Feminine Nouns
Most nouns that end in -a are feminine: žena (woman), ulica (street), situácia (situation). They go with tá, moja and adjectives in -á or -ia.
How It Works
Nouns in -a: žena (woman), škola (school), ulica (street), káva (coffee). Nouns in -ia belong here too: situácia (situation), kancelária (office).
Nouns in a consonant: dlaň (palm), pieseň (song), jeseň (autumn), kosť (bone), noc (night). Learn each one with tá: tá pieseň, tá noc.
The -osť rule: Abstract nouns ending in -osť are feminine: radosť (joy), možnosť (chance), minulosť (the past). Careful: hosť (guest) names a person and is masculine.
Women's words: Many nouns for women are made from nouns for men with -ka: učiteľ → učiteľka (teacher), kamarát → kamarátka (friend).
Four model words: Slovak grammars sort feminine nouns by žena, ulica, dlaň and kosť (see vzory ženského rodu: žena, ulica, dlaň, kosť). A first ending to learn: as an object, -a becomes -u: Mám sestru.
Examples (6)
- Moja sestra je doma.
My sister is at home.
Word by Word: My sister is at-home.
- Tá ulica je dlhá.
That street is long.
Word by Word: That street is long.
- Situácia je vážna.
The situation is serious.
Word by Word: Situation is serious.
- Jeseň je krásna.
Autumn is beautiful.
Word by Word: Autumn is beautiful.
Jeseň ends in a consonant but is feminine, so the adjective ends in -a.
- Dobrú noc!
Good night!
Word by Word: Good night!
Noc is feminine; the greeting uses the object form, so dobrá becomes dobrú.
- Moja kamarátka je učiteľka.
My friend is a teacher.
Word by Word: My friend is teacher.
Common Mistakes
Using a masculine adjective with a feminine noun.
Tá situácia je vážny.Tá situácia je vážna.Situácia ends in -ia and is feminine, so the adjective ends in -a.
Treating a feminine noun that ends in a consonant as masculine.
Ten jeseň je krásny.Tá jeseň je krásna.Jeseň is feminine even though it ends in a consonant.
Applying the -osť rule to a noun for a person.
Tá hosť je tu.Ten hosť je tu.Only abstract nouns in -osť are feminine. Hosť (guest) names a person and is masculine.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Feminine Nouns, learn Noun Gender. Feminine is one of the three noun genders.
Related Patterns
- Feminine Declension Types
Gives the case endings of the four feminine model words.
Level 3 - -uFeminine Accusative in -u
The first case ending most feminine nouns show.
Level 1 - Adjective Agreement
Shows the feminine adjective endings -á and -ia.
Level 1 - ten / tá / toThat One by Gender
Tá is the feminine pointing word.
Level 1 - -osť / -stvoAbstract Nouns in -osť and -stvo
Explains the -osť nouns in more depth.
Level 5
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Feminine Nouns in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Slovak lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
