Dobré ráno / Dobrý večer / Dobrú noc
Morning, Evening and Night Greetings
Say Dobré ráno early in the morning and Dobrý večer in the evening. Say Dobrú noc only when you leave at night or go to bed.
How It Works
Which greeting when?
- Dobré ráno (good morning): early in the morning, roughly until nine or ten o'clock. After that, switch to Dobrý deň.
- Dobrý deň (hello, good day): works at any time of day, and it is the usual greeting from mid-morning until evening.
- Dobrý večer (good evening): from the evening on, when you arrive or meet someone.
- Dobrú noc (good night): only when you part late in the evening or before sleep. It is a goodbye, never a greeting.
Why three different endings? The adjective dobrý (good) matches the gender of the noun: ráno is neuter, so dobré; večer is masculine, so dobrý; noc is feminine. See adjective agreement.
With noc the form is dobrú, not dobrá. The phrase is short for Prajem vám dobrú noc (I wish you a good night), and after prajem the noun is the object, so it is in the accusative. Feminine nouns and adjectives end in -u / -ú there. The other greetings are accusative wishes too, but for ráno, deň and večer the accusative looks the same as the nominative, so only noc shows it. See akuzatív ženského rodu na -u.
All of these work with both ty and vy. With friends you can also use Ahoj / Čau.
Examples (5)
- Dobré ráno, mami!
Good morning, Mum!
An early-morning greeting. Ráno is neuter, so the adjective is dobré.
- Dobrý večer, máte voľný stôl?
Good evening, do you have a free table?
Arriving at a restaurant in the evening. Večer is masculine, so the adjective is dobrý.
- Už idem spať. Dobrú noc!
I'm going to bed now. Good night!
Dobrú noc is a goodbye before sleep.
- Dobrú noc a sladké sny!
Good night and sweet dreams!
A warm goodnight, often said to children.
- Prajem vám dobrú noc.
I wish you a good night.
Word by Word: I-wish you good night.
The full sentence shows why the short phrase uses the accusative dobrú noc.
Common Mistakes
Saying Dobrú noc as a greeting when you arrive in the evening.
Dobrú noc, máte voľný stôl?Dobrý večer, máte voľný stôl?Dobrú noc only says goodbye at night. When you arrive or meet someone in the evening, say Dobrý večer.
Using the nominative dobrá noc.
Dobrá noc!Dobrú noc!The wish is short for Prajem vám dobrú noc, so the feminine noun noc takes the accusative adjective dobrú.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Morning, Evening and Night Greetings, learn Neutral Greeting. These greetings follow the same pattern as Dobrý deň.
Related Patterns
- Ahoj / ČauInformal Hi and Bye
The informal greetings you can use with friends at any time.
Level 1 - Dovidenia / Maj saSaying Goodbye
Other ways to say goodbye when you leave.
Level 1 - Adjective Agreement
Explains why dobré, dobrý and dobrú have different endings.
Level 1 - -uFeminine Accusative in -u
Explains the -ú ending in dobrú noc.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice Dobré ráno / Dobrý večer / Dobrú noc in Bubblegum
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