ä

The Letter Ä

Level 1

ä is called "široké e" (wide e). You find it after p, b, m and v: päť (five), mäso (meat), deväť (nine).

How It Works

Where ä is written. In standard Slovak, ä comes only after the lip consonants p, b, m and v:

  • after p: päť (five), päta (heel), opäť (again), späť (back)
  • after b: bábätko (baby)
  • after m: mäso (meat), mäkký (soft), pamäť (memory)
  • after v: deväť (nine), väčší (bigger), obväz (bandage)

How to say it. In everyday standard speech, ä is usually said like e: mäso sounds like meso. The official pronunciation rules allow this and also accept a more open sound, between e and a. The open sound is expected mainly in very careful speech, such as reading classic poetry aloud. Either choice is correct, so pick the one you hear around you.

Always short. ä never takes a dĺžeň, and it counts as a short syllable for the rhythmic law.

Useful numbers. Two of the first numbers you learn have ä: päť (five) and deväť (nine). See counting numbers.

Examples (5)

  1. Mám päť jabĺk.

    I have five apples.

    Word by Word: I-have five of-apples.

    Päť is usually said like peť.

  2. Kúpim mäso na obed.

    I'll buy meat for lunch.

    Ä comes after m in mäso.

  3. Deväť plus jeden je desať.

    Nine plus one is ten.

    Ä comes after v in deväť.

  4. Opäť prší.

    It's raining again.

    Ä comes after p in opäť.

  5. Nemám dobrú pamäť na mená.

    I don't have a good memory for names.

    Pamäť has ä after m.

Common Mistakes

  • Spelling ä as e because it sounds like e.

    Kúpim meso na obed.
    Kúpim mäso na obed.

    Many people say mäso like meso, but it is always written with ä.

  • Spelling päť by its sound.

    Mám peť jabĺk.
    Mám päť jabĺk.

    The word for five is written päť, with ä after p.

How It Connects

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

äLevel 1The Letter Ä

Learn This First

Before The Letter ä, learn The Slovak Alphabet. ä is one of the special letters of the alphabet.