Czech · Automat na jízdenky
The machine does not give change: what to say in Czech
The machine gives no change.
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How it's done. Some machines in transport accept only coins or a card; check what exactly it accepts before the trip. Change (drobné) is sometimes not given.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
YOU START
Promiňte, automat nevrací drobné. Co mám dělat?
PROH-meen-teh, OW-toh-muht NEH-vruh-tsee DROB-neh. Tsoh mahm DYEH-luht?
Excuse me, the machine doesn't give change. What should I do?
Or say:Promiňte, automat nebere bankovky. Jak zaplatit?
PROH-meen-teh, OW-toh-muht NEH-beh-reh BAHN-kof-kih. Yahk ZAH-pluh-teet?
THEY SAY
Zaplaťte kartou, nebo mincemi.ZAH-pluhty-teh KAHR-toh-oo, NEH-boh MEEN-tseh-mee.
Pay by card or with coins.
They might also say:
Můžete zaplatit kartou, když nemáte mince.
MOO-zheh-teh ZAH-pluh-teet KAHR-toh-oo, gdizh NEH-muh-teh MEEN-tseh.
You can pay by card if you don't have coins.
2
YOU FINISH
Dobře, zaplatím kartou.
DOBR-zheh, ZAH-pluh-teem KAHR-toh-oo.
All right, I'll pay by card.
THEY SAY
Prosím, hezký den.PROH-seem, GES-kih dayn.
There you go, have a nice day.
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
Promiňte
PROH-meen-teh
verb
excuse me
automat
OW-toh-muht
noun
machine
nevrací
NEH-vruh-tsee
verb
doesn't return
drobné
DROB-neh
noun
small change
mám
mahm
verb
I have
dělat
DYEH-luht
verb
to do
10 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 ukázat?
MOO-zheh-teh mee toh OO-kuh-zuht?
Can you show me?
Similar situations
The ticket machine does not work as you expectedAutomat na jízdenky · A1 in the app
→The train is late and you ask about your connectionZpoždění / výluka · A2 in the app
→The train is cancelled and a bus runs insteadZpoždění / výluka · A2 in the app
→You ask the driver whether the bus goes to the centreAutobus / tramvaj / metro · A1 in the app
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