Free Interpreting and Accompaniment
In this section of the Prague for All website, we provide contacts that may be helpful to you as foreigners in Prague if you need interpreting or assistance when making an appointment or communicating with an office, school, doctor, or anywhere else where language and cultural differences make communication difficult.
Who can help you overcome communication barriers?
When you move to a new environment where people speak a different language, you may encounter language barriers in your everyday life. Communication of any kind can become difficult. If you are lucky, you may come across someone who understands your language or another language you speak. However, in many situations you have to deal with people who do not speak your mother tongue.
Intercultural professionals and community interpreters do more than overcome language differences – they also understand cultural differences which can make a stay in a new environment of the Czech Republic even more challenging. An important quality in both professions is sensitivity to cross-cultural differences. They understand that some things cannot be simply translated into Czech because they may not exist in the same form in another culture.In such cases, they can explain the relevant cultural context to both parties. When interpreting, they may step out of the traditional interpreter role when necessary to explain cultural specifics and help prevent potential misunderstandings or conflicts.
Intercultural professionals and community interpreters have a thorough knowledge of Czech culture and life in the CR, as well as knowledge of their clients’ countries of origin. They are familiar with relevant legislation and understand how public administration and important institutions work. This enables them to better understand their clients and facilitate communication with the other party. They can also provide useful contacts and information.
People working in these two professions have received specialized training and certification.
Services of intercultural professionals are currently widely available in Prague.
List of intercultural professionals
For interpreting over the phone, you can also use a special helpline provided by Caritas Czech Republic.
The line is available in Ukrainian, Vietnamese, and Mongolian. It is intended for migrants living in the CR as well as public administration staff working with migrants. For contact details and the working hours of the helpline, see the website of Caritas CR, who is the provider of the service.
Read more:
16. September, 2026