Dictionary of Czech terms

Important words that foreigners in Czechia come across every day — with a translation and a short explanation. Click a term to open its page.

Found 19 terms

Nájemní smlouva

agreement to rent housing

Written apartment rental agreement. Conditions that reduce the tenant's rights are considered invalid by law — even if you signed them.

rent (net, without services)

Rent without utilities. The price in the advertisement is almost always without deposits — the real payment is higher.

Landlord's deposit. By law, the maximum is three monthly rents, and this limit includes all penalties together with the deposit.

Podnájem (sublease)

Renting out an apartment not by the owner, but by the tenant. You do not have the rights of a tenant, and without a legal title to the apartment, you can lose your address — and with it, temporary protection.

Výpověď z nájmu

termination of the lease agreement

Term — 3 months from the first day of the next month. Without notice of the right to object within 2 months, the termination is invalid.

annual recalculation of utility fees

Annual summary of advances and actual consumption. The landlord must deliver it within 4 months — a penalty of up to 50 CZK per day can be agreed for delay.

Zálohy na služby

advance payments for utilities

Monthly advance payments for water, heating, elevator, cleaning, and garbage. They are separate from the rent and are recalculated once a year.

consolidated payment of Czech Post

Czech Post Tool: all regular payments in one item. This is a payment method, not a separate type of payment.

Katastr nemovitostí

state real estate registry

Real estate registry. You can check the owner of an apartment for free and without registration on nahlizenidokn.cuzk.gov.cz.

dormitory, workers' hotel

Accommodation as a service, not a rental. There is no tenant protection — but the accommodation provider registers your address for you.

apartment layout (1+kk, 2+1)

Czech system of apartment sizes. The number shows the rooms. "kk" means a kitchenette. "1" means a separate kitchen. Apartments with 2+kk and 2+1 are DIFFERENT.

Družstevní byt

cooperative apartment

The apartment belongs to a cooperative, and the "owner" owns a share in it. Their name is not in the cadastre — you need to check differently.

A dictionary of Czech terms for foreigners

Moving to Czechia means dozens of new words: in your documents, at appointments in government offices, in letters from the state and from your employer. The KOMPAS dictionary collects the key Czech terms and explains them in plain English — from temporary protection status and nostrifikácia (recognition of a foreign diploma) to taxes, renting a home and visits to the doctor.

Every term has its own page with an explanation, a translation, an example of how it is used and links to related sections of the portal — education, work, legal status, housing and money. This is reference information to help you find your way, not legal advice: on important questions, always check the official source.

Frequently asked questions about the dictionary

What is the KOMPAS dictionary of terms?+

It is a guide to the Czech words and terms you meet in documents, in government offices and in daily life: legal status, education, work, housing, healthcare and money. Each term is explained in plain English, with the original Czech spelling.

Why do I need it?+

Czech terms in official letters and on government websites are often hard to understand without context, and reading them wrong costs time and money. The dictionary gives a short, accurate explanation, so you know what is meant and what your next step is.

How do I use the dictionary?+

Search for a word or choose a category. Every term has its own page with an explanation, a translation, an example of how the word is used and links to related terms and sections of the portal.

Where do the terms come from, and are they accurate?+

The terms and explanations are based on official Czech sources (ministries and government offices) and on the experience of the KOMPAS editorial team. This is reference information, not legal advice — in unclear cases, check the original source or ask a specialist.

Can I hear how a word is pronounced?+

Yes. Many terms have audio of the Czech pronunciation — tap the sound icon on the term page to hear how the word should sound.