ahoj
/aˈɦoj/
The Czech word for hey is ahoj.
The word ahoj is used as both a greeting (hi) and as a farewell (bye).
Meaning: informal greeting (intj)
Which one should you use?
While ahoj is the standard informal greeting, you might encounter other forms: ahojky is a diminutive form of ahoj and ahojíky is an even more casual or cute version used among close friends or children. For a very informal greeting that can mean bye when used alone or hello among friends, you can use čau.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Ahoj is an informal greeting used with friends, family or people of a similar age. In formal situations, you should use Dobrý den (good day), which is the most common formal greeting. If it is before 10 a.m., you can also use the formal Dobré ráno (good morning).
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈɦoj/
Did you know?
- The word ahoj is an unconventional guest in the Czech language, having been borrowed directly from the English nautical term 'ahoy'.
- The greeting čau is a close relative to the Italian 'ciao', making it a common way to say both 'hey' and 'bye' among Czech youth.
- While ahoj is now common, using it with a superior or an elderly stranger can be perceived as an intentional sign of disrespect or an attempt to undermine their authority.
Examples in context
- Ahoj krasavče!Hey there, good looking!This sentence uses ahoj to show a casual greeting.Tatoeba #1060187 by Mofli, translation #1103290 by supplementfacts
- Ahoj, jak se máš?Hey, how are you?
- Ahoj všem!Hey everyone!
Example conversation
Lucie and Jan see each other in a park.
- LucieAhoj, Jane!Hey, Jan!
- JanAhoj, Lucie. Co nového?Hey, Lucie. What's new?
- LucieNic moc, jen procházka.Not much, just a walk.
- JanTo je fajn.That's nice.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ahoj, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ahoj, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
