Ďakujem / Prosím

Thank You and Please

Level 1

Ďakujem means thank you. Prosím means please, and it is also how you answer Ďakujem: Ďakujem. – Prosím.

How It Works

Ďakujem is the "I" form of the verb ďakovať (to thank), so it literally means "I thank". A group can say ďakujeme (we thank).

  • Make it stronger: Ďakujem pekne or Ďakujem veľmi pekne (thank you very much).
  • Say what for with za + accusative: Ďakujem za pomoc, Ďakujem za všetko. See za + akuzatív.
  • Say who you thank in the dative: Ďakujem ti (informal), Ďakujem vám (polite). See pomáhať / ďakovať / rozumieť + datív.

Prosím literally means "I ask". It has several everyday uses:

  • Please in a request: Jednu kávu, prosím.
  • You're welcome after thanks: Ďakujem. – Prosím. You will also hear Niet za čo (don't mention it).
  • Pardon? when you did not hear: Prosím?
  • Here you are when handing something over, like Nech sa páči.

In shops people often order with prosím si + accusative: Prosím si dva rožky (I'd like two rolls, please).

Examples (6)

  1. Ďakujem za pomoc.

    Thank you for the help.

    Za + accusative says what you are thanking someone for.

  2. Ďakujem veľmi pekne!

    Thank you very much!

    Word by Word: I-thank very nicely!

  3. Jednu kávu, prosím.

    One coffee, please.

    Prosím makes a request polite.

  4. – Ďakujem. – Prosím.

    – Thank you. – You're welcome.

    Prosím is the standard reply to thanks.

  5. Prosím? Nerozumiem.

    Pardon? I don't understand.

    As a question, prosím asks someone to repeat.

  6. Prosím si dva rožky.

    I'd like two rolls, please.

    Prosím si + accusative is a common way to order in a shop.

Common Mistakes

  • Using pre (for) after ďakujem, copying English "thank you for".

    Ďakujem pre pomoc.
    Ďakujem za pomoc.

    Ďakovať takes za + accusative for the reason. Pre usually marks who something is for, as in darček pre mamu (a present for Mum), and it does not go with ďakovať.

  • Putting the person you thank in the accusative.

    Ďakujem vás.
    Ďakujem vám.

    The person you thank is in the dative: ti or vám, not ťa or vás.

How It Connects

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Ďakujem / ProsímLevel 1Thank You and Please

Words in This Pattern