proti / oproti + Dative

Against and Opposite

Level 4

Both prepositions take the dative. Proti is for going or being against something, including a remedy against an illness. Oproti is for a place facing something and for comparisons.

How It Works

proti: against

  • against a force or direction: proti vetru (against the wind), plávať proti prúdu (swim against the current)
  • opposition: Som proti tomu. (I'm against it.) hlasovať proti návrhu (vote against a proposal), protest proti vojne (a protest against the war)
  • sport: Slovensko hrá proti Česku. (Slovakia is playing against the Czech Republic.)
  • protection or remedy: liek proti bolesti (a painkiller), očkovanie proti chrípke (a flu jab)

oproti: opposite, compared with

  • a place facing something: oproti škole (opposite the school), Sedel oproti mne. (He sat opposite me.)
  • comparison: oproti minulému roku (compared with last year)
  • as an adverb, with no noun: Býva oproti. (He lives across the street.) Išla mi oproti. (She came out to meet me.)

Where they overlap. Proti can also describe a place facing something or a comparison (sedieť proti oknu, to sit facing the window; proti nemu je malý, he is small compared with him). Oproti is the more common choice for these, but for opposition and "being against" only proti is right.

Forms. Nouns are in the dative: vietor → vetru, škola → škole, rok → roku. Third-person pronouns start with n-: proti nemu, oproti nej. See pronouns after prepositions.

For "compared with", Slovak also uses ako and než after a comparative: Je teplejšie ako minulý rok.

Examples (6)

  1. Celý deň sme išli na bicykli proti vetru.

    We cycled against the wind all day.

    Word by Word: Whole day are went on bicycle against wind.

  2. Máte niečo proti bolesti hlavy?

    Do you have anything for a headache?

    Word by Word: You-have something against pain of-head?

  3. Som proti tomu návrhu.

    I'm against that proposal.

    Word by Word: I-am against that proposal.

  4. Zajtra hráme proti Česku.

    Tomorrow we're playing against the Czech Republic.

    Word by Word: Tomorrow we-play against Czechia.

  5. Lekáreň je oproti škole.

    The pharmacy is opposite the school.

    Word by Word: Pharmacy is opposite school.

  6. Oproti minulému roku je tu oveľa viac turistov.

    Compared with last year, there are many more tourists here.

    Word by Word: Compared-with last year is here much more tourists.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the genitive after proti.

    Som proti toho.
    Som proti tomu.

    Proti takes the dative: to → tomu, návrh → návrhu.

  • Using oproti for opposition.

    Hlasoval oproti návrhu.
    Hlasoval proti návrhu.

    The intended meaning is "He voted against the proposal". Oproti is for places and comparisons. Being against something is proti.

  • Using the plain pronoun form after the preposition.

    Sedela oproti jemu.
    Sedela oproti nemu.

    After a preposition, third-person pronouns start with n-: oproti nemu, proti nej, proti nim.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

proti / oproti + DativeLevel 4Against and Opposite

Learn This First

Before Against and Opposite, learn Dative Singular Endings. proti and oproti take dative endings.

Words in This Pattern

oproti