na Slovensku / v Česku
Countries with Na and V
Most countries use v + locative for in and do + genitive for to: v Česku, do Česka. Slovakia uses na: na Slovensku (in Slovakia), na Slovensko (to Slovakia).
How It Works
Most countries: v and do. Use v with the locative for being somewhere and do with the genitive for going there: v Česku → do Česka, v Rakúsku → do Rakúska, v Poľsku → do Poľska, v Nemecku → do Nemecka. Cities work the same way: v Bratislave → do Bratislavy.
Na-names. Slovakia takes na in both meanings, by long tradition:
| Where? | Where to? | From where? |
|---|---|---|
| na Slovensku | na Slovensko | zo Slovenska |
| v Česku | do Česka | z Česka |
Island countries also take na: na Islande, na Kube, na Malte. So do many Slovak regions: na Orave, na Kysuciach, na Záhorí.
Ukraine. Slovak has traditionally said na Ukrajine and na Ukrajinu, like na Slovensku. The Ľ. Štúr Institute of Linguistics also accepts the newer v Ukrajine and do Ukrajiny, which many media now use. Both are standard.
From. Every country uses z or zo with the genitive: z Česka, z Ukrajiny, zo Slovenska. Zo appears before Slovenska because the name starts with s.
Examples (6)
- Bývam na Slovensku.
I live in Slovakia.
Word by Word: I-live on Slovakia.
Location with a na-name: na with the locative.
- V lete cestujeme na Slovensko.
In the summer we're traveling to Slovakia.
Word by Word: In summer we-travel onto Slovakia.
Direction with a na-name: na with the accusative.
- Moja sestra žije v Česku.
My sister lives in Czechia.
Word by Word: My sister lives in Czechia.
- Zajtra letím do Rakúska.
Tomorrow I'm flying to Austria.
Word by Word: Tomorrow I-fly into Austria.
A v-country takes do with the genitive for direction.
- Minulý rok sme boli na Islande.
Last year we were in Iceland.
Word by Word: Last year we-were on Iceland.
Island countries take na.
- Pochádzam zo Slovenska.
I come from Slovakia.
Word by Word: I-come from Slovakia.
For from, even a na-name takes z or zo with the genitive.
Common Mistakes
Using v with Slovakia.
Bývam v Slovensku.Bývam na Slovensku.Slovakia is a na-name. Say na Slovensku for in Slovakia.
Using the locative for direction with a na-name.
Idem na Slovensku.Idem na Slovensko.After a verb of motion, na takes the accusative Slovensko. Na Slovensku only means in Slovakia.
Using v for direction with an ordinary country.
Idem v Rakúsko.Idem do Rakúska.For going to a v-country, use do with the genitive: do Rakúska, do Česka.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Countries With na and v, learn Locative Singular Endings. na Slovensku and v Česku use locative endings.
Related Patterns
- v / vo / na + LocativeWhere: V and Na with the Locative
Supplies the locative forms used for location: v Česku, na Slovensku.
Level 1 - na + AccusativeGoing Onto and to: Na
Supplies the accusative direction used in na Slovensko.
Level 2 - do + GenitiveGoing into: Do
Supplies the direction for most countries: do Česka.
Level 1 - z / zo + GenitiveFrom: Z and Zo
Supplies from for every country: z Česka, zo Slovenska.
Level 1 - Nationalities and Languages
Builds the nationality and language words that go with country names.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice na Slovensku / v Česku in Bubblegum
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