Central Europe Travel Tips

The official language of Austria is German, though Austrian German has its own unique expressions and dialects.

Useful phrases:

Hallo (hah-loh) – Hello

Danke (dahn-keh) – Thank you

Bitte (bih-teh) – Please/You're welcome

Entschuldigung (ent-shool-dee-goong) – Excuse me/Sorry

Sprechen Sie Englisch? (shpreh-ken zee eng-lish?) – Do you speak English?

Czech, a West Slavic language, is the official language of the Czech Republic.

Useful phrases:

Dobrý den (doh-bree dehn) – Good day/Hello

Děkuji (dyeh-koo-yi) – Thank you

Prosím (proh-seem) – Please/You're welcome

Promiňte (proh-min-teh) – Excuse me/Sorry

Mluvíte anglicky? (mloo-vee-te ang-lits-kee?) – Do you speak English?

Hungarian (Magyar), a Finno-Ugric language, is the official language of Hungary and is unrelated to most European languages.

Useful phrases:

Szia (see-uh) – Hi/Bye

Köszönöm (keh-suh-nuhm) – Thank you

Kérem (keh-rehm) – Please

Elnézést (el-neh-zaysht) – Excuse me/Sorry

Beszél angolul? (beh-sehl ang-oh-lool?) – Do you speak English?

Locals in Austria, Czechia, and Hungary greatly appreciate when visitors make an effort to use their languages, even for simple greetings or courtesies. Such gestures are often met with smiles and a warm reception.

Useful tips:

• Politeness is highly valued in Austria, and a firm handshake is a common greeting. Austrians often speak Hochdeutsch (Standard German) but also enjoy sharing regional dialects.
• In Czech culture, greetings are formal, especially with strangers or in professional settings. Using "Dobrý den" shows respect.
• Hungarians value their language deeply, as it is unique in Europe. A friendly "Szia" when entering a shop or restaurant can go a long way.