Slovak/Printable version

Slovak is a Western Slavonic language spoken by about 5.6 million people in Slovakia and also in Canada, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Ukraine and the USA. Slovak is closely related to Czech, Polish, and Sorbian.

Slovak alphabet (slovenská abeceda) & pronunciation

Slovak Alphabet

English Sound

Pronunciation Example

Stuck with Ď or Ť? Listen to this recording for help.

Stuck with Ô? Listen to this recording for help.

Stuck with Ŕ? Listen to this recording for help.

A a a as in apple
Á á aː as in father
Ä ä æ, ɛ as in aerial
B b b as in brother
C c t͡s as in cats
Č č t͡ʃ as in match
D d d as in do
Ď ď ɟ, dʲ as in dew
Dz dz d͡z as in beds
Dž dž d͡ʒ as in John
E e e as in enter
É é eː as in their
F f f as in foot
G g ɡ as in go
H h ɦ as in house
Ch ch x as in the German Bach
I i ɪ as in sit
Í í iː as in sea,
J j j as in you
K k k as in king
L l l, l̩ as in love
Ĺ ĺ l̩ː as in Luvre
Ľ ľ ʎ, lʲ as in million
M m m as in mother
N n n as in net
Ň ň ɲ, nʲ as in news
O o ɔ as in orbit
Ó ó ɔː as in door
Ô ô u̯o as in won't
P p p as in power
Q q kv as in kvet
R r r, r̩ as in rain
Ŕ ŕ r̩ː as in Roma
S s s as in star
Š š ʃ as in shower
T t t as in take
Ť ť c, tʲ as in tube
U u u as in tuna
Ú ú uː as in fool
V v v as in vision
W w v as in water
X x ks as in taxi
Y y ɪ as in city
Ý ý iː as in feel
Z z z as in zebra
Ž ž ʒ as in pleasure

Useful phrases

English Slovak Phrases

Greeting

Hi! Ahoj!
Good morning! Dobré ráno!
Good afternoon! Dobrý deň!
Good evening! Dobrý večer!
Welcome! (to greet someone) Vitajte!
Hello my friend! Ahoj
How are you? (friendly) Ako sa máš?
How are you? (polite) Ako sa máte?
I'm fine, thank you! Som v poriadku, ďakujem!
And you? (friendly) A ty?
And you? (polite) A vy?
Good Dobre
Not so good Nie veľmi dobre
Long time no see Dlho sme sa nevideli
I missed you Chýbal (to a man), chýbala ( to a woman) si mi
What's new? čo nové?
Nothing new Nič nové
Thank you (very much)! Ďakujem (veľmi pekne)!
You're welcome! (for "thank you") Prosím! Nech sa páči!
My pleasure Teší ma
Come in! (or: enter!) Poďte/ (polite) poď (friendly) ďalej!
Make yourself at home! Cíť (friendly) cítťe (polite) sa tu ako doma

Farewell Expressions

Have a nice day! Prajem príjemný deň!
Good night! Dobrú noc!
Good night and sweet dreams! Dobrú noc a sladké sny!
See you later! Vidíme sa neskôr!
See you soon! Čoskoro sa vidíme!
See you tomorrow! Uvidíme sa zajtra!
Good bye! Dovidenia!
Have a good trip! Šťastnú cestu!
I have to go Musím ísť
I will be right back! Hneď som tu!

Holidays and Wishes

Good luck! Veľa šťastia!
Happy birthday! Všetko najlepšie k narodeninám!
Happy new year! Šťastný Nový rok!
Merry Christmas! Veselé Vianoce!
Happy Easter! Veselú Veľkú Noc!
Happy Holidays! Veselé sviatky!
Congratulations! Blahoželám! Gratulujem!
Enjoy! (or: bon appetit) Dobrú chuť!
Bless you (when sneezing) Na zdravie!
Best wishes! Všetko najlepšie!
Cheers! (or: to your health) Na zdravie!
Accept my best wishes Prajem Vám (polite) /ti (friendly) všetko najlepšie!

How to Introduce Yourself

What's your name? Ako sa voláš? (friendly) Ako sa voláte? (polite)
My name is (John Doe) Volám sa..
Nice to meet you! Teší ma!
Where are you from? Odkiaľ pochádzate (polite) pochádzaš?(friendly)
I'm from (the U.S/ Slovakia) Ja som zo/z ..
I'm (American/ Slovak) Ja som..
Where do you live? Kde bývate?(polite) Kde bývaš?(friendly)
I live in (the U.S/ Slovakia) Bývam v/na..
Do you like it here? Páči sa Vám (polite) /ti (friendly) tu?
Slovakia is a beautiful country Slovensko je krásna krajina
What do you do for a living? Čím sa živíš (friendly) / živíte (polite)? Kde pracuješ (friendly) pracujete (polite)?
I'm a (teacher/ student/ engineer) Ja som (učiteľ / študent / inžinier)
Do you speak (English/ Slovak)? Hovoríte(polite)/hovoríš(friendly) po (slovensky, anglicky)?
Just a little Len trochu
I like Slovak Páči sa mi slovenčina
I'm trying to learn Slovak Snažím sa naučiť po slovensky
It's a hard language Je to ťažký jazyk
It's an easy language je to ľahký jazyk
Oh! That's good! Ó, to je dobré! Skvelé!
Can I practice with you? Môžem s vami cvičiť (precvičovať)?
I will try my best to learn Urobím všetko aby som sa naučil
How old are you? Koľko máte(polite) /máš (friendly) rokov?
I'm (twenty one, thirty two) years old Mám (dvadsaťjeden, tridsaťdva) rokov
It was nice talking to you! Bolo príjemne sa s tebou/vami porozprávať
It was nice meeting you! Tešilo ma!
Mr.../ Mrs. .../ Miss... Pán, pani, slečna
This is my wife Toto je moja manželka
This is my husband Toto je môj manžel
Say hi to Thomas for me Pozdravuj (odo mňa) Tomáša

Romance and Love Phrases

Are you free tomorrow evening? Si voľná (to a woman)/voľný (to a man) zajtra večer?
I would like to invite you to dinner Chcel (a man)/ chcela (a woman) by som vás pozvať na večeru
You look beautiful! (to a woman) Vyzeráte krásne!
You have a beautiful name Máš krásne meno
Can you tell me more about you? Môžeš mi povedať viac o sebe?
Are you married? Si ženatý (to a man) /si vydatá (to a woman) ?
I'm single Som slobodný ( a man)/slobodná (a woman)
I'm married Som ženatý (a man) /vydatá (a woman)
Can I have your phone number? Môžem poprosiť vaše telefónne číslo?
Can I have your email? Môžem poprosit vašu e-mailovú adresu?
Do you have any pictures of you? Máš/mate nejakú tvoju/vašu fotografiu?
Do you have children? Máš detí?
Would you like to go for a walk? Chceš/chcete sa prejsť?
I like you Mám ťa rád
I love you Milujem ťa / ľúbim ťa
You're very special! Si veľmi neobyčajný (to a man) / neobyčajná (to a woman)
You're very kind! Si velmy láskavý(to a man)/ láskavá (to a woman)
I'm very happy Som velmi šťastný ( a man)/ šťastná (a woman)
Would you marry me? Zoberieš si ma? Vydáš sa za mňa?
I'm just kidding Ja len žartujem
I'm serious Moje srdce hovorí jazykom lásky
My heart speaks the language of love

Solving a Misunderstanding

Sorry! (or: I beg your pardon!) Ospravedlňujem sa!
Sorry (for a mistake) Prepáčte!
No problem! Nie je problém
Can you repeat please? Môžete zopakovať, prosím?
Can you speak slowly? Môžete hovoriť pomaly?
Can you write it down? Môžete si to opísať?
Did you understand what I said? Pochopili ste čo som povedal?
I don't understand! Nerozumiem tomu!
I don't know! Ja neviem!
What's that called in Slovak? Ako sa tomu hovorí po slovensky?
What does that word mean in English? Čo znamená toto slovo po anglický?
How do you say "thanks" in Slovak? Ako sa povie "ďakujem", po slovensky?
What is this? Čo je to?
My Slovak is bad Moja slovenčina nie je dobrá
Don't worry! Nebojte sa!
I agree with you Súhlasím s vami
Is that right? Je to správne?
Is that wrong? Nie je to správne?
What should I say? Čo mám povedať?
I just need to practice Potrebujem prax
Your Slovak is good Vaša/Tvoja slovenčina je dobrá
I have an accent Mám prízvuk
You don't have an accent Nemáte prízvuk

Asking for Directions

Excuse me! (before asking someone) Prepáčte prosím!
I'm lost Stratil/a som sa
Can you help me? Môžete mi prosím pomôcť?
Can I help you? Môžem vám nejako pomôcť?
I'm not from here Nie som odtiaľto
How can I get to (this place, this city)? Ako sa dostanem do ?
Go straight Choďte priamo
Then Potom
Turn left Zabočte vľavo
Turn right Zabočte vpravo
Can you show me? Môžete mi ukázať?
I can show you! Môžem vám ukázať!
Come with me! Poďte so mnou!
How long does it take to get there? Ako dlho môže trvať cesta tam?
Downtown (city center) Centrum mesta
Historic center (old city) Historické centrum
It's near here Je to odtiaľto blízko
It's far from here Je to odtiaľto ďaleko
Is it within walking distance? Dá sa tam ísť peši?
I'm looking for Mr. Smith Hľadám pána Smitha
One moment please! Chvíľočku, prosím
Hold on please! (when on the phone) Vydržte chvíľu, prosím
He is not here Nie je tu
Airport Letisko
Bus station Autobusová stanica
Train station Vlaková stanica
Taxi Taxík
Near Blízko
Far Ďaleko

Emergency Survival Phrases

Help! Pomoc!
Stop! Stop!
Fire! Požiar!
Thief! Zlodej!
Run! Utekaj!
Watch out! (or: be alert!) Dajte si pozor!
Call the police! Zavolajte políciu!
Call a doctor! Zavolajte doktora!
Call the ambulance! Zavolajte záchranku!
Are you okay? Si v poriadku?
I feel sick Je mi zle
I need a doctor Potrebujem lekára
Accident Nehoda
Food poisoning Otrava jedlom
Where is the closest pharmacy? Kde je najbližšia lekáreň?
It hurts here Bolí ma tu
It's urgent! Je to naliehavé/urgentné
Calm down! Upokoj sa!
You will be okay! Budete v poriadku
Can you help me? Môžete mi pomôcť?
Can I help you? Môžem vám nejako pomôcť?

Hotel Restaurant Travel Phrases

I have a reservation (for a room) Mám rezervovanú izbu
Do you have rooms available? Máte voľne izby?
With shower / With bathroom So sprchou/s kúpeľnou
I would like a non-smoking room Prosím si nefajčiarsku izbu
What is the charge per night? Aká je cena za jednu noc?
I'm here on business /on vacation Som na služobnej ceste/ som na dovolenke
Dirty špinavý
Clean čistý
Do you accept credit cards? Beriete kreditne karty?
I'd like to rent a car Rád by som si požičal auto
How much will it cost? Koľko to bude stať?
A table for (one / two) please! Stôl pre (jedného, dvoch) prosím!
Is this seat taken? Je toto miesto obsadené?
I'm vegetarian Som vegetarián
I don't eat pork Nejem bravčové
I don't drink alcohol Nepijem alkohol
What's the name of this dish? Ako sa volá toto jedlo?
Waiter / waitress! čašník, čašnícka
Can we have the check please? účet prosím
It is very delicious! Nepáči sa mi to
I don't like it Je veľmi chutné!

Shopping Expressions

How much is this? Koľko je to, koľko to stojí?
I'm just looking Len sa pozerám
I don't have change Nemám drobné
This is too expensive je to príliš drahé
Expensive drahý
Cheap lacný

Daily Expressions

What time is it? Koľko je hodín?
It's 3 o'clock Je tretia hodina
Give me this! Daj mi to
Are you sure? Si si istý?
Take this! (when giving something) Nech sa páči! Tu máš.
It's freezing (weather) Mrzne
It's cold (weather) Zima
It's hot (weather) Horúco
Do you like it? Páči sa ti to
I really like it! Moc sa mi to páči
I'm hungry Som hladný
I'm thirsty Som smädný
He is funny On je vtipný
In The Morning Ráno
In the evening Večer
At Night V noci
Hurry up! Poponáhľajte sa!

Cuss Words (polite)

This is nonsense! (or: this is craziness) To je nezmysel
My God! (to show amazement) Bože môj
Oh gosh! (when making a mistake) Jáj
It sucks! (or: this is not good) Jáj
What's wrong with you? čo je s tebou?
Are you crazy? Zbláznil/Zbláznila si sa?
Get lost! (or: go away!) zmizni, chod' preč
Leave me alone! Nechaj ma!
I'm not interested! Nemám záujem

Writing a Letter

Dear John Milý John
My trip was very nice Môj výlet bol veľmi dobrý
The culture and people were very interesting Kultúra a ľudia boli veľmi zaujímavé
I had a good time with you Dobre som strávil čas s Vami
I would love to visit your country again Chcel by som zase navštíviť vašu/tvoju krajinu
Don't forget to write me back from time to time Nezabúdaj mi občas napísať

Short Expressions and words

Good Dobre
Bad Zle
So-so (or: not bad not good) tak nejako,
Big Veľký
Small Malý
Today Dnes
Now Teraz
Tomorrow Zajtra
Yesterday Včera
Yes Áno
No Nie
Fast Rýchly
Slow Pomalý
Hot Horúci
Cold Hladný
This Tento
That Ten
Here Tu
There Tam
Me (ie. Who did this? - Me) ja som
You Ty ( singular) Vy (plural)
Him Jeho
Her Jej
Us Nás
Them Ich
Really? Naozaj
Look! Pozrite sa!
What? Čo?
Where? Kde
Who? Kto
How? Ako
When? Kedy
Why? Prečo
Zero Nula
One Jeden, jedna, jedno
Two Dva, dve
Three Tri
Four Štyri
Five Päť
Six Šesť
Seven Sedem
Eight Osem
Nine Deväť
Ten Desať