Colloquial Versus Standard Forms
Spoken Jak sa máš? is standard Ako sa máš? (How are you?). In the same way, šak becomes však or veď, furt becomes stále, and bysme becomes by sme.
How It Works
Two layers of the language. Standard Slovak is the codified language of books, schools, the news and official life. Everyday conversation is more relaxed. It uses shortened words, forms from the dialects and words that sound Czech.
Common spoken forms and their standard equivalents.
- jak → ako (how, like): Ako sa máš?
- šak → však or veď (but, after all): Veď som ti to hovoril! See však.
- bysme → by sme (we would): Išli by sme do kina. The conditional keeps by and sme as two words.
- furt → stále (all the time)
- behom → počas (during). See počas instead of behom.
Grammar in speech. Spoken Slovak also uses the unchanging relative word čo instead of ktorý and regional pronouns such as dačo and dakto.
What to do as a learner. You will hear these forms in films, in songs and from friends, so learn to recognize them. In e-mails, essays, job applications and any formal situation, use the standard forms. They are never wrong, while the spoken forms can sound careless in writing.
Examples (5)
- Ako sa máš?
How are you?
Word by Word: How yourself you-have?
In relaxed speech you will often hear Jak sa máš?
- Veď som ti to hovoril!
But I told you!
Word by Word: After-all I-have to-you it told!
Colloquially: Šak som ti to hovoril!
- Išli by sme do kina.
We would go to the cinema.
Word by Word: Went would we-are to cinema.
Colloquially: Išli bysme do kina.
- Stále prší.
It keeps raining.
Word by Word: All-the-time rains.
Colloquially: Furt prší.
- Nevieš, ako sa to robí?
Do you know how it's done?
Word by Word: You-don't-know, how itself it does?
Ako also introduces indirect questions; the spoken form is jak.
Common Mistakes
Writing the spoken form jak in a formal message.
Jak Vám môžem pomôcť? (in a formal e-mail)Ako Vám môžem pomôcť?Jak is not part of standard Slovak. In writing and formal speech, use ako.
Writing bysme as one word.
Radi bysme Vás pozvali na večeru.Radi by sme Vás pozvali na večeru.The conditional is by + sme, written as two words. Bysme is a spoken, non-standard form.
Writing šak in an essay.
Šak to nie je pravda. (in a school essay)Veď to nie je pravda.Šak is a spoken form. Standard Slovak uses veď or však.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- Slovak Dialect Regions
Many spoken forms come from the regional dialects.
Level 6 - Colloquial čo for ktorý
A typical grammar feature of relaxed speech.
Level 6 - dačo / dakto / voľajakýColloquial Dačo and Dakto
Regional pronouns that sound informal next to niečo and niekto.
Level 6 - Standard počas Instead of behom
Another spoken form that careful Slovak replaces.
Level 6 - The Conditional Mood
The standard conditional writes by sme, by ste as separate words.
Level 3 - všakHowever: Však
The standard word behind the spoken šak.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice Colloquial Versus Standard Forms in Bubblegum
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