Czech · Zámečník / oprava
The key broke in the lock and you phone a locksmith: what to say in Czech
The key broke in the lock and you phone a locksmith.
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How it's done. Do not try to pull the broken key out yourself, you may ruin the lock; phone the zámečnická pohotovost (locksmith emergency service), it works round the clock.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
THEY SPEAK FIRST
THEY SAY
Zámečnická pohotovost, slyším.ZAH-mech-neets-kuh POH-goh-toh-vost, SLIH-sheem.
Locksmith emergency service, I'm listening.
They might also say:
Zámečník, dobrý den.
ZAH-mech-neek, DOH-brih dayn.
Locksmith, good day.
YOU REPLY
Dobrý den. Zlomil se mi klíč v zámku a nemůžu do bytu.
DOH-brih dayn. ZLOH-meel seh mee kleech v ZAHM-koo uh NEH-moo-zhoo doh BIH-too.
Good day. My key broke in the lock and I cannot get into the flat.
THEY SAY
Dobře. Diktujte adresu, prosím.DOBR-zheh. DEEK-tooy-teh AH-dreh-soo, PROH-seem.
Fine. Dictate the address, please.
2
YOU REPLY
Zahradní dvanáct, byt osm.
ZAHG-ruhd-nee DVAH-nuhtst, bit osm.
Zahradní twelve, flat eight.
THEY SAY
Budu tam za třicet minut. Výjezd stojí tisíc korun plus oprava.BOO-doo tahm zah TRSHEE-tset MEE-noot. VIH-ehst STOY-ee TEE-seets KOH-roon ploos OH-pruh-vuh.
I'll be there in thirty minutes. The call-out costs a thousand crowns plus the repair.
They might also say:
Dojedu do půl hodiny. Výjezd je za tisíc korun.
DOH-eh-doo doh pool GOH-dee-nih. VIH-ehsd yeh zah TEE-seets KOH-roon.
I'll arrive within half an hour. The call-out is a thousand crowns.
3
YOU REPLY
Dobře. Půjde zámek zachránit?
DOBR-zheh. POOY-deh ZAH-mek ZAHKH-ruh-neet?
Fine. Can the lock be saved?
THEY SAY
Většinou ano, vytáhnu zbytek klíče a zámek necháme. Na místě to posoudím.VYEHT-shee-noh-oo AH-noh, VIH-tuhg-noo ZBIH-tek KLEE-cheh uh ZAH-mek NEH-khuh-meh. Nuh MEES-tyeh toh POH-soh-oo-deem.
Usually yes, I'll pull out the rest of the key and we'll keep the lock. I'll judge on the spot.
4
YOU FINISH
Děkuji. Počkám před dveřmi.
DYEH-kooy-ee. POCH-kuhm prshed DVEHRZH-mee.
Thank you. I'll wait outside the door.
THEY SAY
Dobře, na shledanou.DOBR-zheh, nuh SKHLEH-duh-noh-oo.
Fine, goodbye.
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “Czech for life in Czechia”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
Zámečnická
ZAH-mech-neets-kuh
adjective
locksmith (feminine)
pohotovost
POH-goh-toh-vost
noun
emergency
slyším
SLIH-sheem
verb
I hear
Dobrý
DOH-brih
adjective
good
den
dayn
noun
day
Zlomil
ZLOH-meel
verb
broke
46 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Můžete to zopakovat, prosím?
MOO-zheh-teh toh ZOH-puh-koh-vuht, PROH-seem?
Can you repeat that, please?
Můžete mluvit pomaleji, prosím?
MOO-zheh-teh MLOO-veet POH-muh-lay-ee, PROH-seem?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Můžete mi to napsat, prosím?
MOO-zheh-teh mee toh NAHP-suht, PROH-seem?
Can you write it down for me, please?
Co to znamená?
Tsoh toh ZNAH-meh-nuh?
What does this mean?
Similar situations
The door has slammed shut and you phone a locksmithZámečník / oprava · A2 in the app
→You want to have a spare key cutZámečník / oprava · A2 in the app
→You want to change the lock in a rented flatZámečník / oprava · A2 in the app
→The zip on your jacket has broken and you go to a seamstressKrejčí / švec · A2 in the app
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