hovorí sa, že

People Say That

Level 4

Put sa with a third-person singular verb of saying or thinking, then že: Hovorí sa, že..., Vie sa, že..., Predpokladá sa, že... No one is named; it means people in general.

How It Works

Common verbs.

  • hovorí sa, vraví sa – people say (everyday)
  • vie sa – it is known
  • verí sa – people believe
  • predpokladá sa, očakáva sa – it is assumed, it is expected (news and formal style)
  • tvrdí sa – it is claimed

Always third person singular. There is no subject, so the verb does not change for anyone: hovorí sa (present), hovorilo sa (past, neuter -lo), bude sa hovoriť (future): Kedysi sa verilo, že Zem je plochá. (People once believed the Earth was flat.)

Where sa goes. Sa sits in second position. At the start of a sentence it follows the verb: Hovorí sa, že... After another first word it moves forward: O novom šéfovi sa hovorí, že je prísny.

The same pattern as the reflexive passive. This is the reflexive passive with a že clause in place of a subject.

Other ways to say it. A plural verb without a subject also means "they say": Hovoria, že bude zima. The small word vraj does the same job inside a sentence: Vraj bude zima.

A fixed phrase. Ako sa hovorí, ... introduces a saying: Ako sa hovorí, lepšie neskoro ako nikdy. (As they say, better late than never.)

Examples (6)

  1. Hovorí sa, že táto zima bude tuhá.

    They say this winter will be harsh.

    Word by Word: It-is-said, that this winter will-be harsh.

  2. Vie sa, že tu kedysi stál hrad.

    It is known that a castle once stood here.

    Word by Word: It-is-known, that here once stood castle.

  3. Kedysi sa verilo, že Zem je plochá.

    People once believed that the Earth was flat.

    Word by Word: Once it-was-believed, that Earth is flat.

    Past tense: the verb ends in -lo.

  4. O novom šéfovi sa hovorí, že je prísny.

    People say the new boss is strict.

    Word by Word: About new boss it-is-said, that he-is strict.

    Another word comes first, so sa follows it.

  5. Predpokladá sa, že ceny ešte stúpnu.

    Prices are expected to rise further.

    Word by Word: It-is-assumed, that prices still will-rise.

  6. Ako sa hovorí, lepšie neskoro ako nikdy.

    As they say, better late than never.

    Word by Word: As it-is-said, better late than never.

Common Mistakes

  • Starting the sentence with sa.

    Sa hovorí, že bude pršať.
    Hovorí sa, že bude pršať.

    Sa can never be the first word. Put the verb first (Hovorí sa, že...), or let another word come before sa (Všade sa hovorí, že...).

  • Using a feminine or masculine past form.

    Hovorila sa, že budú voľby.
    Hovorilo sa, že budú voľby.

    There is no subject, so the past form is neuter: hovorilo sa, vedelo sa, verilo sa.

  • Making the verb plural with sa.

    Hovoria sa, že bude zima.
    Hovorí sa, že bude zima.

    With sa the verb is singular: hovorí sa. Without sa you can use the plural: Hovoria, že bude zima.

How It Connects

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

hovorí sa, žeLevel 4People Say That

Learn This First

Before People Say That, learn Reflexive Passive and Saying That: že. hovorí sa is a reflexive passive. It is followed by a že clause.

Words in This Pattern

hovorí sa