Long and Short Pronoun Forms

Level 3

Several Slovak pronouns have two forms. The short one is the normal, unstressed form; the long one is used when the pronoun carries weight.

How It Works

The pairs (short / long):

  • me: ma / mňa (accusative), mi / mne (dative)
  • you: ťa / teba (accusative), ti / tebe (dative)
  • him, it: ho / jeho (accusative), mu / jemu (dative)
  • oneself: sa / seba (accusative), si / sebe (dative)

Short forms are the default. They are unstressed and stand in the second position of the clause: Vidíš ma? Daj mi to. See unstressed words in second position.

Long forms are used when the pronoun is stressed:

  • at the start of a sentence: Mne sa to páči. Teba som nevidel.
  • for contrast or emphasis: Pozvali mňa, nie teba.
  • on their own: Koho hľadáš? – Teba.
  • after prepositions: pre mňa, ku mne, o tebe. In the third person they start with n-: pre neho. See pronouns after prepositions.

Same meaning, different weight. Páči sa mi to. and Mne sa to páči. both mean “I like it”. The second puts weight on me, often in contrast with someone else.

No separate long form. nás, vás, ich, ju, jej, nám, vám, im look the same whether stressed or not: Nás nepozvali. (They didn't invite us.)

Examples (6)

  1. Vidíš ma?

    Can you see me?

    Word by Word: You-see me?

    Unstressed, so the short form.

  2. Teba som nevidel.

    I didn't see you.

    Word by Word: You AUX not-saw.

    Teba starts the sentence and is stressed: it was you I didn't see.

  3. Mne sa to páči, ale jemu nie.

    I like it, but he doesn't.

    Word by Word: To-me itself it pleases, but to-him not.

  4. Koho hľadáš? – Teba.

    Who are you looking for? – You.

    Word by Word: Whom you-look-for? – You.

  5. Daj mi to.

    Give it to me.

    Word by Word: Give me it.

  6. Tento darček je pre teba.

    This present is for you.

    Word by Word: This present is for you.

Common Mistakes

  • Starting a sentence with a short form.

    Mi sa to páči.
    Mne sa to páči.

    A short form cannot be first. Use the long form mne, or keep the short one after the verb: Páči sa mi to.

  • Using short forms for a contrast.

    Pozvali ťa, nie ma.
    Pozvali teba, nie mňa.

    When you contrast two people, both pronouns are stressed, so use the long forms.

  • Answering with a short form on its own.

    Koho hľadáš? – Ťa.
    Koho hľadáš? – Teba.

    A pronoun that stands alone is stressed, so it takes the long form.

How It Connects

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

Long and Short Pronoun FormsLevel 3

Learn This First

Before Long and Short Pronoun Forms, learn Dative Pronouns. Dative pronouns, which parallel the accusative ones, are where short and long forms are first compared.

Words in This Pattern

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