CZ
Czech Republic
Czechia
Summary
Official Name
Czech Republic
International Conventions
CDE (1993), CPPDCE (2010), CSICH (2009), ECRML (2006), FCPNM (1997), ICCPR (1993), UNCRPD (2009), UNDRIP (2007)
Population
10,702,000
Principal Languages
Czech
Literacy Rate
100% (2016 UNESCO)
General References
Campbell and King 2011, Comrie 1987
Language Counts
The number of established languages listed for Czechia is 12. All are living languages. Of these, 5 are indigenous and 7 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 2 are institutional, 7 are developing, 2 are vigorous, and 1 is in trouble. Also listed are 12 unestablished languages.
Languages
- Bavarian bar
- Karlovy Vary and Plzen regions; Vysocina region: Jihlavsky. Users: 9,000 in Czechia (2005). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Bavarian Austrian, Bayerisch, Boarisch Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Upper German, Bavarian-Austrian
- Bulgarian bul
- Users: 5,410 in Czechia (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Eastern
- Croatian hrv
- Users: 1,390 in Czechia (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
- Czech ces
- Widespread. Users: 10,532,000 in Czechia, all users. L1 users: 10,400,000 in Czechia (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 132,000 (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 13,406,560 (as L1: 10,724,560; as L2: 2,682,000). Status: 1 (National). De facto national language. Alternate Names: Bohemian Autonym: Český jazyk, Čeština Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Czech-Slovak
- Czech Sign Language cse
- Scattered. Users: 10,000 (2019 EUD). EUD estimate is of Deaf sign language users (about 0.1% of the total population). Other estimates: 12,000 (2011 census); 51,500 deaf (2014 IMB). Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (1998, Zákon o komunikačních systémech neslyšících a hluchoslepých osob (Law on communication systems of deaf and deafblind persons) 155/1998, Article 4, as amended 384/2008, Part One). Alternate Names: CZJ, Český Znakový Jazyk Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
- English eng
- Users: 2,907,200 in Czechia, all users. L1 users: 7,200 in Czechia (2011 census). L2 users: 2,900,000 (European Commission 2012). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Angličtina Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
- French fra
- Users: 235,060 in Czechia, all users. L1 users: 2,060 in Czechia (2011 census). L2 users: 233,000 (Beck et al 2018). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
- German, Standard deu
- Karlovy Vary and Ústí nad Labem regions; Erzgebirge mountain range. Users: 1,624,100 in Czechia, all users. L1 users: 14,100 in Czechia (2011 census). L2 users: 1,610,000 (2020). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Rights Act No. 273, Article 2). Alternate Names: Deutsch, Němec Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
- Greek ell
- Users: 1,360 in Czechia (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic
- Hungarian hun
- Users: 11,500 in Czechia (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Uralic
- Italian ita
- Users: 1,420 in Czechia (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian
- Mongolian, Halh khk
- Users: 3,330 in Czechia (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Mongolic, Eastern, Oirat-Khalkha, Khalkha-Buriat, Mongolian Proper
- Polish pol
- Moravia-Silesia region: eastern Frydek-Mistek; Karviná district. Users: 33,600 in Czechia (2011 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Rights Act No. 273, Article 2). Alternate Names: Polština Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Lechitic
- Romani, Carpathian rmc
- Scattered. Users: 2,710 in Czechia (2011 census). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Rights Act No. 273, Article 2). Alternate Names: Bashaldo, Hungarian-Slovak Romani, Karpacki Roma, Romanes, Romungro Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Northern
- Romani, Sinte rmo
- Scattered. Users: 5,100 in Czechia (2004). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Rights Act No. 273, Article 2). Alternate Names: Romanes, Sinte, Sinti, Tsigane Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Northern
- Romanian ron
- Users: 4,920 in Czechia (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern
- Russian rus
- Users: 2,000,000 in Czechia (Arefyev 2012), all users. L1 users: 31,600 (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
- Rusyn rue
- Hlavni Mesto; Prague area. Users: 780 in Czechia (2011 census). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Rights Act No. 273, Article 2). Alternate Names: Carpathian, Carpatho-Rusyn, Ruthenian Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
- Serbian srp
- Users: 1,930 in Czechia (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
- Silesian, Lower sli
- Moravia-Silesia and Olomouc regions. Users: 10,900 in Czechia (2001 census). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Upper Schlesisch Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
- Slovak slk
- Major cities. Users: 1,854,000 in Czechia, all users. L1 users: 154,000 in Czechia (2011 census). L2 users: 1,700,000 (European Commission 2012). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Rights Act No. 273, Article 2). Alternate Names: Slovenčina, Slovenský Jazyk Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Czech-Slovak
- Spanish spa
- Users: 39,220 in Czechia, all users. L1 users: 1,920 in Czechia (2011 census). L2 users: 37,300 (Instituto Cervantes 2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian
- Ukrainian ukr
- Users: 48,300 in Czechia (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
- Vietnamese vie
- Users: 30,800 in Czechia (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Viet-Muong, Vietnamese
Languages by Status
Czech
[ces] 1 (National). De facto national language. 10,532,000 in Czechia, all users. L1 users: 10,400,000 in Czechia (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 132,000 (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 13,406,560 (as L1: 10,724,560; as L2: 2,682,000).
English
[eng] 4 (Educational). 2,907,200 in Czechia, all users. L1 users: 7,200 in Czechia (2011 census). L2 users: 2,900,000 (European Commission 2012).
German, Standard
[deu] 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Rights Act No. 273, Article 2). 1,624,100 in Czechia, all users. L1 users: 14,100 in Czechia (2011 census). L2 users: 1,610,000 (2020).
Polish
[pol] 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Rights Act No. 273, Article 2). 33,600 in Czechia (2011 census).
Romani, Sinte
[rmo] 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Rights Act No. 273, Article 2). 5,100 in Czechia (2004).
Slovak
[slk] 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Rights Act No. 273, Article 2). 1,854,000 in Czechia, all users. L1 users: 154,000 in Czechia (2011 census). L2 users: 1,700,000 (European Commission 2012).
French
[fra] 5* (Dispersed). 235,060 in Czechia, all users. L1 users: 2,060 in Czechia (2011 census). L2 users: 233,000 (Beck et al 2018).
Bavarian
[bar] 5* (Developing). 9,000 in Czechia (2005).
Czech Sign Language
[cse] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (1998, Zákon o komunikačních systémech neslyšících a hluchoslepých osob (Law on communication systems of deaf and deafblind persons) 155/1998, Article 4, as amended 384/2008, Part One). 10,000 (2019 EUD). EUD estimate is of Deaf sign language users (about 0.1% of the total population). Other estimates: 12,000 (2011 census); 51,500 deaf (2014 IMB).
Rusyn
[rue] 6a* (Vigorous). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Rights Act No. 273, Article 2). 780 in Czechia (2011 census).
Silesian, Lower
[sli] 6a* (Vigorous). 10,900 in Czechia (2001 census).
Romani, Carpathian
[rmc] 6b* (Threatened). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Rights Act No. 273, Article 2). 2,710 in Czechia (2011 census).
Language Vitality Profile

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Language Status Profile

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