To learn Slovak, learn what its marks do to each letter, then practice the sounds English doesn't have before you worry about grammar. About 5 million people speak Slovak as their first language (2012–2021), and Slovakia and the European Union both use it as an official language.

How to Learn Slovak, Step by Step

Spend your first weeks on steps 1 to 4. Steps 5 and 6 keep going after that.

Learn the Four MarksA háček (mäkčeň) changes a letter's sound, as in č and ž, and an acute accent makes it long. Čaj (tea) is a good first word.
Practice ä and ôEnglish has no vowels quite like these, so copy them from audio. Start with mäso (meat).
Say Syllables Without a VowelIn vŕba (willow), the long ŕ makes a syllable by itself, and so does ĺ.
Stress the First SyllableSay the first syllable of each word a little louder, as in dobré ráno (good morning). Slovak keeps this rule almost everywhere.
Follow the Rhythmic LawTwo long syllables can't sit next to each other, so an ending gets shorter after a long syllable. That's why “in the wines” is vínach, where the usual ending is -ách.
Watch the Endings ChangeSlovak nouns have six cases, so ulica (street) can also be ulicu or ulici. Notice the forms in sentences, then practice them with a tutor.

Wiktionary has audio for mäso and lots of other Slovak words, and slovake.eu has free courses, a dictionary and grammar pages. Comprehensible Slovak has listening material from A1 to B2, and italki lists Slovak tutors. For a side-by-side look at study methods, read the best way to learn Slovak, or read the easiest way to learn Slovak to see which parts of Slovak take practice.

Find Where You Are

Bubblegum is a language app with Slovak lessons that come with audio. Poppy, your AI tutor, can write a lesson on any topic you pick, at one of six levels. Find the sentence that describes you, then do what its row says.

Level 1
I'm just starting out or know only a few words.
Listen to a short lesson line by line, and say ä, ô and the long syllables the way you hear them.
Level 2
I can read simple sentences.
Work through a slovake.eu beginner course, and record yourself reading one of its dialogues.
Level 3
I can read short stories and messages.
Listen to News in Easy Slovak, and tell a tutor what one story was about.
Level 4
I can read longer texts about everyday life.
Read the news on STVR's site, and summarize one article for your tutor.
Level 5
I can follow complex topics, but miss some details.
Listen to STVR radio, and pause to repeat one sentence from each show.
Level 6
I can read almost anything.
Read a Slovak novel, and notice where the rhythmic law shortens an ending.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Does It Take to Learn Slovak?

The U.S. Foreign Service Institute counts Slovak among its hard languages, with a course of about 44 full-time weeks for English speakers. The guide to learning Slovak fast shows a 13-week budget at three to five hours a week.

How Many Letters Are in the Slovak Alphabet?

Forty-six, the longest alphabet of any Slavic or European language. Pairs like ch and dz count as single letters too.

Which Slovak App Should a Beginner Choose?

If you are serious about learning Slovak, start with Bubblegum. Poppy writes lessons at your level about things you like. The Slovak app comparison lists courses and tutor sites too.

Is Bubblegum Free?

Yes. The lesson library is free for everyone, because we believe everyone should be able to learn. It holds lessons that other learners asked Poppy for. A new custom lesson costs us real money to make, so your first one is free, and Bubblegum Pro gives you unlimited custom lessons.

How to Learn Slovak, Step by Step