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Do you need to speak Czech to live in Czechia? Increasingly the answer is yes

English can take you far in Czechia. But for many expats Czech becomes essential for independence, family, work and a deeper connection to the country.

William Nattrass

Written by William Nattrass Published on 30.07.2026 16:00:00 (updated on 30.07.2026) Reading time: 7 minutes

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Shutterstock by Drawlab19
Shutterstock by Drawlab19

When I first arrived in Prague, learning Czech didn’t seem urgent.

Having never lived outside Britain, the culture shock of moving to a new country seemed like more than enough, and with the privilege of coming from an Anglophone country, I just assumed that English would be enough.

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Looking back, that was a strange attitude. After all, I couldn’t even talk with my wife’s family without her acting as interpreter. I was dependent on others when dealing with official matters, from residency permits to tax, insurance, setting up a trade license and more.

#bilingual #czechlanguage #For members #Language #learn Czech
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