z / zo + Genitive
From: Z and Zo
Z means "from" or "out of": Som z Kanady. (I'm from Canada.) The noun after it always takes the genitive case.
How It Works
Where are you from? Odkiaľ ste? – Som z Kanady. (Where are you from? – I'm from Canada.)
The genitive after z: The noun changes its ending (see genitív jednotného čísla). The first endings you need:
• feminine -a → -y or -e: Kanada → z Kanady, škola → zo školy, práca → z práce
• neuter -o → -a: Slovensko → zo Slovenska, mesto → z mesta
• masculine things → usually -u: dom → z domu, obchod → z obchodu
z or zo? Say and write zo before a word that starts with s, z, š or ž: zo Slovenska, zo zeme, zo školy, zo Žiliny. Also say zo mňa (out of me) and the fixed phrase zo dňa na deň (from one day to the next). Everywhere else use z (see vokalizácia predložiek).
z is not s: The two sound alike, because z sounds like s before p, t, k and other voiceless sounds: z práce is said [spráce]. But s means "with" and takes the instrumental: s kolegom (with a colleague). Ask the question: z čoho? (out of what?) needs z, and s kým? s čím? (with whom? with what?) needs s.
From a person: Use od, not z: darček od mamy (a present from Mom).
Other uses: Z also names what something is made of: sveter z vlny (a wool sweater).
Examples (6)
- Odkiaľ ste? – Som z Kanady.
Where are you from? – I'm from Canada.
Word by Word: From-where are-you? – I-am from Canada.
Kanada becomes Kanady in the genitive.
- Sme zo Slovenska.
We're from Slovakia.
Word by Word: We-are from Slovakia.
Zo, because Slovenska starts with s.
- Práve idem z práce.
I'm just on my way from work.
Word by Word: Just I-go from work.
- Deti prišli zo školy.
The children came back from school.
Word by Word: Children came from school.
Zo, because školy starts with š.
- Vyšla z domu o ôsmej.
She left the house at eight.
Word by Word: She-went-out from house at eight.
- Tento sveter je z vlny.
This sweater is made of wool.
Word by Word: This sweater is from wool.
Common Mistakes
Leaving the noun in the dictionary form after z.
Som z Kanada.Som z Kanady.Z is always followed by the genitive, so Kanada becomes Kanady.
Using z before a word that starts with s.
Som z Slovenska.Som zo Slovenska.Before s, z, š and ž the preposition becomes zo so that it is easy to say.
Writing s instead of z because they sound alike.
Idem s práce.Idem z práce.S means "with" and takes the instrumental. "From work" is z práce, with the genitive.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before From: z and zo, learn The Six Cases. z and zo take the genitive, one of the six cases.
Related Patterns
- Genitive Singular Endings
Shows the genitive endings that every noun after z needs.
Level 2 - Prepositions With an Extra Vowel
Explains when z becomes zo and other prepositions gain a vowel.
Level 2 - do + GenitiveGoing into: Do
The opposite direction: do means into or to, also with the genitive.
Level 1 - s / so + InstrumentalWith: S and So
Sounds like z but means "with" and takes a different case.
Level 1 - bez / u / od / okolo / vedľa / počas + GenitiveCommon Prepositions with the Genitive
Includes od, used for "from" a person.
Level 2 - Voicing Assimilation
Explains why z sounds like s in z práce.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice z / zo + Genitive in Bubblegum
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