Ways to say it
| Czech | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ahoj | /aˈɦoj/ | |
| nazdar | [ˈnazdar] (narrow) | informal |
| čau | [ˈt͡ʃau̯] (narrow) | informal |
| dobrý den | [dobriː dɛn] (narrow) | formal |
These words are used as interjections to greet people. While ahoj is a versatile greeting that functions as both 'hi' and 'bye', čau also serves as both a greeting and a farewell in casual settings. Nazdar is typically used as an informal 'hey' among friends and peers. For formal situations, the phrase dobrý den is the standard polite greeting.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase dobrý den literally means 'good day'.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ primarily by their level of formality and their specific function. Dobrý den is used for 'good day' in formal contexts, whereas ahoj and čau are casual and can function as both a hello and a goodbye. Nazdar is an informal 'hey' used specifically with friends and peers.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Dobrý den is a formal greeting suitable for use with strangers, in shops or with superiors. Other formal time-specific greetings include dobré ráno (good morning) and dobrý večer (good evening). In contrast, ahoj, nazdar and čau are all informal. Ahoj and čau are common among friends and can be used for both arriving and leaving, while nazdar is used with peers.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈɦoj/
When do people say it?
Use dobrý den when addressing people you do not know personally. For more specific formal times of day, you can use dobré ráno for good morning or dobrý večer for good evening. When addressing a woman formally, you may use the title paní (Mrs./Ms.).
Did you know?
- The phrase ahoj is a phonetic borrowing from the English nautical greeting 'ahoy'.
- The word ahoj was popularized in the 20th century by Czech scouts and hikers as a way to create a friendly and egalitarian greeting.
- In traditional Czech culture, it is considered impolite to greet someone with ahoj or čau if you are entering a shop or a doctor's office.
Examples in context
- Dobrý den! S kým mluvím?Hello! Who am I speaking with?This example shows how to use dobrý den in a formal question.Tatoeba #9835408 by aldar, translation #9015749 by jaydenms
- Ahoj!Hello!This example shows a simple use of ahoj.Tatoeba #373338 by lipao, translation #373330 by CK
- Nazdar, tady Mike.Hello, this is Mike.This example shows how to use nazdar to introduce yourself.Tatoeba #3564924 by nueby, translation #30980 by CN
- Dobrý den, mám se skvěle, děkuji.Good day, I'm great, thank you.
- Dobré ráno, vítám vás v našem hotelu.Good morning, welcome to our hotel.
- Dobré ráno, děkuji.Good morning, thank you.
- Dobrý večer, vítejte na večeři.Good evening, welcome to the dinner.
- Dobrý večer, děkuji za pozvání.Good evening, thank you for the invitation.
- Ahoj, jak se máš?Hi, how are you?
- Ahoj, mám se skvěle.Hi, I'm great.
- Nazdar, jak to jde?Hey, how's it going?
- Nazdar, všechno v pohodě.Hey, everything's fine.
- Čau, co děláš?Hi/Bye, what are you up to?
- Čau, jen relaxuji.Hi/Bye, just relaxing.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jana and Jan meet at a local park.
- JanaAhoj, Jane!Hello, Jan!
- JanAhoj, Jano. Jak se máš?Hello, Jana. How are you?
- JanaMám se skvěle, díky.I am doing great, thanks.
- JanTo je dobře.That is good.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hello” translations and entries ahoj, nazdar, čau, dobrý den, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ahoj, den, dobrý, dobrý den, nazdar, čau, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
