dobrý večer
[dobriː vɛt͡ʃɛr]
dobrý večer is the Czech phrase for "good evening".
dobrý večer is used as a greeting when arriving or meeting someone in the evening, rather than as a way to say goodbye.
Meaning: greeting said in the evening (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective dobrý (good) and the noun večer (evening).
Which one should you use?
While dobrý večer is used for the evening, dobré ráno is used for the early morning.
Did you know?
- The word večer shares a common ancestor with the Polish word wieczór, reflecting a linguistic bond that stretches back to Proto-Balto-Slavic origins.
- In Czech culture, saying dobrý večer when entering a small shop or a doctor's waiting room is considered an essential social requirement rather than an optional politeness.
- Czech has no single word that perfectly captures the English 'twilight', so večer often covers the entire period of fading light.
Examples in context
- Dobrý večer. Jak se máte?Good evening. How are you?
- Dobrý večer, pane.Good evening, sir.
- Dobrý večer všem hostům.Good evening to all the guests.
- Dobrý večer, jak se máte?Good evening, how are you?
Example conversation
Tomáš and Tereza meet at a restaurant in the evening.
- TomášDobrý večer, Terezko!Good evening, Tereza!
- TerezaAhoj, Tomáši! Jak se máš?Hi, Tomáš! How are you?
- TomášMám se dobře, děkuji.I am doing well, thank you.
- TerezaJá taky. Pojďme dovnitř.Me too. Let's go inside.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good evening” translations and entries dobrý večer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dobrý, večer, CC BY-SA 4.0.
