však
However: Však
Však means however or but. Unlike ale, it does not open its clause. It comes after the first stressed word or phrase.
How It Works
Ale and však. Both show a contrast, and they mean the same thing here:
- Chcel som prísť, ale nemal som čas.
- Chcel som prísť, nemal som však čas.
Both sentences mean “I wanted to come, but I didn't have time.” Však is common in writing and careful speech; ale is the everyday choice.
Its place in the clause. Však comes after the first stressed word or phrase: Peter však neprišiel. (Peter, however, didn't come.) If the clause has unstressed words like som, sa, mi or ho, they come first and však follows them: Nemal som však čas. Deti sa však hrali vonku. See unstressed words in second position.
Commas. Put the usual comma between the two clauses, but no commas around však itself: Bolo zima, deti sa však hrali vonku. This is different from English “however,”.
One contrast word is enough. Ale and však both mean but, so do not use them together in one clause.
Other uses of však. At the very start of a sentence, však is a particle meaning “after all” or “surely”: Však to má čas. (There's no rush, after all.) At the end of a question it asks for agreement: Je to pekné, však? See tag questions. You may also see avšak, but Slovak language guides mark it as less suitable and recommend ale, no or však instead.
Examples (6)
- Chcel som prísť, nemal som však čas.
I wanted to come, but I didn't have time.
Word by Word: I-wanted AUX to-come, not-had AUX however time.
- Peter však neprišiel.
Peter, however, didn't come.
Word by Word: Peter however not-came.
- Byt je malý, cena je však dobrá.
The flat is small, but the price is good.
Word by Word: Flat is small, price is however good.
- Bolo zima, deti sa však hrali vonku.
It was cold, but the children played outside.
Word by Word: Was cold, children themselves however played outside.
Sa comes right after deti, and však follows it.
- Slovenčina je ťažká, učím sa ju však rád.
Slovak is hard, but I enjoy learning it.
Word by Word: Slovak is hard, I-learn myself it however gladly.
- Tento film som však ešte nevidel.
I haven't seen this film yet, though.
Word by Word: This film AUX however yet not-seen.
Common Mistakes
Putting však at the start of the clause, the way ale is used.
Chcel som prísť, však nemal som čas.Chcel som prísť, nemal som však čas.As a word meaning but, však stands after the first stressed word of its clause. If you want to start the clause, use ale: Chcel som prísť, ale nemal som čas.
Using ale and však together.
Chcel som prísť, ale nemal som však čas.Chcel som prísť, ale nemal som čas.Ale and však both mean but. Pick one of them.
Setting však off with commas like English however.
Nemal som, však, čas.Nemal som však čas.Však is a linking word inside the clause, so it gets no commas of its own.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before However: však, learn And, But and Or. však means but or however, like ale.
Related Patterns
- však? / že? / nie?Tag Questions
The same word at the end of a question asks the listener to agree.
Level 3 - Unstressed Words in Second Position
Explains why som, sa and mi come before však.
Level 3 - hociAlthough: Hoci
Hoci expresses a contrast in a subordinate clause: although.
Level 3 - preto / takSo and Therefore
Another pair of linking words, for a result instead of a contrast.
Level 3
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Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
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