vďaka / napriek / kvôli / voči + Dative

Thanks to, Despite and for the Sake of

Level 4

Vďaka names a cause that helped, napriek something that did not stop the action, kvôli the person or purpose you do something for, and voči the person or thing an attitude is directed at. All four take the dative.

How It Works

vďaka: thanks to

Names a cause that led to something good: vďaka tebe (thanks to you), vďaka rýchlej pomoci (thanks to quick help). The noun vďaka also means gratitude.

napriek: despite

  • with a noun: napriek dažďu (despite the rain), napriek zákazu (despite the ban)
  • napriek tomu: nevertheless, even so: Bol unavený, napriek tomu prišiel. (He was tired, but he came anyway.)
  • napriek tomu, že + clause: although, with a comma before že: Napriek tomu, že pršalo, zápas sa hral. Compare hoci and aj keď.

kvôli: for the sake of, because of

  • purpose or benefit: kvôli deťom (for the children's sake), Presťahoval sa do Bratislavy kvôli práci. (He moved to Bratislava for work.)
  • cause: kvôli zlému počasiu (because of the bad weather). This use is very common in speech, but the codified dictionary of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (KSSJ) corrects it to pre. In standard Slovak, give a cause with pre: pre zlé počasie.

voči: towards, in relation to

Shows who or what an attitude, feeling or behaviour is directed at: úcta voči starším (respect for older people), nedôvera voči politikom (distrust of politicians), Voči nám sa správal pekne. (He was kind to us.) English often says "towards" or "against". For physical opposition or being against something, use proti.

Forms. The noun is in the dative: dážď → dažďu, práca → práci, počasie → počasiu. Third-person pronouns start with n-: vďaka nemu, kvôli nej, voči nim. See pronouns after prepositions.

Examples (6)

  1. Vďaka tebe som stihol vlak.

    Thanks to you, I caught the train.

    Word by Word: Thanks to-you am caught train.

  2. Napriek dažďu sme išli na výlet.

    Despite the rain, we went on a trip.

    Word by Word: Despite rain are went on trip.

  3. Napriek tomu, že pršalo, zápas sa hral.

    Although it was raining, the match was played.

    Word by Word: Despite that, that it-rained, match itself played.

    Napriek tomu, že introduces a whole clause.

  4. Kvôli deťom sa presťahovali na vidiek.

    They moved to the countryside for the children's sake.

    Word by Word: For-sake-of children themselves they-moved to countryside.

  5. Pre zlé počasie sme zostali doma.

    We stayed at home because of the bad weather.

    Word by Word: Because-of bad weather are stayed home.

    For a cause, standard Slovak uses pre with the accusative. Kvôli zlému počasiu is very common in speech, but the codified dictionary corrects it to pre.

  6. Voči starším ľuďom sa vždy správa slušne.

    He is always polite to older people.

    Word by Word: Towards older people himself always behaves politely.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the genitive after napriek.

    Napriek dažďa sme išli von.
    Napriek dažďu sme išli von.

    Napriek takes the dative, not the genitive: dážď → dažďu. The same is true for vďaka, kvôli and voči.

  • Leaving out tomu before a clause.

    Napriek, že pršalo, sme išli von.
    Napriek tomu, že pršalo, sme išli von.

    Napriek cannot introduce a clause by itself. Use napriek tomu, že, with a comma before že.

  • Using the accusative pronoun after kvôli.

    Urobil to kvôli teba.
    Urobil to kvôli tebe.

    Kvôli takes the dative, so the pronoun is tebe, not the accusative teba.

How It Connects

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

vďaka / napriek / kvôli / voči + DativeLevel 4Thanks to, Despite and for the Sake of

Learn This First

Before Thanks To, Despite and For the Sake Of, learn Dative Singular Endings and For: pre. These prepositions take dative endings. kvôli is contrasted with pre for a cause.

Words in This Pattern

napriekkvôlivočivďaka