We Love to Laugh. Join Us!
According to a study based on the Humour Styles Questionnaire, which involved over 6,000 participants from 30 countries in 2025, the Czech Republic was declared the funniest nation on the planet. In the assessment of humour styles – ranging from friendly to self-deprecating – Czechs particularly excelled in their ability to laugh at themselves.
With a total score of 72.33 out of 112 points, they outperformed traditionally “laughing” nations such as Ireland, Belgium, France, Portugal, and Australia – Great Britain, one of the cradles of world humour, even finished as low as 18th. The study highlights that the Czech sense of humour is dry, sarcastic, and often full of subtle irony and exaggeration – precisely the kind of humour that may slightly bewilder foreigners but also make them laugh.
Hašek’s Švejk and Hrabal
The roots of Czech humour run deep – from folk cabarets to one of the most translated Czech authors, Jaroslav Hašek, and his world-famous Švejk, with his immortal line, „Poslušně hlásím, že je mi to srdečně jedno“ [pos-loosh-nyeh hlas-eem, zheh yeh mee toh sr-dech-nyeh yed-noh] (“Beg to report, I couldn’t care less”), through the books of Bohumil Hrabal, which were turned into award-winning films (including the Oscar-winning Closely Watched Trains), to the cult Jára Cimrman Theatre in Prague, dedicated to the life and work of a fictional yet incredibly gifted Czech genius. We must also not forget the animated films by award-winning Jan Švankmajer, whose work influenced, among others, American filmmaker Tim Burton and the British comedy group Monty Python.
Czechia has long ranked highly in several key areas related to quality of life, safety, and overall life satisfaction.
“Ice Breaker”: Top Czech Catchphrases
Here’s a mini glossary of the funniest Czech lines – often popularised film quotes that never fail to make Czechs laugh and brighten up any conversation. As a tourist, you’re guaranteed to score points with them. As they say: the perfect ice breaker!
- “To chce klid… a nohy v teple.” (“What you need is peace… and warm feet.”)
[toh h-tseh klit ... ah noh-hee v teh-pleh]
Usage: A Czech saying to calm things down when there's stress.
- “To je dost, dědku, žes nás taky vyvez!” ("About time you took us out, old man!")
[toh yeh dost, d’yehd-koo, zhehs nahss tah-kee vih-vez]
Usage: In a friendly tone, when you want to tease someone for finally getting around to doing something
- “Neber úplatky, neber úplatky … nebo se z toho zblázníš!” (“Don’t take bribes, don’t take bribes… or it’ll drive you crazy!”)
[neh-behr oo-plut-kee, neh-behr oo-plut-kee ... neh-bo seh z toh-ho zblahz-nyeesh]
Usage: Used ironically when talking about corruption or money.
- “Vydrž, prďka, vydrž!” (“Hang in there, little fart, hang in there!”)
[vih-drzh prrd-kah vih-drzh]
Usage: Said to someone going through a tough time, encouraging them to hang in there.
- “Nezastavujeme, máme zpoždění” (“We’re not stopping, we’re running late.”)
[neh-zah-stah-voo-yeh-meh, mah-meh spoh-zhdyehn-yee]
Usage: When you skip a stop or don’t have time to stop somewhere.
- “Neživíš, tak nepřepínej!” (“You don’t pay the bills, so don’t touch the remote!”)
[neh-zhee-veesh, tahk neh-psheh-pee-ney]
Usage: At home, when someone meddles in something they don’t pay for or control.
- “Já nic, já muzikant.” (“Not me, I’m just the musician.”)
[yah neets, yah moo-zee-kahnt]
Usage: An excuse to claim you’ve got nothing to do with it.
