🚀 Do you currently work in the Czech Republic but have difficulty appearing professional in Czech? Then, you’re like many expat workers who comprehend basic Czech but do not feel comfortable using it in formal situations. Contributing in meetings, writing emails, networking with colleagues, or interacting within the work environment becomes easier once you know the appropriate workplace expressions.
Whether it’s kicking off a meeting or asking for input, mastering a few key phrases can boost your communication game and make you sound like you’ve been doing business in Czech for years.
💼 Starting and Leading Work Conversations
Conversations and meetings are an integral part of almost any business. If starting a professional conversation sounds too complicated to you, here are some phrases that might help you:
➡️ „Můžeme začít?“ – Shall we begin?
➡️ „Děkuji, že jste přišli. Dnes budeme diskutovat o…“ – Thank you for coming. Today, we will discuss…
When you ask for help or need to control the flow of the conversation, use:
➡️ „Rád/a bych se zeptal/a na Váš názor.“ – I’d like to ask for your opinion.
➡️ „Můžeme se k tomu vrátit později?“ – Can we come back to that later?
Using these structured phrases will help you steer conversations smoothly while sounding more natural and confident.
🗣 Expressing Your Opinion Professionally
Conversational Czech is quite easy-going, but work-related conversations need to be more formal and organized. Instead of saying, “Myslím, že…” (I think that…), say it this way for a change:
✔️ „Podle mě…“ – According to me, …
✔️ „Z mého pohledu…“ – From my perspective…
✔️ „Souhlasím, ale rád/a bych dodal/a, že…“ – I agree, but I’d like to add that… (Remember! In Czech, you can never leave out the “že” part!)…
When you have to disagree with somebody and don’t want to sound impolite, try responding with:
➡️ „Úplně nesouhlasím, ale…“ – I don’t completely agree, but…
➡️ „To je zajímavý pohled, ale myslím si, že…“ – That’s an interesting perspective, but I think…
These phrases allow you to participate in discussions confidently without sounding too direct.
Mastering these phrases is a big step towards becoming confident in the professional Czech work environment! Remember that all beginnings are difficult, and establishing yourself professionally in a completely new country takes time. With practice and the regular Fluent with Ellen blog posts 😉 you will soon blend in with your Czech colleagues.
Stay Tuned!
Found this helpful? In my next installment, I’ll dive into the art of crafting professional emails and mastering small talk that makes every coffee break count. Keep practicing, and get ready to impress even further!
UPDATE: Ready for more? You can now dive into professional emails and savvy small talk (+ a useful downloadable PDF) in my latest blog post. Read it here!
