po slovensky
Speaking a Language
Po slovensky means "in Slovak": Hovoríte po slovensky? (Do you speak Slovak?) Put in another language the same way: po anglicky, po nemecky, po česky.
How It Works
Making the language word: Take the adjective and shorten its ending to -y:
slovenský → po slovensky, anglický → po anglicky, nemecký → po nemecky, český → po česky, ruský → po rusky.
Long ý or short y: The accent mark matters (see dĺžeň a dlhé samohlásky). Slovenský with a long ý describes a noun: slovenský film (a Slovak film). Slovensky with a short y tells how you speak: po slovensky.
Small letters: Language words are written with a small letter: po anglicky, not po Anglicky.
Useful sentences:
Ako sa to povie po slovensky? (How do you say that in Slovak?)
Hovorím len trochu po slovensky. (I only speak a little Slovak.)
The language as a thing: To talk about the language itself, use the noun slovenčina: Učím sa slovenčinu. (I'm learning Slovak.) Slovenčina je krásna. (Slovak is beautiful.) See Slovák, Slovenka, slovenský, slovenčina.
Examples (5)
- Hovoríte po slovensky?
Do you speak Slovak?
Word by Word: Speak-you in Slovak?
- Rozumiem trochu po anglicky.
I understand a little English.
Word by Word: I-understand a-little in English.
- Ako sa to povie po slovensky?
How do you say that in Slovak?
Word by Word: How itself that says in Slovak?
- Moja mama hovorí po nemecky aj po maďarsky.
My mom speaks German and Hungarian.
Word by Word: My mom speaks in German also in Hungarian.
- Píšem list po slovensky.
I'm writing a letter in Slovak.
Word by Word: I-write letter in Slovak.
Common Mistakes
Using the adjective with a long ý.
Hovorím po slovenský.Hovorím po slovensky.After po you need the adverb, which ends in a short y. Slovenský with a long ý describes a noun.
Writing the language with a capital letter.
Hovoríte po Slovensky?Hovoríte po slovensky?Language words are written with a small letter in Slovak.
Using the noun slovenčina after po.
Hovorím po slovenčine.Hovorím po slovensky.Po takes the adverb slovensky. Use slovenčina when the language itself is the subject or object: Učím sa slovenčinu.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Speaking a Language, learn Present Verbs in -ím. Hovorím po slovensky uses a present verb in -ím.
Related Patterns
- Nationalities and Languages
Shows the people, adjective and noun that go with the language adverb.
Level 2 - -o / -e / -yAdverbs from Adjectives
Explains how adverbs like slovensky are formed from adjectives.
Level 2 - Long Vowels
The long ý versus short y is what separates slovenský and slovensky.
Level 1 - Yes-No Questions
Hovoríte po slovensky? is a typical yes-no question.
Level 1 - -iem / -ejúPresent Verbs Like Rozumieť
Rozumieť (rozumiem) is the other common verb with po slovensky.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice po slovensky in Bubblegum
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