System of diacritics
The háček and acute accent distinguish sounds; č, ř, š, ž and other characters are part of the correct written form.
West Slavic language
Have Czech translated
čeština
Czech documents are commonly relevant in Germany for employment, education, civil-status matters and cross-border legal transactions.
Czech is spoken by approximately eleven million people.
Geographical distribution of Czech
- Main areas of use
- Other regional use
- Selected diaspora communities
Czech Republic
Slovakia
Germany
Austria
Schematic selection of key areas where the language is used. Language use does not always follow national borders; the map is not a comprehensive population statistic.
Language profile
Czech at a glance
- Native name
- čeština
- Language family
- West Slavic language
- Script
- Latin alphabet with Czech special characters
- Language code
- cs
Documents and uses
Common uses for this language combination
The language alone is not decisive. ABBA-Sprachendienste also considers the document type, recipient, subject area, certification requirements and requested language direction.
Request a document review- Birth and marriage certificates
- Certificates and diplomas
- Employment and social-security records
- Company and contractual documents
- Court and administrative decisions
Origin and development
How the language developed
Czech belongs to the West Slavic languages. Medieval writing traditions and the development of diacritic-based spelling associated with Jan Hus shaped its alphabet.
After periods of strong German dominance, the language regained public importance during the National Revival of the 18th and 19th centuries. Czech and Slovak are closely related but remain distinct standard languages.
Good to know
What makes this language distinctive
Historical documents
Older certificates from Bohemian and Moravian regions may also contain German or Latin entries.
The distinctive Ř
The letter ř represents a characteristic Czech sound and must not be simplified.
A brief introduction to the language
Three introductory expressions
The transliteration is intended only as an initial guide. Pronunciation and regional forms may vary.
| Original | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Dobrý den | — | Good day |
| Děkuji | — | Thank you |
| Prosím | — | Please |
Sources and classification
Further information
Speaker numbers are rounded estimates and may vary depending on the definition, survey year and whether second-language speakers are included.
- 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 standardised language names
- Language and Locale Names
Unicode Common Locale Data Repository · Language, script and territory names and variants
- Glottolog 5.3
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology · Language families, classification and linguistic literature
Editorial sources current as at 14 July 2026. The information will undergo a specialist review before the production launch.
Other related service languages
Czech FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Czech
Can I have Czech translated into German and German into Czech?
Both directions can be requested. Binding confirmation is provided after the document type, subject area, certification requirements, appointment and intended use have been assessed.
Which documents are commonly relevant for Czech?
Birth and marriage certificates, school certificates and diplomas, employment and social-security records, and company and contractual documents are common examples. Other types of document can also be assessed from a clear photo or PDF.
What does ABBA-Sprachendienste check in Czech documents?
The review covers the language direction, document type, Latin script with Czech special characters, names, stamps, subject area, intended use and any potential need for certification.
Do I need a certified translation for my Czech document?
The receiving authority, court, notary or other requesting body decides this. Tell ABBA-Sprachendienste where the document will be submitted so that the requirements can be assessed appropriately.
Is a photo sufficient for the initial review?
Yes. A complete, sharp and clearly legible photo or PDF is usually sufficient for an initial quotation review. Depending on the assignment, the original may also be required later.
Have a Czech ↔ German request assessed
Send a clear photo or PDF. ABBA-Sprachendienste will personally assess the language direction, document, intended use and certification requirements.
