Czech Republic People: Who Are the Czechs? Culture, Values & Famous Figures
Moderated by Tomas Kauer 
The people of the Czech Republic — the Czechs (Češi) — are a West Slavic nation of around 10.9 million, famous for the world’s highest per-capita beer consumption, a dry sense of humour, strong engineering and literary traditions, and one of Europe’s most secular societies. This guide covers who the Czechs are: history, culture, famous figures, values, and what visitors should know.
Czech people: at a glance
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | Czechs (Češi, sg. Čech / Češka) |
| Language | Czech — a West Slavic language |
| Religion | Among the most secular in Europe — ~68% unaffiliated |
| Population | ~10.9 million |
| Historic regions | Bohemia, Moravia, Czech Silesia |
| Diaspora | ~2 million (notably USA — Texas, Chicago, Nebraska) |
| Nickname | Česko (short form); historic: “The Czechs” |
Who are the Czechs?
The Czechs are a West Slavic people, descended from Slavic tribes that migrated into the Bohemian basin in the 6th and 7th centuries. They share deep cultural and linguistic ties with the Slovaks (near-identical languages and 74 years of shared statehood as Czechoslovakia, 1918–1992), closer than they are to Russians, Poles, or any other Slavic nation.
Czech character and values: how they see themselves
- Dry, understated humour — Czechs value irony and self-deprecation. Confidence or boasting is viewed suspiciously. The literary archetype is Švejk, the “little man” who defeats the system through calculated dumbness.
- Scepticism of authority — centuries of foreign rule (Habsburg, Nazi, Soviet) built deep institutional distrust.
- Pragmatism over passion — famously unexcitable. Compare with Italian or American emotional expressiveness.
- Love of nature and the countryside — most Czech families have a chata (country cottage); weekends are spent outdoors.
- Strong engineering tradition — Czechs invented the contact lens, the modern sugar cube, Semtex plastic explosive, and the word “robot” (via Karel Čapek).
- Deep literary culture — the country has produced two Nobel laureates in literature (Jaroslav Seifert and Milan Kundera via Czech-origin work) and world-class writers in Kafka, Hašek, Hrabal, and Havel.
- Beer as cultural centre — the pub (hospoda) is where social life happens. See our “Na zdraví!” cheers guide.
Famous Czechs — historical and modern
Historical
- Charles IV (Karel IV.) — 14th-century king of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor; built Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, Charles University.
- Jan Hus — religious reformer burned at the stake in 1415; inspired the Hussite Wars.
- Jan Amos Komenský (Comenius) — 17th-century educator considered the father of modern pedagogy.
- Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk — first president of Czechoslovakia (1918); philosopher-statesman.
- Antonín Dvořák — Romantic-era composer; wrote “Symphony No. 9 — From the New World.”
- Bedřich Smetana — composer of “Má vlast” (My Country), the Prague Spring festival opener.
- Alfons Mucha — Art Nouveau painter and designer.
- Franz Kafka — German-speaking Prague Jew; author of The Trial and The Metamorphosis.
- Jaroslav Hašek — author of The Good Soldier Švejk.
Modern
- Václav Havel — dissident playwright, Velvet Revolution leader, first post-communist president.
- Milan Kundera — novelist; The Unbearable Lightness of Being.
- Miloš Forman — film director; Amadeus, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
- Martina Navrátilová — tennis great (18 Grand Slam singles titles).
- Jaromír Jágr — NHL legend; second all-time scoring leader.
- Madeleine Albright — born in Prague; first female US Secretary of State.
- Petr Čech — Chelsea and Arsenal goalkeeper, Czech national team captain.
- Patrik Schick — current Czech national football team striker.
Daily life and etiquette
- Greet with a firm handshake and direct eye contact — Dobrý den (hello) is more formal than Ahoj.
- Remove shoes when entering a home — slippers are usually offered.
- Bring a small gift if invited to dinner — flowers in odd numbers (not 13), wine, or chocolates.
- Toast with eye contact — see our cheers etiquette guide.
- Tip 10% at sit-down restaurants; round up for taxis.
- Keep voice low on trams and in restaurants — Czechs value quiet in public spaces.
The Czech diaspora
Roughly 2 million people of Czech origin live outside the country, with the largest communities in:
- United States — ~1.5 million; concentrated in Texas (Houston, West, Fayetteville), Chicago, Nebraska (Wilber calls itself “the Czech capital of the USA”), and Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
- Canada — ~100,000; mostly in Toronto and Vancouver.
- Austria and Germany — ~100,000 across both.
- Slovakia — ~30,000, remaining from the Czechoslovak era.
Frequently asked questions
What do you call people from the Czech Republic?
Czechs (singular Czech; male Čech, female Češka in Czech). “Czech” is both the demonym and the adjective. “Bohemian” refers specifically to people from the Bohemia region.
Are Czechs the same as Slovaks?
No — they are closely related but distinct. The two peoples shared a country from 1918 to 1992 (Czechoslovakia) and their languages are mutually intelligible, but they maintain separate national identities.
Are Czechs friendly to tourists?
Generally yes, especially in service situations — but Czech warmth is understated. Don’t expect American-style effusiveness. Younger Czechs in Prague are typically fluent in English and welcoming.
Why are Czechs so secular?
A legacy of 400 years of imposed Habsburg Catholicism followed by 41 years of state-enforced atheism under communism. The combination made Czechs famously sceptical of all organised religion.
What do Czech people eat?
Hearty food centred on pork, dumplings, cabbage, and beer. See our Traditional Czech Dishes guide.
Recommended reading
- “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” by Milan Kundera
- “The Good Soldier Švejk” by Jaroslav Hašek
- “Havel: A Life” by Michael Žantovský
- “Prague Winter” by Madeleine Albright
- Rick Steves Prague guidebook
