My friend who is english and lived in Prague for a long time once explained to me the trick how to engage with Czech people. He told me you can't be too positive or too friendly right from the start if you meet someone. It is best to start conversation with something like 'today the weather is rubbish, or I'm too tired today, life sucks and so on...then you connect, and you can have a normal conversation.

Mentality of PRAGUE. CZECH VILLAGES ARE WAY DIFFERENT 🐄🐐🐔

The thing that people dont look at you and ignore you, that is only in Prague. In small towns and villages, everybody stares at you 😀

As an immigrant of 15 years here in CZ I recognised that most of those questioned were in Prague. There is a large dose of 'capital city culture' involved.

That part about joining the group at the table. If you ask them, they will hesitate to refuse as they want to be polite, but unless you are invited, you can't expect to be welcome. We have a word for it "přisrat se".

I guess that Canadian guy hasn't been here for a long time, because Czechs are unbeatable masters when it comes to complaining. One wins every small talk, if complaining about everything and everyone, weather, politics, state of the universe. There is nothing more specific czech than this.

It is not surprising that we are careful with foreigners. In history, when some foreigners came, they usually occupied us😂

I’m Serbian, this is my experience : Prague: VERY FRIENDLY, very fast, very ‘come try this, try that’. South Chechia : muuuuch slower, much more chill, less trying to cater to tourists. Overall : some of the best people on planet Earth. Safe, fun, beautiful! PS. As for the food, some of the best cuisine- quality meats, sauces, cheeses, beer, and yes potatoes! I love the mixture of salty-sweet.

8:50 - this is exactly why Czech people are constantly banned on all social media, because in western cultures, such kind of dark humor is mostly not acceptable, or they don't even understand it as humor, they think you are talking seriously and another thing are today censoreship algoritms and AI, it's a serious problem, you can't really use humor on today internet if you are on these big american corporation sites like facebook or youtube.

We Czechs are quite nice but one thing that I really don't like about us is that we are strangely very self-loathing. It, and that is purely my opinion, is the root of many of our problems.

The french guy is funny. Basically he describes how Czechs politely treat assholes.

This should be labled as a "People of Prague" ... totally different mentality compared to ppl living pretty much everywhere else.

I lived here in CZ for 18 years having moved from the UK. I never want to go back to the UK is all I can say!

Praha/ Prague where most foreigners are heading has always been like a country inside of country - different. No sense to judge all Czechs by Prague alone. I do not think this changed since I lived there.

I really love the people! My best friends are Czechs and I also have a lot to do with them at work. Absolutely reliable people, very good beer brewers and always up for fun. The Czechs are our Brothers and Sisters! historically and culturally, especially for us Bavarians. Much love from Germany/Bavaria 🇩🇪🇨🇿

Damn feel sorry for the french guy. Hope he will meet some nicer locals

«if they want to get more salary in their companies, they wouldn't really ask for that, they would rather change the job» very interesting! So that's an aspect where my Czech origins come out

The czech dream: sqeeze money out of the system, doing minimal work grill afterward

True (sadly) but OMG the French guy. He should try to be a foreigner in France. Yes they are nice but to each other only. Not even trying to speak English with you. Worked in French company and liked 1 person only. Rest is arrogant AF yapping about everything being better in France. We Czechs "love" that.

Prague is different from other towns. Pražáci doesnt represent us.

I know a French expat who I know has the same experience as his compatriot. According to what others from mutual acquaintances have told me and how we behaved "at a party", the first thing is that we Czechs are simply tired of speaking English, because we often lack vocabulary, but at the same time it is awkward for us to talk to each other in Czech when we know someone doesn't understand us. The second thing is that our sense of humor is, I would say, very much based on sarcasm, and the French in particular can have a problem with that, or at least pick it up in a conversation in bad English, and it's all the more tiring when you have to explain it to them. So, we gradually separate until eventually we all end up in a different place than the given Frenchman.

I thought it ironic that the French guy probably explained the situation himself without realising. The Czechs got up and moved and he said "during all of our time they were speaking only in Czech so we can't tell you the reason why". Exactly!! He's lived in Prague for seven years and still unable to join in the Czechs speaking in their own language. Maybe they just wanted to speak in Czech and felt it was awkward.

Czechs! You are 1:1 with Austrians, but just speaking Czech. For sure it has something to do with our common history. I always have to laugh when I'm in Czech. Best regards from Vienna to our beloved neighbours.

As a natural CZ bloke I strongly agree with Mathias. He hit nail on its head. Czech society is obsessed by titles. Don't matter what skill or knowledge you have but you can be an idiot with title than you are higher. That why Czech working market is fucked.

Ah yes judging Czech culture, while living in Prague. You know there is the rest of the country that you have no clue about.

I wonder where the french guy works because how he describes his coworkers treat him is very unusual. It seems like he either works with racists which I am sorry for if that is the case or maybe he may have done or said something which made them especially negative towards him. Especially if they dont even greet him everyday which I find absolutely unbelievable that is something I have only seen when people are actually pissed at that person. Maybe he should try and ask them why they are treating him this way because everything he described is basicly describing people who are pissed at you for something.

One I think described very well Czech culture is the blond woman... I realised only afterwards she is indeed Czech

Man, I feel so bad for the French guy, he got dealt such a bad hand .... We Czechs are horrible but those colleagues are something special!

French guy calls Czechs rude.... omfg

I moved to prague from South Africa almost 3 years ago and the only negative thing I can really think of is some older generation people in client facing jobs are often very grumpy.

The man in 9:38 gets it. You came to our country, you have to put work in the relationship and in integration. We see what is happening in the west with foreigners and we don´t what it here. If you live here 7 years and still don´t know how to speak in (even broken) Czech then don´t be surprised.

I'm Polish and I always liked Czech, they are chill out people.

Not even us Czechs are rude enough to cut people mid-sentence.

People of Prague are just like 1/10 of Czech population. :D We are not all the same as people from Prague.

I personally always appreciate it when people try to speak our language, because I would've never expected foreigners to speak Czeck, because we are a small country and it is harder than English for example, so it is always a nice thing to see someone learning language. Which will subconsciously grant the person some bonus points.

Some of these things are really individual for Prague people :D

Interesting topic, I would just add that Prague is not Czech Republic, it is a city and people behave differently in a big cities.

The story the guy shared with expats being excluded from the conversation because everyone started speaking Czech is unfortunately all too common, but in the vast majority of situations, this is unfortunately because Czech people on average have only serviceable level of English that they can keep up at work, but it quickly becomes a chore when in a non-work context or when drinking and they'll forget or switch to Czech when speaking to another Czech speaker in the group without switching back later. We're unfortunately behind many other Europeans, for example Scandinavians, in our readiness to speak English and keep speaking English even if the majority of the people in the group speak Czech or there's drinking involved. It's very rarely personal or intentional and it looks like it won't be until this current zoomer generation who grow up with English ingrained to their culture and entertainment start making up the majority of the work force that the best option will remain to commit to speaking Czech warts and all even if you're really not good at it. Czech people will be way more likely to actively try to include you and help you if you do that.

omg I love that there is someone with your iniciative. Keep it goin fellow dope being. I'm from czechia and I rlly want to know more about how foreigners percieve us. :) Great content indeed

I have lots of Czech friends and play in 3 local bands. I study the language every day but still can't have a decent conversation. I blame myself for just not being capable of remembering all the suffixes etc. I do not plan on returning to the UK - I feel safer here as there is much less violence here in Prague - the capitol than in my local town of Sunderland. Some of the cultural differences mentioned here are not really big enough to worry about - more like interesting facets. For example whipping girls at Easter was sort of weird to accept but its roots was interesting - more pagan than Christian I think. I have also experienced some great acts of kindness by Czechs. I was in the intensive unit of the hospital and could not get to a computer to pay the rent of my flat but a Czech friend just paid it without a qualm.

2:55 he got it the best i think

Czech people are known for being rude? To everyone? I thought they just hated Polish people 😆 As a Polish person, every time I meet a Czech person, my first thought is "I'm sorry for 1968, please don't hate me", and I wasn't even alive back then. Now that I know Czechs are like that to everyone, I like them even more 😁

The obsession with university degrees or other titles is a legacy of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. In Austria it is even worse...

Get out of Prague! It´s completely different outside of the capital

I'm a Canadian and I've been living in the Czech Republic for around 20 years. I would love to see them doing these interviews in other places around the country. Prague, like most national captitals, is not an accurate reflection of what you'll find elsewhere in the country. I've lived in Brno, the second biggest city in the country, for all the time I've been here and it's a very different place in feel and mentality to Prague; a big part of that is the underlying Moravian regional culture in Brno. I travel to Ostrava, the major city in the north-east, at least once a year. Ostrava has a very different history, with close links to coal mining and heavy industry, than other places in the country and that has bred a very different type of Czech there. Even though the coal mining and much of the heavy industry in Ostrava ended just after Socialism ended and the city has reinvented itself to a large degree through the IT sector, Ostravaks are some of the proudest and most no-nonsense Czechs that you'll ever meet. I like Prague, but it doesn't really feel or act fully Czech until you get to the suburbs.

češi mají "Vpíčizmus" to je to kouzlo

In Czech republic we put titles in front of our names. And when you get called for example to a doctor ,we will call you with your title. For example: "Inženýr Mirek Novák"(inženýr is engineer in czech)

With my experience, as a skateboarder..you are exempt from all of the negative vibes about this video. Once you are a skateboarder and they know it..its like when in Rome, you are in with the locals. We only speak one language and that is the language of skateboard. BTW..this applies to every countries I had visited in doing my skateboard projects. In the end as a Traveler, its not what you know, its who you know. ⚜

That excluded guy might have been simply unlucky with the people around him but more probably it is the standard situation here: if there is someone new coming to a team then the activity from his/her side is expected and only after that is accepted and becomes part of the team. Just waiting for the activity from the other side can cause lot of dissatisfaction like the one in this video. Not always but it happens quite often.

Only asking people from prague about czechia is literally the same as asking someone from NYC about america. We are... COMPLETELY different, at least the ones of use NOT from the capital.

About the titles - they are important just amongs doctors, lawyers and sometime among scientist or more teachers. But the rest of the people often don´t know what title you have or not. They don´t take it as important. They are more interested in what you are doing as a job or what you know for future possibilities of helping each other. So I immediatelly knew in what bubble he is livving. And yes, when you go to a doctor you better use your title. They treat you better but no one knows why. It´s long time cultural thing here and there is a bunch of jokes about that.

Try going to any local supermarkets in Prague, which are usually undermanned. They will keep throwing groceries at you and you need to keep up. They will not complain if you don't but they will look at you like you've just hurt their parents. The level of service in most stores is close to zero, so good luck counting on someone checking store availability in other locations. But you get used to it, it's better to do things online here and simply not deal with ppl 🙂 As for pushing through someone on the street, I highly disagree - tourists will do that but not Czechs.

3:34 that's really true - I believe this guy is someone who really understand us more than other u asked. It is easier to bemate when u speak more Czech, it is true we don't complain publicaly, but in private or pubs and i is also true what he said about the salary. Other people are just saying random stuff which don't really apply on Czechs as a whole community. 6:24 I believe this happens only in Prague, not in other cities.

Czech mentality tastes so unique indeed 😍

>they don’t really like complaining We are the most ungrateful complainers in the world, what do you mean? :D

“Nu vidíš, králi: tak náš lid! Má duši zvláštní - trochu drsná zdá se- však kvete po své v osobité kráse, . . . ach, přibliž k tomu lidu hled a přitiskneš svůj k němu ret a neodtrhneš více!” Romance o Karlu IV. - Jan Neruda, 1882

Nobody complains more than Czechs...just not infront of foreigners...this is from a Czech, who has lived in Canada for decades.

Some of these things are completely wrong, but ok, everyone has their own experiences. Also comparing Prague and the rest of Czech republic is like comparing Czech republic with Slovakia It's almost the same thing before you look at it closer

Unfortunately the only czech person in the interview was really insufferable IMO... speaking as a czech myself shes not the kind of person I would enjoy talking to. What really got me is when she said that she grew up in communism - if shes 46 now she was still a child when the regime fell and yet she kinda seems entitled about knowing all about it. This is something many people from her genration do... its like if person born in 99 would want to tell me what the 90s were all about

I always say that Czechs are like hobbits

The Czech are the displaced siblings of the Dutch ❤

Yes, we, or most of us in czech don't ignore you. If others are kinda like me, then we are trying to save you from the feeling of being judged and embarrassed. When I walk in public and I see someone do something they did by mistake and get embarrassed, but its nothing they need help with, then I pretend I didn't see them to save them from being too embarrassed, and let them fix it on their own. When you do something embarrassing on public you feel bad, but its worse when someone locks their eyes with yours, and just kinda sees you. You look at them, they look at you.. Its just the bad feeling of, someone saw you at the wrong time. I don't know how to explain this sorry, I hope you get it. I'm embarrassed in public all the time, just from being there, I'm socially awkward. And why did this comment took me like 10 minutes tu write? I'm keep editing stuff wtf This is how my anxiety starts :´)

No complaining and no showing your status? That couldn't have been the Czech Republic. 😂

That's not Czech Mentality. It's Prague's.

Regarding titles: I don't know if it's still true, but in Sweden, they used to put people's titles in the phone book. Things like Engineer Sven Svensson.

Well we are just little a bit more protective...and I am thankfull for that. I love my Czech country and I hope that we will stay like that to citizens. If you dont like our country and you dont wont to be Czech, then please go...

The guy from Germany is so right about that we rather change a job than asking for more money...

90% of Online content about our country is made in Prague, people doing them do not bother to travel probably outside of Prague so.. well. You get idea about country from 10% ish mentality, that is.. to be fair spit on from the 40% of the rest, ignored from the next X%... south-east part of country dislike Prague and mentality of people there in general so... do take these answers with some filter. Prague is a most mixed city with highest ammount of tourists + tourist traps and people on "high end", companies have offices there that are "connections" for outside... so ye a bit more focused on status and stuff like that, the stuff rest hates.

The Mysterious People of the Prague Foreigner Reservation more like.

I love how everyone mentioned the beer.. seems they know us pretty well xD

"the czechs don't like to complain"... that one made me laugh, we're actually known to be supreme complainers, we complain about the weather, our neighbors, but most importantly, the government, be it our own or foreign

Im a czech and i feel like i dont belong here. Czech people act often selfish, rude and dont wish anyone well. I know people like this can be found anywhere but i feel like here its extreme. Its not just in Prague

To be fair, as for me as Czech, ill be rather friend with someone from different country than meet a new czech person.

Honestly it depends on the experience. If you only experienced Prague its quite different from other places especially in the smaller ones. Prague is honestly a bit different in everything so definetely don’t base it on that. To be honest in short: we do complain a lot about literally everything, a lot of people (NOT FROM PRAGUE) can be very unwelcoming and hostile towards a foreigner (older Czech can be very racist), we love beer and talking shit about everything :) thats my opinion at least

I have noticed that Czech people proud themselves on their great sense of humour, many always mentioning it, but 8:18 in all honesty, I’ve never heard it or noticed. Maybe it’s only Czech-Czech but with foreigners it’s not so obvious?

zajimave

"People not complaining so much", he prolly never met a czech person outside of prague... The Canadian guy got it the best. And this applies to anyone, if you speak language people understands you talk to their brains. If you speak the language people are native to, you speak to their heart. So Czechs are in my opinion like any other nation. If you try to speak their language they'll be happy and will like you. There is a big difference living in Prague and any other city in czech republic. The bigger city with more foreigners, the more friendlier people to foreigners. There are a lot of tourists in prague so people are used to them. The czech lady knows the point. We like to joke about everything, nothing is sacred. Also as an ex-communist country Slavs in czech republic are not out of the ordinary, doesn't matter if you Ukrainian or Russian, people here are used to it, unlike if you're black. Older people are still pretty racist, but not everyone. Czechs are usually very proud of their country (which I don't really get, because they complain all the time and are proud of things that happened way before they were born) so if you speak their language and show respect to what they do, they will tolerate or even respect you back.

about the getting bumped while walking thats more so tourists doing it in prague rather than locals

Never judge the people of a country by the people in the capital.

That Iranian woman nailed it. Unfortunately 😔

As a czech person, i dont think most of things said in this video are true :D For example, czechs are complaining a lot and i have never met anyone complaining like we do. I work in multicultural company (approx 30 different nationalities) And also there are protests in Prague like every week, i dont know what is the guy in black talking about :D

Ahoj. It is set by the law that earned title becomes legaly unseparated part of your name and you "must" de facto use it. I think it comes from where others should respect your earned title instead of you being forced to swang... 😉 Anyway, best wishes to all decent people from Prague, Czech republic! ✋😌🤚

The french guy simply wasn’t popular with his collegues. If people stopped greeting him after getting to know him, that’s really not normal here. On the contrary, people tend to greet each other all the time. Well and from what he said after that, it just proved that… Other than that I think the comments were pretty accurate :)

"they [czechs] don't really like complaining" well that's a new one for me lol

♥♥

Poor poor "french" guy😂 I almost shed a tear for him😢

Hello, I am from Czech and I can say that most of things mentiond in video are true❤😂

But Prag is Little bit differend than rest of Czechia 👍😉

I really thought that thumbnail was AI

Mysterious? Seriously? Well, I was about writing a very long reaction, but then I thought that it might look extremely negative and I'm not such a person, I think you should concentrate on the good things 🙂 so I would say that they have good beer 🙂

I would love to meet Elisa. #local

Almost makes me feel like the interviewed people are really hating the experience of living in Czechia. xD

The bandwidth from very rude to super polite is just wider in Slavic countries when compared to Western Europe. Not that open, hard to befriend: well, take as a rule of thumb that when you run into hard to befriend people, you wouldn't miss out that much anyway. Food not so good: the Czech kitchen culture is very, very rich, with many excellent recipes, however Czech gastronomy with just really only a very few exceptions, is an unmitigated disaster.

Why doctor asks you if you have title? You do not get better care, doctor just speaks to you in different way, not explaining very basics... So doctor assumes, you are more educated, and changes way of communication. I am pharmacist, whe I mention that, doctors change communication, not the amount or quality of care...

Everybody just minds their bussiness. Thats all. We are not much all for casual conversations with random strangers. If I dont know you, I'm not talking to you other than ,,hello, thank you, good bye" and I think its all the remenants of the old regime. Even the ,,reactionless faces" because back in the day under communism regime you could not afford to stand out. People were vary of one another cause you could not trust anybody. If you said something or expressed something that was not considered ,,red party" friendly, you could go to prison and your family would be outcasted, and I think this mentality still remained uncounsiously even tho the regime has fallen.

The first man talking about people here not complaing? 😂 that must be a sarcasm 😅

if u get trust cz citizens dont lose it u dont get next chance and if u lose it its for u better move czech people realy REALY hate traitors

ok, i just survived till the woman on 2.40 as i hear the nose talk that drive me crazy... we not rude we just hate ppl tryin to b somethink else then u realy are...

We are Hobbits. It's as simple as that.

Prague..pfff....Villages are way better to try knowing Czech people...IF you speak the language