When do Czechs find it appropriate to say "excuse me"? I have noticed that I say it CONSTANTLY! I even walked into a parking meter the other day, and it automatically came out - "excuse me!" I was more embarassed that I apologized to a hunk of metal than the actual walking into it. Here is when I say "excuse me" - 1)when I need help from someone (i.e. waiter) 2)interrupting someone talking 3)when I walk close to someone in a hall, elevator, or store aisle 4)when I yawn (this also is so automatic, I say it to myself when I yawn alone) 5)when someone else is being rude, like butting in line That's all I can think of at the moment - just curious, because I feel like I have some sort of affliction that causes me to say "excuse me" too often!
1 - 4: Promiňte 5 - this is more complicated, by my opinion, in this case, you probably should say something specific in regard of situation, like: Prosím, nepředbíhejte - Please, don't jump the queue
Would you use prominte when someone asks you something in Czech and you want to say "Sorry" at the start of "Nerozumim cesky."?
[quote Would you use prominte when someone asks you something in Czech and you want to say "Sorry" at the start of "Nerozumim cesky."?[/quote] In this case, you should speak English !
People won't believe that you couldn't speak Czech when you tell them fluently " Prominte, nerozumim Cesky !" :lol:
Excellent suggestion! Although I have to say that as soon as I open my mouth, even if in theory the words are right, they would quite believe that I don't understand Czech!
I speak Czech reasonably well enough to hold a conversation, but often my vocabulary is limited to the extent that I do not understand what is being said. I often use the above phrase at those times. I have the good fortune to speak Czech with virtually no accent, and am sometimes mistaken for a Czech! However the difficulties of the grammar and vocabulary limitations let me down. I have few opportunities to practice at the moment, so the prospect for improvement is limited.
The Czechs also say "excuse me" in two ways. They either say "promin/prominte", or they use the french "pardon" ... nothing wrong with good manners!
