Nationalities and Languages

Level 2

For each nationality Slovak has a word for a man (Slovák) and a word for a woman (Slovenka), both capitalized. It also has a lowercase adjective (slovenský) and a lowercase language name (slovenčina).

How It Works

The word family. Country, man, woman, adjective, language and how you speak it:

  • Slovensko: Slovák, Slovenka (plural Slováci); slovenský; slovenčina; po slovensky
  • Česko: Čech, Češka (Česi); český; čeština; po česky
  • Nemecko: Nemec, Nemka (Nemci); nemecký; nemčina; po nemecky
  • Maďarsko: Maďar, Maďarka (Maďari); maďarský; maďarčina; po maďarsky
  • Poľsko: Poliak, Poľka (Poliaci); poľský; poľština; po poľsky
  • Anglicko: Angličan, Angličanka (Angličania); anglický; angličtina; po anglicky
  • Francúzsko: Francúz, Francúzka (Francúzi); francúzsky; francúzština; po francúzsky

The woman's word usually ends in -ka. The plural for men is covered in plural nouns for men.

Capital letters. Only the words for people take a capital, because they name members of a nation, just like the inhabitants of a town (Bratislavčan). Adjectives and language names are lowercase: Slováci hovoria po slovensky, slovenská kuchyňa, Učím sa slovenčinu.

Using them. Som Slovák. Som Slovenka. The adjective agrees with its noun (adjective agreement): slovenský film, slovenská hudba, slovenské víno. The language is an ordinary feminine noun: Učím sa slovenčinu (accusative). For speaking and understanding use po slovensky: Hovorím po slovensky. The country names are neuter nouns; see countries with na and v.

Examples (6)

  1. Som Slovák, ale moja žena je Nemka.

    I'm Slovak, but my wife is German.

    Word by Word: I-am Slovak, but my wife is German-woman.

  2. Jana je Slovenka z Košíc.

    Jana is a Slovak woman from Košice.

    Word by Word: Jana is Slovak-woman from Košice.

  3. Učím sa slovenčinu už rok.

    I've been learning Slovak for a year.

    Word by Word: I-learn myself Slovak already year.

    Slovenčina is a feminine noun, so its accusative is slovenčinu. It is written in lowercase.

  4. Mám rád slovenskú hudbu.

    I like Slovak music.

    Word by Word: I-have glad Slovak music.

    The adjective slovenský agrees with the feminine noun hudba.

  5. Hovoríš po anglicky?

    Do you speak English?

    Word by Word: You-speak in English-way?

  6. Slováci a Česi si dobre rozumejú.

    Slovaks and Czechs understand each other well.

    Word by Word: Slovaks and Czechs themselves well understand.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing the language or the adjective with a capital letter, as in English.

    Učím sa Slovenčinu.
    Učím sa slovenčinu.

    Only the words for people (Slovák, Slovenka) are capitalized. Language names and adjectives such as slovenský are lowercase.

  • Using the man's word when a woman speaks about herself.

    Jana: Som Slovák.
    Jana: Som Slovenka.

    Slovák refers to a man. A woman says Som Slovenka, and a German woman says Som Nemka.

  • Using the language noun after hovoriť.

    Hovorím slovenčina.
    Hovorím po slovensky.

    To say what language you speak, use po and the -sky form. Slovenčina is the name of the language, as in Učím sa slovenčinu.

How It Connects

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

Nationalities and LanguagesLevel 2

Learn This First

Before Nationalities and Languages, learn Speaking a Language. Language names connect to po slovensky and similar adverbs.

Words in This Pattern

SlovákSlovenkaslovenskýslovenčina