Months and Seasons
Months take v with the locative: v januári, vo februári, v máji. Summer and winter take v with the locative (v lete, v zime), and spring and autumn usually take na with the accusative (na jar, na jeseň).
How It Works
Months. Use v with the locative:
| Month | In that month | Month | In that month |
|---|---|---|---|
| január | v januári | júl | v júli |
| február | vo februári | august | v auguste |
| marec | v marci | september | v septembri |
| apríl | v apríli | október | v októbri |
| máj | v máji | november | v novembri |
| jún | v júni | december | v decembri |
Február takes vo because v and f are a matching pair of sounds (see prepositions with an extra vowel). Marec loses its e: v marci.
Seasons.
- leto → v lete (in summer)
- zima → v zime (in winter)
- jar → na jar (in spring)
- jeseň → na jeseň or v jeseni (in autumn)
Na leto and na zimu also exist, but they mean for the summer and for the winter: Na zimu potrebujem nové čižmy. (I need new boots for the winter.) This is the purpose meaning of na with the accusative.
Days of the week use a different pattern: v pondelok.
Examples (6)
- Narodila som sa v januári.
I was born in January.
Word by Word: I-was-born in January.
A female speaker says narodila; január becomes januári.
- Vo februári je veľa snehu.
There is a lot of snow in February.
Word by Word: In February is much of-snow.
Február takes vo.
- V lete ideme k moru.
In the summer we're going to the sea.
Word by Word: In summer we-go to sea.
- V zime lyžujeme v Tatrách.
In winter we ski in the Tatras.
Word by Word: In winter we-ski in Tatras.
- Na jar kvitnú stromy.
In spring the trees blossom.
Word by Word: In spring blossom trees.
Spring takes na with the accusative.
- Na jeseň padá lístie.
In autumn the leaves fall.
Word by Word: In autumn falls foliage.
V jeseni is also standard.
Common Mistakes
Using v with spring.
V jar kvitnú stromy.Na jar kvitnú stromy.Spring always takes na: na jar.
Leaving the month in the nominative.
Prídem v január.Prídem v januári.After v meaning in, a month takes the locative: v januári.
Capitalizing a month.
Narodil som sa v Máji.Narodil som sa v máji.Slovak writes months, seasons and days in lowercase.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Months and Seasons, learn Locative Singular Endings. v januári and v lete use locative endings.
Related Patterns
- v / vo / na + LocativeWhere: V and Na with the Locative
The same v + locative that gives location also gives time.
Level 1 - na + AccusativeGoing Onto and to: Na
Na jar and na jeseň use na with the accusative.
Level 2 - v + Accusative (Days)Days of the Week
Days of the week take v with the accusative.
Level 2 - Prepositions With an Extra Vowel
Explains vo februári.
Level 2 - Saying the Date
Full dates use the genitive of the month.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice Months and Seasons in Bubblegum
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