Vážený pán / Vážená pani

Formal Letters and Capital Vy

Level 5

A formal letter opens with Vážený pán (to a man) or Vážená pani (to a woman) and a title or surname in the nominative: Vážený pán riaditeľ, Vážená pani Nováková. Polite Vy, Váš and Vám are capitalised: Ďakujem Vám za odpoveď.

How It Works

The salutation. Use Vážený pán for a man and Vážená pani for a woman, followed by a title or a surname. Everything stays in the nominative (see pán and pani):

  • Vážený pán riaditeľ, / Vážená pani riaditeľka, (director)
  • Vážený pán profesor, / Vážená pani doktorka,
  • Vážený pán Novák, / Vážená pani Nováková,
  • to a group: Vážení páni, / Vážené dámy, vážení páni,

Czech uses a vocative here (Vážený pane). Standard Slovak does not; the old vocative survives only in a few fixed expressions (see old address forms).

Comma, then a small letter. The salutation is part of the first sentence. It ends with a comma, and after an empty line the text continues with a small letter: Vážená pani Nováková, / ďakujem Vám za ...

Capital Vy. In correspondence addressed to a specific person, both private and official, the forms of polite vy and ty are written with a capital letter as a sign of respect: Vy, Vás, Vám, Vami, Váš, Vaša (and Ty, Tvoj in a personal letter). This applies to letters, greeting cards and e-mails. Texts for the general public, such as instructions and advertising, as well as text messages and social media, use small letters. The agreement rules for vy do not change; see polite vy in the past.

Closing. Common endings are S pozdravom (Kind regards) and, more formally, S úctou (Yours respectfully). Formal letters also like fixed phrases such as dovoľujem si.

Examples (5)

  1. Vážený pán riaditeľ, dovoľte mi poďakovať Vám za pozvanie.

    Dear Director, allow me to thank you for the invitation.

    Word by Word: Respected sir director, allow me to-thank you for invitation.

    After the comma the text continues with a small letter.

  2. Vážená pani Nováková, ďakujem Vám za rýchlu odpoveď.

    Dear Mrs Nováková, thank you for your quick reply.

    Word by Word: Respected madam Nováková, I-thank you for quick reply.

  3. Vážená pani riaditeľka, posielam Vám požadované dokumenty.

    Dear Madam Director, I am sending you the requested documents.

    Word by Word: Respected madam director(f), I-send you requested documents.

  4. Ďakujem Vám za Váš list z 12. mája.

    Thank you for your letter of 12 May.

    Word by Word: I-thank you for your letter from 12th of-May.

  5. Teším sa na Vašu odpoveď.

    I look forward to your reply.

    Word by Word: I-look-forward to your reply.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Czech vocative pane.

    Vážený pane Novák,
    Vážený pán Novák,

    Slovak letters use the nominative pán. Vážený pane is the Czech form.

  • Starting the text after the salutation with a capital letter.

    Vážená pani Nováková, Ďakujem Vám za odpoveď.
    Vážená pani Nováková, ďakujem Vám za odpoveď.

    The salutation is part of the first sentence, so after the comma the text continues with a small letter.

  • Writing polite forms with a small letter in a letter to a specific person.

    Ďakujem vám za váš list.
    Ďakujem Vám za Váš list.

    In correspondence addressed to a specific person, Vy, Vám and Váš are written with a capital letter as a sign of respect.

How It Connects

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

Vážený pán / Vážená paniLevel 5Formal Letters and Capital Vy

Learn This First

Before Formal Letters and Capital Vy, learn Mr and Mrs: pán and pani. Formal letters use pán and pani.

Words in This Pattern

váženýváš