Good Night in Czech: Dobrou Noc, Sladké Sny and More
| Czech | English | When | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|
| dobrou noc | good night | parting at night, bedtime | |
| dobrý večer | good evening | arriving, greeting | |
| sladké sny | sweet dreams | bedtime, with loved ones | |
| vyspi se dobře | sleep well | informal |
Good night in Czech is dobrou noc, pronounced DOH-broh nots [ˈdobrou̯ not͡s]. Czechs say it when parting in the evening or going to bed, never as a greeting. On arrival in the evening, say dobrý večer (good evening) instead. To wish someone sweet dreams, add sladké sny.
“Good night” in Czech is dobrou noc [ˈdobrou̯ not͡s], said roughly DOH-broh nots. Czechs say it when leaving in the evening and when someone goes to bed. It is never a greeting: if you arrive somewhere at night, say dobrý večer (good evening) instead. Add sladké sny (sweet dreams) for children or a partner.
How to say good night in Czech
| Czech | IPA | English | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|
| dobrou noc | [ˈdobrou̯ not͡s] | good night | |
| dobrou | [ˈdobrou̯] | night! (clipped, casual) | |
| sladké sny | [ˈslatkɛː snɪ] | sweet dreams | |
| krásné sny | [ˈkraːsnɛː snɪ] | lovely dreams | |
| vyspi se dobře | [ˈvɪspɪ sɛ ˈdobr̝ɛ] | sleep well (informal) | |
| vyspěte se dobře | [ˈvɪspjɛtɛ sɛ ˈdobr̝ɛ] | sleep well (formal or plural) | |
| spi sladce | [spɪ ˈslatt͡sɛ] | sleep sweetly |
Three sounds make dobrou noc sound Czech. The ou is a diphthong, like the “o” in British “go” or “oh”. The final c is always “ts”, as in “cats”, so noc rhymes with “lots” rather than “knock”. And the stress is on the first syllable of each word: DOH-broh NOTS.
In sladké, the d is pronounced like a t because it sits right before the voiceless k: SLAHT-keh. Czech spelling keeps the d, but the sound follows the next consonant. The ř in dobře is the famous Czech sound; our guide on how to pronounce the Czech ř breaks it down.
Why it is dobrou noc and not dobrá noc
“Night” is noc, a feminine noun, so “a good night” in the basic form is dobrá noc. But the phrase is really a shortened wish: Přeji vám dobrou noc (I wish you a good night). After “wish”, the noun goes into the accusative case, and dobrá becomes dobrou. The same pattern gives dobrou chuť (enjoy your meal).
You do not need to master the Czech cases to use these phrases, but knowing the pattern explains why the greetings do not all match: dobrý den, dobré ráno, dobrou noc.
Good night in Czech vs good evening
English speakers often mix these up because “good night” and “good evening” feel close. In Czech the line is clear:
- Dobrý večer: a greeting. Use it when you walk into a restaurant at 8 p.m., meet friends in the evening, or answer the door.
- Dobrou noc: a farewell. Use it when you leave late, hang up the phone at night, or go to bed.
Leaving a shop or office in the evening, the polite goodbye is still na shledanou; dobrou noc is more personal. See goodbye in Czech for the full set of farewells and good morning in Czech for the greetings that follow the clock.
A helpful rule: if you would say “hello” in English, use dobrý večer. If you would say “bye” or “sleep well”, use dobrou noc.
Bedtime with Czech children
Many Czech children hear “good night” first from the television. Večerníček, Czech Television’s bedtime cartoon slot, was first broadcast on 2 January 1965. As Radio Prague International reports, its introduction shows a boy in a paper hat who wishes viewers good evening at the start and good night at the end. The program still airs every evening on Czech Television’s children’s channel, Déčko.
Useful bedtime phrases for parents and grandparents:
| Czech | English | Hear |
|---|---|---|
| Je čas jít spát. | It’s time to go to sleep. | |
| Hajdy do postele! | Off to bed! (to children) | |
| Dobrou noc, broučku. | Good night, little beetle (a pet name). | |
| Spinkej. | Sleep tight (baby talk). | |
| Mám tě rád. | I love you (said by a man). | |
| Mám tě ráda. | I love you (said by a woman). |
Broučku (from brouček, little beetle) is a classic Czech term of endearment for children and partners. For more, see I love you in Czech.
A playful rhyme
Children often hear a teasing rhyme at bedtime: Dobrou noc, ať tě blechy štípou celou noc, roughly “Good night, may the fleas bite you all night long”. It plays the same role as “don’t let the bedbugs bite” in English. Nobody takes it as a real curse; it usually gets a giggle and a goodnight kiss.
Leaving for the night
When you leave a party or a friend’s flat late, Czechs often wrap up with a little phrase before the goodbye. Tak já už půjdu means “Well, I’ll be off now”. Then comes dobrou noc, often followed by ahoj with friends or na shledanou with hosts you do not know well. To the whole room, say dobrou noc všem (good night, everyone).
On the phone, a late call often ends with a quick Tak dobrou, short for tak dobrou noc. The little word tak (“so” or “well”) signals that the conversation is closing, and Czechs use it constantly in farewells.
Good night in Czech messages
In texts, a quick Dobrou! or Dobrou noc is normal. Between partners, Dobrou noc, miláčku (good night, darling) and Sladké sny are common. Formal emails sent late do not use “good night”; end them with a standard closing such as S pozdravem (regards).
Common mistakes
- Greeting people with dobrou noc. On arrival, say dobrý večer.
- Saying “dobrá noc”. The wish uses the accusative: dobrou noc.
- Pronouncing noc as “knock”. The c is “ts”: NOTS.
- Saying sladké with a clear d. It sounds like SLAHT-keh.
- Dropping accents in related phrases. Dobrou noc has none, but sladké sny and dobrý večer do. Our Czech accents page explains the marks.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say good night in Czech?
Say dobrou noc (DOH-broh nots).
How do you say sweet dreams in Czech?
Sladké sny, pronounced SLAHT-keh snih.
What is the difference between dobrý večer and dobrou noc?
Dobrý večer (good evening) is a greeting when you arrive. Dobrou noc (good night) is said when parting or going to bed.
Why is it dobrou noc and not dobrá noc?
It is a shortened wish, “I wish you a good night”, so the phrase uses the accusative form dobrou.
How do you say sleep well in Czech?
Vyspi se dobře to one person you know well, or vyspěte se dobře formally or to several people.
Sources
- Radio Prague International: Večerníček, Czech Television's iconic bedtime series, celebrates 60 years
- Radio Prague International: G for greetings
- Wikipedia: Večerníček
