Ako sa máš / Ako sa máte
Asking How Someone Is
Ask a friend Ako sa máš? and a stranger or a group Ako sa máte? Answer Mám sa dobre, ďakujem.
How It Works
Asking. The form of mať shows who you are talking to (see tykanie a vykanie):
- Ako sa máš? to one friend, relative or child.
- Ako sa máte? to one person you address politely, or to several people.
- About others: Ako sa má Peter? Ako sa majú deti?
The forms follow mať v prítomnom čase, and sa is the small word from zvratné slovesá so sa.
Answering. Use mám sa + an adverb, not an adjective (see príslovky na -o, -e, -y):
- Mám sa dobre / výborne. (I'm fine / great.) Casually, people also say Mám sa fajn.
- Nemám sa zle. (I'm not bad.)
- Ujde to. (So-so.) This is casual.
It is polite to thank the person and ask back: Mám sa dobre, ďakujem. A ty? / A vy?
Examples (6)
- Ahoj, Peter! Ako sa máš?
Hi, Peter! How are you?
Informal, to one friend.
- Dobrý deň, pani Kováčová. Ako sa máte?
Hello, Mrs Kováčová. How are you?
Polite, to someone you address with vy.
- Mám sa dobre, ďakujem. A ty?
I'm fine, thank you. And you?
Word by Word: I-have myself well, I-thank. And you?
The answer uses mám sa and the adverb dobre.
- Nemám sa zle.
I'm not bad.
Ne- joins the verb: nemám.
- Mám sa výborne!
I'm great!
- Ako sa majú vaši rodičia?
How are your parents?
Majú is the "they" form.
Common Mistakes
Answering with byť, copying English "I am good".
Som dobre.Mám sa dobre.The question uses mať sa, so the answer does too: mám sa dobre.
Using the adjective dobrý instead of the adverb dobre.
Mám sa dobrý.Mám sa dobre.Mať sa is described with an adverb such as dobre, výborne or zle, not with an adjective.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Asking How Someone Is, learn Informal ty and Polite vy. Ako sa máš and Ako sa máte differ as ty and vy.
Related Patterns
- maťPresent Tense of Mať
The forms mám, máš, má, máme, máte, majú.
Level 1 - Verb + saReflexive Verbs with Sa
Mať sa is one of many verbs used with sa.
Level 2 - -o / -e / -yAdverbs from Adjectives
Explains the adverbs dobre, zle and výborne in the answer.
Level 2 - chce sa mi / darí sa miFeeling Like It and Doing Well
Ako sa ti darí? is another way to ask how things are going.
Level 3 - Ahoj / ČauInformal Hi and Bye
The informal greeting that often comes first.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice Ako sa máš / Ako sa máte in Bubblegum
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