Diacritical system
Háček and Akut distinguish sounds; č, ř, š, ž and other characters belong to the correct form.
West Slavic language
Have Czech translated
čeština
Czech documents are often relevant in Germany for work, training, civil status and cross-border legal transactions.
Czech is spoken by approximately eleven million people.
Geographical distribution of Czech
- Main distribution
- Other regional use
- Selected Diaspora
Czech Republic
Slovakia
Germany
Austria
Schematic selection of important distribution areas. Language usage does not always follow national borders; the map is not complete population statistics.
Language profile
Czech at a glance
- Proper name
- čeština
- language family
- West Slavic language
- font
- Latin alphabet with Czech special characters
- Language code
- cs
Documents and deployment
The language direction is often used
It's not just the language that matters. ABBA-Sprachendienste also classifies document type, recipient, subject area, certification requirement and desired language direction.
Have the document checked- Birth and marriage certificates
- Certificates and diplomas
- Employment and social certificates
- Company and contract documents
- Court and authority decisions
Origin and development
How language developed
Czech is one of the West Slavic languages. Medieval writing traditions and the development of diacritical spelling associated with Jan Hus shaped the alphabet.
After periods of strong German dominance, the language gained new public importance in the National Revival of the 18th and 19th centuries. Czech and Slovak are closely related but independent standard languages.
Good to know
What makes this language special
Historical documents
Older documents from Bohemian and Moravian areas may also contain German or Latin entries.
The special Ř
The letter ř represents a characteristic Czech sound and should not be simplified.
A little language insight
Three first expressions
The transcription only serves as an initial guide. Pronunciation and regional forms may vary.
| Original | Transcription | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Dobrý den | — | Good afternoon |
| Děkuji | — | Thank you |
| Prosim | — | Please |
Sources and classification
Further information
Speaker numbers are rounded guide values and may vary depending on the definition, year of survey and inclusion of second language speakers.
- Czech language
Wikipedia · language-specific overview
- Codes for the Representation of Names of Languages
Library of Congress / ISO 639-2 Registration Authority · Language codes and standardized language names
- Language and Locale Names
Unicode Common Locale Data Repository · Language, script and area names and variants
- Glottolog 5.3
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology · Language families, classification and linguistic literature
Editorial source status: July 14, 2026. Information will be cross-checked before production goes live.
Other related service languages
Czech FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Czech
Can I have Czech translated into German and German translated into Czech?
Both directions can be requested. A binding commitment is made after checking the type of document, subject area, certification, date and intended use.
Which documents are often relevant when speaking Czech?
Birth and marriage certificates, certificates and diplomas, employment and social certificates, company and contract documents are among the typical occasions. Other types of documents can also be checked with an easy-to-read photo or PDF.
What does ABBA-Sprachendienste pay attention to in Czech?
The language direction, document type, Latin alphabet with Czech special characters, names, stamps, subject area, purpose and possible need for certification are checked.
Do I need a certified translation for my Czech document?
This is decided by the receiving authority, the court, the notary or the other requesting body. Tell ABBA-Sprachendienste where the document will be presented; then the need can be classified appropriately.
Is a photo enough for the first check?
Yes. A complete, sharp and easy-to-read photo or PDF is usually sufficient to check the offer. Depending on the order, the original may also be required for later execution.
Have Czech ↔ German tested specifically
Send an easy-to-read photo or PDF. ABBA-Sprachendienste personally checks the language direction, document, purpose and certification requirements.
