Important Czech words for surviving the first week of school

If heading back to school can be nerve-wracking for kids it can be especially nerve-wracking for parents who don’t speak Czech. Here are some key words and phrases to get you through the early days of school.

If you have any lingering doubts, all should become clear at this meeting which typically takes place the first or second week of school and is organized by the ředitel/ka (principal); during this time you’ll get know more about which supplies you need, classroom rules, and overview for the year.

It is not expected to give the teacher a gift but is becoming more and more customary to bestow a small bouquet of flowers on the first day of school. Some parents give their children a kornout of candy which is more of a German tradition and not common among Czech families.

You may not need a complete set of these during the first week when kids often go for a shorter time, but be prepared to have an arsenal of clothing on hand that includes rain gear, a second set of clothes for spills and accidents, and outside clothes.

Bačkory (also called papuče) typically cocoon the entire foot and have a firm sole—these are what kids wear at school, while pantofle are slip-ons with a covered or open toe (ťapky are a variety of pantofle but with a softer heel).

This is a symbol that your child will claim as a way for them to identify their things and can be seen in the cloakroom as well as bathrooms and classrooms. 

Older kids may be assigned a numbered locker.

If you haven’t already purchased supplies you should receive list (seznam) during the parent-teacher meeting. This is typically what students will need:

Share your back-to-school experiences in the comments below.