Slovak, a West Slavic language, is primarily spoken in Slovakia. It shares many similarities with Czech and Polish, making it an interesting language for those looking to explore Central Europe’s culture and history. Learning Slovak can significantly enhance your experience in Slovakia, from navigating cities to engaging with locals. This lesson covers essential conversational phrases and questions in Slovak to facilitate various social interactions.

Greetings

• Hello/Hi – “Ahoj” (informal) / “Dobrý deň” (formal)
• Good morning – “Dobré ráno”
• Good afternoon – “Dobré popoludnie”
• Good evening – “Dobrý večer”
• Goodbye – “Dovidenia” (formal) / “Čau” (informal)

Introducing Yourself or Others

• My name is [name]. – “Volám sa [name].”
• This is [name]. – “Toto je [name].”
• I am from [country]. – “Som z [country].”
• I live in [city/place]. – “Bývam v [city/place].”

Asking for Directions or People

• Where is the [place]? – “Kde je [place]?”
• How do I get to [place]? – “Ako sa dostanem do [place]?”
• Is this the way to [place]? – “Je toto cesta do [place]?”
• Can you show me on the map? – “Môžete mi to ukázať na mape?”

Solving a Misunderstanding

• Sorry, I don’t understand. – “Prepáčte, nerozumiem.”
• Can you please repeat that? – “Môžete to, prosím, zopakovať?”
• I mean… – “Mám na mysli…”
• What does [word] mean? – “Čo znamená [word]?”

Farewell Expressions

• See you later – “Uvidíme sa neskôr”
• Take care – “Dávaj na seba pozor”
• Have a good day – “Prajem ti pekný deň”

Travel and Dining

• I would like to book a room. – “Chcel by som rezervovať izbu.”
• Can I see the menu, please? – “Môžem vidieť menu, prosím?”
• I am vegetarian. – “Som vegetarián(ka).”
• The bill, please. – “Účet, prosím.”

Shopping

• How much does this cost? – “Koľko to stojí?”
• Do you have this in another size? – “Máte to v inej veľkosti?”
• I’m just looking, thanks. – “Len sa pozerám, ďakujem.”
• Can I pay by card? – “Môžem platiť kartou?”

Dating and Love

• You look beautiful. (to a woman) / You look handsome. (to a man) – “Vyzeráš krásne.” / “Vyzeráš pekne.”
• I miss you. – “Chýbaš mi.”
• I love you. – “Ľúbim ťa.”
• Would you like to go out with me? – “Chcel by si so mnou ísť von?”

Emergencies

• Help! – “Pomoc!”
• Call the police! – “Zavolajte políciu!”
• I need a doctor. – “Potrebujem doktora.”
• Where is the nearest hospital? – “Kde je najbližšia nemocnica?”

These phrases offer a solid foundation for basic communication in Slovak. Practice speaking and listening regularly, engage with Slovak media, and don’t hesitate to converse with native speakers. Remember, language learning is a journey—embrace mistakes as learning opportunities and continue to explore the rich linguistic and cultural nuances of the Slovak language.