The Rhythmic Law

Level 1

Slovak avoids two long syllables in a row. So pekný (nice) has a long ending, but krásny (beautiful) has a short one, because krás- is already long.

How It Works

What counts as long. A syllable is long if it has á, é, í, ó, ú, ý, a diphthong (ia, ie, iu, ô), or a long ŕ, ĺ.

The rule. Inside one word, a long syllable is not followed by another one. When a long ending would come after a long syllable, it is shortened:

  • adjectives: pekný, pekná, pekné but krásny, krásna, krásne; peknú but krásnu
  • verbs: volám (I call) but čítam (I read); robím but súdim (I judge)
  • nouns: mestá (towns) but miesta (places); ženám (to women) but lúkam (to meadows)

A shortened diphthong loses its glide: ia becomes a, ie becomes e, iu becomes u and ô becomes o.

Exceptions. Some endings keep their length even after a long syllable. The most useful one is the "they" ending -ia: chvália (they praise), súdia (they judge). Others include the genitive plural of some nouns (piesní, of songs) and adjectives like páví (peacock's). See adjectives like páví.

Only inside one word. The rule does not look across words: krásny deň is fine.

Where it comes from. The rule belongs to standard Slovak. Czech does not have it, and some western dialects do not follow it either, so you may hear long endings in speech. In writing, always follow the rule. It explains many endings in adjectives like pekný and verbs in -ám.

Examples (5)

  1. To je krásny dom.

    That is a beautiful house.

    Krás- is long, so the ending is a short -y.

  2. Čítam knihu.

    I'm reading a book.

    Čí- is long, so the ending is a short -am, not -ám.

  3. Máme peknú izbu a krásnu záhradu.

    We have a nice room and a beautiful garden.

    Peknú keeps a long ú, but krásnu has a short u.

  4. Tie miesta sú voľné.

    Those seats are free.

    Miesta ends in a short -a because ie is long. Compare mestá (towns).

  5. Deti chvália učiteľku.

    The children praise the teacher.

    Chvália is an exception: the ending -ia stays long.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a long ending after a long syllable.

    To je krásný dom.
    To je krásny dom.

    Krás- is already long, so the ending must be short: krásny.

  • Using a long verb ending after a long syllable.

    Čítám knihu.
    Čítam knihu.

    After the long čí-, the ending -ám becomes -am.

  • Keeping a long ending after a diphthong.

    Tie miestá sú voľné.
    Tie miesta sú voľné.

    The diphthong ie counts as long, so the plural ending is short.

How It Connects

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

The Rhythmic LawLevel 1

Learn This First

Before The Rhythmic Law, learn Diphthongs ia, ie, iu and ô. The rhythmic law treats diphthongs as long syllables along with long vowels.