Czech · Knihovna / menza
You want to borrow a book from the library: what to say in Czech
You want to borrow a book at the library.
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How it's done. To borrow you need a čtenářský průkaz (reader's card): it is issued by the library with a student or other ID; books can be returned to a box or at the desk.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
Dobrý den, chtěl{|a} bych si půjčit knihu.
DOH-brih dayn, khtyehl bikh see POOY-cheet KNEE-goo.
Good day, I'd like to borrow a book.
Speaking as:
THEY SAY
Máte čtenářský průkaz?MAH-teh CHTEH-nuhrshs-kih PROO-kuhs?
Do you have a reader's card?
They might also say:
Máte u nás zapsaný průkaz?
MAH-teh oo nahs ZAHP-suh-nih PROO-kuhs?
Do you have a card registered with us?
2
YOU FINISH
Ne, ještě nemám. Jak ho získám?
Neh, YEHSH-tyeh NEH-muhm. Yahk goh ZEES-kuhm?
No, I don't have one yet. How do I get it?
THEY SAY
Vyplňte přihlášku a ukažte studentský průkaz.VIPLNY-teh PRSHEEG-luhsh-koo uh OO-kuhsh-teh STOO-daynts-kih PROO-kuhs.
Fill in the form and show your student card.
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
Dobrý
DOH-brih
adjective
good
den
dayn
noun
day
bych
bikh
verb
would
půjčit
POOY-cheet
verb
to borrow
knihu
KNEE-goo
noun
book (accusative)
Máte
MAH-teh
verb
you have
14 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?
Děkuji!
DYEH-kooy-ee!
Thank you!
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