravian Karst – the Czech Republic is compact but incredibly full of beauty. Knowing the language completely changes your travel experience.
- Career. The Czech Republic has one of the most stable economies in Central Europe with a low unemployment rate. Knowledge of Czech is in demand in IT, the automotive industry (Škoda), logistics, and service companies.
- Music and cinema. Dvořák, Smetana, Janáček – these are world-class Czech composers. Czech cinema ranges from the Oscar-winning “Closely Watched Trains” to modern festival films.
- Beer. The Czech Republic is the birthplace of Pilsner and the country with the highest per capita beer consumption in the world. Knowing the language will help you appreciate not only the taste but also the culture of Czech brewing.
- A bridge to other Slavic languages. Knowing Czech, you will easily understand Slovak (mutual intelligibility is very high) and will have a much easier time learning Polish.
Interesting facts about the Czech language
- In the 18th century, the Czech language was almost entirely replaced by German in official and literary spheres. The Czech National Revival (národní obrození) in the late 18th and 19th centuries restored the language’s status as a literary and state language.
- The Czech sound ř is so unique that linguists consider it one of the rarest sounds among European languages. Even Slovaks and Poles struggle to pronounce it correctly.
- Diglossia exists in Czech – there is a noticeable difference between the standard literary language (spisovná čeština) and the common spoken language (obecná čeština). Czechs switch between them depending on the situation.
- There are more than a dozen synonyms for the word “girl” in Czech: holka, holčička, dívka, děvče, děvečka, dívenka and others – each with a different nuance.
- The word “robot” originated in the Czech language. Karel Čapek used it in his play “R.U.R.” (1920), but the word was invented by his brother Josef – derived from the Czech word robota (hard labor, corvée).
Start learning Czech right now
Czech is a fascinating language that opens up the heart of Europe. Its phonetic alphabet and highly logical grammar will help you progress steadily. Our course is specifically designed to build your skills step-by-step, making complex concepts easy to digest. Everything is free, everything is online.
Go to → the list of lessons ← (Click)