Czech texts to read
Fairy tales, short stories and short non-fiction, rewritten for your level. Tap a sentence to see the translation; hit “Listen” to hear how it sounds.
The Czech Republic
Get to know the Czech Republic. The text introduces its location, cities, people, language, nature, and popular food and drink.
Czech Christmas and Christmas Eve
What is Christmas Eve like in a Czech family? Read about fasting, Christmas dinner, Baby Jesus, presents, and other popular traditions.
The Blue Chrysanthemum
Old Fulinus tells how he discovered an extraordinarily blue chrysanthemum and why he named it Klara. His search for the rare flower leads him to a railway line that, according to a warning sign, is strictly off-limits.
Petr's Day in Prague
This short story shows an ordinary day in the life of a student named Petr in Prague. Petr goes to school, eats at the university cafeteria, and relaxes at home in the evening.
The Little Rooster and the Little Hen
A little rooster finds a small grain on the ground, but the grain gets stuck in his throat. The hen then runs around asking many people and animals for help, until she finally brings water to the rooster.
The Gingerbread House
Hansel and Gretel get lost in a deep forest and find a sweet gingerbread cottage. But they soon discover that an evil witch lives in the cottage.
The Gingerbread House
Hansel and Gretel live with their poor father near a deep forest, where hunger, fear, and a strange gingerbread house await them. Read the thrilling story of their courage, cleverness, and journey back home.
Olena at a Job Interview
Olena goes to a job interview at a Czech company, even though she is afraid that her accent will be a problem. During the meeting, she discovers that preparedness, experience, and the courage to ask questions may be more important than perfect Czech.
Prague, a City on the Vltava
Prague is a large city in the Czech Republic. The text presents famous places, transport, and life in the city.
How the Prague Metro Works
The Prague metro is a fast and important way to get around the capital. In this article, you will learn how its lines, transfers, tickets, and rules of good conduct work.
The First Day at a New Job
Marek has his first day at a new job in Prague. He is nervous in the morning, but during the day he meets new colleagues, learns something new, and leaves for home satisfied in the evening.
Seven Czech Cases Without Fear
Czech uses seven cases to show what role a word plays in a sentence. This article explains what each case means, why some of them are difficult for foreigners, and how to learn them more practically than by using long tables.
How the Czech Word Robota Conquered the World
The story of the word “robot” begins with the Czech writer Karel Čapek and his play R.U.R. The text explains why Čapek’s robots were not metal machines, what role Josef Čapek played, and why this Czech word spread across almost the entire world.
Švejk Before the Forensic Doctors
Švejk is brought before an examining magistrate and then before a commission of forensic doctors. His calm answers and long anecdotes once again show that there is sometimes little difference between common sense, official logic, and utter stupidity.
Anna and Tomáš at a Restaurant
Anna and Tomáš visit a Czech restaurant. The reader will practise useful sentences for ordering food and drinks and paying the bill.
Jiřík and Goldenhair
Jiřík tastes a magical snake and begins to understand the language of animals. Thanks to his courage and the help of ants, ravens, a fish, and a fly, he must complete three difficult tasks to win Goldenhair.