A1 Collocation Neutre

Platit kartou

To pay by card

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use 'platit kartou' to tell a cashier you want to pay using your credit or debit card.

  • Means: To pay using a plastic card or digital wallet.
  • Used in: Shops, restaurants, cafes, and public transport kiosks.
  • Don't confuse: Never use 's' (with); use the instrumental case 'kartou' alone.
🛒 + 💳 = ✅ Platit kartou

Explanation at your level:

At A1, you just need to know how to ask. 'Můžu platit kartou?' is your magic sentence. It uses the verb 'platit' (to pay) and 'kartou' (by card). You use it in shops and restaurants. It is very simple and everyone will understand you.
At A2, you can use different tenses. You can say 'Platil jsem kartou' (I paid by card) or 'Budu platit kartou' (I will pay by card). You also understand signs like 'Platba kartou možná' (Card payment possible) and can handle simple problems like a broken terminal.
At B1, you understand the grammar behind the phrase. You know 'kartou' is the instrumental case. You can discuss payment preferences and understand more complex instructions from a cashier, such as 'Musíte kartu přiložit znovu' (You have to tap the card again).
At B2, you can navigate nuances like 'předautorizace karty' (card pre-authorization) at hotels or car rentals. You can complain if a transaction was double-charged and use the phrase in professional contexts, such as discussing business expenses or company card policies.
At C1, you can analyze the socio-economic impact of the phrase. You might discuss how 'platit kartou' affects the gray economy in the Czech Republic or the security of various encryption methods used in contactless transactions. Your usage is indistinguishable from a native speaker.
At C2, you master the cognitive linguistics of the phrase. You understand how the instrumental case 'kartou' functions as a conceptual metaphor for agency in modern financial transactions. You can engage in high-level debates about the 'cashless society' and its implications for privacy and civil liberties in a Czech context.

Signification

Using a credit or debit card.

🌍

Contexte culturel

Czechs are world leaders in contactless payments. You can pay with your phone or watch almost everywhere, even for tiny amounts. In contrast to Czechia, Germany is much more cash-oriented. You will often see 'Nur Bargeld' (Cash only) signs, which is rare in Czech cities. Very similar to the Czech Republic, card payment is standard and expected in most urban areas. Many 'večerka' (convenience stores) are run by the Vietnamese community. While most take cards now, some smaller ones might have a minimum limit (e.g., 100 CZK).

💡

Contactless is King

You don't need to insert your card. Just tap it on the screen of the terminal.

⚠️

Small Shops

Some small shops have a minimum limit for card payments, usually 50 or 100 CZK.

Signification

Using a credit or debit card.

💡

Contactless is King

You don't need to insert your card. Just tap it on the screen of the terminal.

⚠️

Small Shops

Some small shops have a minimum limit for card payments, usually 50 or 100 CZK.

🎯

Mobile Payments

Apple Pay and Google Pay are accepted everywhere a card is. You can say 'Platím mobilem' too.

💬

Tips

If you want to add a tip when paying by card, tell the waiter the total amount *before* they enter it into the terminal.

Teste-toi

Fill in the correct form of 'karta' in the instrumental case.

Můžu platit ______?

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : kartou

We use the instrumental case '-ou' to show the means of payment.

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

How do you say 'I pay by card'?

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Platím kartou.

No preposition is needed when using the instrumental case for tools/means.

Complete the dialogue at the restaurant.

Číšník: 'Budete platit hotově?' Ty: 'Ne, ______.'

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : platím kartou

'Platím kartou' is the standard way to state your payment method.

Match the phrase to the situation.

You are at a small kiosk and see no terminal. What do you ask?

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Můžu platit kartou?

This is the polite way to check if card payments are accepted.

🎉 Score : /4

Aides visuelles

Questions fréquentes

12 questions

No, just 'kartou' covers both. Czechs rarely distinguish between them in daily speech.

Most modern taxis in cities accept cards, but it's always safer to ask 'Berete karty?' first.

No, by law, merchants in the EU cannot charge extra for card payments.

It means 'cash only'. These shops don't have a terminal, usually to save on bank fees.

'Můžu platit kartou, prosím?' is the perfect polite version.

You can say 'Moje karta nefunguje' (My card doesn't work) and try another one or pay cash.

Usually, for amounts under 500 CZK, no PIN is required for contactless payments.

Yes, you can say 'Budu platit kartou online'.

It is neutral. It's fine for both a fancy restaurant and a corner shop.

It's a grammar case used for 'with' or 'by means of'. 'Karta' becomes 'kartou'.

Yes! You can say 'Platím mobilem' or just 'Platím kartou' as it's the same terminal.

Yes, just tell the server the rounded-up amount before they tap the terminal.

Expressions liées

🔗

platit hotově

contrast

to pay in cash

🔗

bezkontaktní platba

similar

contactless payment

🔗

platební terminál

builds on

payment terminal

🔗

vybrat z bankomatu

related

to withdraw from an ATM

🔗

přiložit kartu

specialized form

to tap/apply the card

Où l'utiliser

🛒

At a Supermarket

Pokladní: Dobrý den. Bude to 450 korun.

Zákazník: Dobrý den. Můžu platit kartou?

Pokladní: Ano, jistě. Přiložte kartu k terminálu.

neutral
🍽️

In a Restaurant

Číšník: Zaplatíte?

Host: Ano, prosím. Budu platit kartou.

Číšník: Dobře, hned přinesu terminál.

neutral
🚕

In a Taxi

Pasažér: Berete karty?

Řidič: Ano, můžete platit kartou i mobilem.

Pasažér: Super, děkuju.

neutral
☕

At a Coffee Shop

Barista: Jedno espresso. Padesát korun.

Zákazník: Platím kartou.

Barista: Jasně, pípněte si.

informal
🍎

At a Farmers' Market

Zákazník: Můžu u vás platit kartou?

Prodejce: Bohužel, bereme jen hotovost.

Zákazník: Aha, tak já skočím do bankomatu.

neutral
🎫

Buying a Ticket

Turista: Dva lístky do muzea, prosím.

Pokladní: To bude 300 korun. Kartou?

Turista: Ano, platím kartou.

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Karta' as your 'Key' to shopping. You 'Platit' (Play-it) with your 'Kartou' (Card-oh!).

Visual Association

Imagine a giant plastic card acting as a bridge over a river of coins. You walk across the card to get your groceries.

Rhyme

Platit kartou, žádnou partou. (Pay by card, not with a gang - a bit silly, but helps the ending!)

Story

You enter a shop in Prague. You have no coins. You panic! But then you see the magic terminal. You tap your card, it says 'Píp!', and you say 'Platím kartou!' with a smile. The cashier nods, and you are a hero of efficiency.

Word Web

kartaplatbaterminálhotovostpenízeúčetbankabezkontaktně

Défi

Next time you are in a shop, even if you have cash, try to say 'Můžu platit kartou?' and use your card instead.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Pagar con tarjeta

Spanish requires a preposition; Czech uses a case ending.

French high

Payer par carte

French uses 'par' while Czech uses the instrumental case.

German high

Mit Karte zahlen

German uses a preposition; Czech uses a bare case.

Japanese moderate

カードで払う (Kādo de harau)

Japanese uses a post-positional particle; Czech uses a suffix.

Arabic moderate

الدفع بالبطاقة (Ad-daf' bil-biṭāqa)

Arabic uses a prefix and definite article; Czech uses a suffix.

Chinese low

刷卡 (Shuākǎ)

Chinese focuses on the action (swiping); Czech focuses on the method (paying).

Korean high

카드로 계산하다 (Kadeu-ro gyesanhada)

Korean uses a particle; Czech uses an inflectional ending.

Portuguese high

Pagar com cartão

Portuguese requires 'com'; Czech uses the instrumental case.

Easily Confused

Platit kartou vs platit na kartu

Learners think 'na' means 'by' or 'with'.

Use 'na kartu' only for refunds or sending money to a card account.

Platit kartou vs karta vs. lístek

Both can mean 'ticket' or 'card' in some languages.

'Karta' is plastic (bank/ID); 'lístek' is paper (bus/cinema).

FAQ (12)

No, just 'kartou' covers both. Czechs rarely distinguish between them in daily speech.

Most modern taxis in cities accept cards, but it's always safer to ask 'Berete karty?' first.

No, by law, merchants in the EU cannot charge extra for card payments.

It means 'cash only'. These shops don't have a terminal, usually to save on bank fees.

'Můžu platit kartou, prosím?' is the perfect polite version.

You can say 'Moje karta nefunguje' (My card doesn't work) and try another one or pay cash.

Usually, for amounts under 500 CZK, no PIN is required for contactless payments.

Yes, you can say 'Budu platit kartou online'.

It is neutral. It's fine for both a fancy restaurant and a corner shop.

It's a grammar case used for 'with' or 'by means of'. 'Karta' becomes 'kartou'.

Yes! You can say 'Platím mobilem' or just 'Platím kartou' as it's the same terminal.

Yes, just tell the server the rounded-up amount before they tap the terminal.

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