Alphabet

Czech uses the Latin alphabet plus marks that change sound: á/é/í/ó/ú/ů/ý are long, háček letters are different sounds, and ch counts as one letter.

Sound map

Start with the letters that change pronunciation most. Long marks make vowels longer; háček changes consonants; ch is one Czech letter.

Clue / sound

short vowels

Written form

a e i o u y

Note

i and y sound the same in modern Czech.

Clue / sound

long vowels

Written form

á é í ó ú ů ý

Note

ú and ů sound the same; í and ý sound the same.

Clue / sound

háček sounds

Written form

č š ž ď ť ň ř

Note

These are separate Czech sounds, not decorated versions of English letters.

Clue / sound

Written form

město

Note

ě is a spelling cue that softens or adds a ye-like effect.

Clue / sound

Written form

chléb

Note

One Czech letter, with a rough sound like Scottish loch.

Clue / sound	Written form	Note
short vowels	a e i o u y	i and y sound the same in modern Czech.
long vowels	á é í ó ú ů ý	ú and ů sound the same; í and ý sound the same.
háček sounds	č š ž ď ť ň ř	These are separate Czech sounds, not decorated versions of English letters.
ě	město	ě is a spelling cue that softens or adds a ye-like effect.
ch	chléb	One Czech letter, with a rough sound like Scottish loch.

Special letters in words

Use real words to anchor the sound. The spelling is usually a reliable pronunciation guide.

Clue / sound

Written form

čas

Note

č sounds like ch in church.

Clue / sound

Written form

šest

Note

š sounds like sh.

Clue / sound

Written form

žena

Note

ž is like the sound in pleasure.

Clue / sound

Written form

ďábel

Note

ď is a softened d.

Clue / sound

Written form

šťastný

Note

ť is a softened t.

Clue / sound

Written form

kůň

Note

ň is a softened n.

Clue / sound

Written form

řeka

Note

Start by approximating ř as r + ž.

Clue / sound

Written form

únor

Note

ú is long u, often at the start of a word.

Clue / sound

Written form

dům

Note

ů is the same long u sound, usually inside a word.

Clue / sound	Written form	Note
č	čas	č sounds like ch in church.
š	šest	š sounds like sh.
ž	žena	ž is like the sound in pleasure.
ď	ďábel	ď is a softened d.
ť	šťastný	ť is a softened t.
ň	kůň	ň is a softened n.
ř	řeka	Start by approximating ř as r + ž.
ú	únor	ú is long u, often at the start of a word.
ů	dům	ů is the same long u sound, usually inside a word.

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Pronunciation