Czech transport verbs are built from one idea — -stoupit (“to step”) — plus a prefix and a preposition. Match the prefix to the preposition and you’ll never get stuck at the door.

1. Getting on: nastoupit + do

nastupovat (imperfective) / nastoupit (perfective) = to board / get on. It takes do + genitive (“into”).

nastoupit do rychlíku
to board the express train (rychlík = a fast/express train)
  • do vlaku — onto the train
  • do autobusu — onto the bus
  • do tramvaje — onto the tram
  • do auta / do taxíku — into the car / taxi
  • do metra / do letadla — onto the metro / plane
Nastupte si, prosím.
Please get on / board.

Bonus meaning: nastoupit do práce = to start a (new) job.

2. Getting off: vystoupit + z

vystupovat / vystoupit = to get off / alight, with z + genitive (“out of”).

  • z vlaku, z autobusu, z tramvaje — off the train / bus / tram
  • z auta, z taxíku — out of the car / taxi
Vystupujete?
Are you getting off? (the classic thing to ask on a packed tram)
Vystoupil z auta.
He got out of the car.

3. Changing: přestoupit — from z … onto na

přestupovat / přestoupit = to change / transfer. Here you’ll use two prepositions: z + genitive for what you leave, na + accusative for what you change onto.

Z autobusu přestoupím na tramvaj.
I’ll change from the bus to the tram.
přestoupit na jinou školu
to transfer to another school

Same verb, figurative use: přestoupit na jinou víru = to convert to another faith.

4. Bonus: vstoupit + do (to enter)

Vstoupil do místnosti.
He entered the room.
The preposition map: nastoupit / vstoupit + do (+gen, “into”) = get on / enter; vystoupit + z (+gen, “out of”) = get off; přestoupit + na (+acc, “onto”) = change to. With trams and buses you’ll occasionally hear na too, but do is the safe default.

Lock in the trio — nastoupit do, vystoupit z, přestoupit na — and public transport in Czechia stops being scary.

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