-ovci

Whole Families: -ovci

Level 5

Where English says 'the Nováks', Slovak adds -ovci to the surname: Novákovci. It takes plural endings: u Kováčovcov (at the Kováčs' place), s Horváthovcami (with the Horváths).

How It Works

Naming a family. Add -ovci to the man's form of the surname: Novák → Novákovci, Kováč → Kováčovci, Horváth → Horváthovci, Hlinka → Hlinkovci. It means the whole family, or a married couple.

The cases.

  • nominative: Novákovci
  • genitive and accusative: Novákovcov (u Novákovcov, at the Nováks'; poznám Novákovcov)
  • dative: Novákovcom (idem k Novákovcom)
  • locative: Novákovcoch (o Novákovcoch)
  • instrumental: Novákovcami (s Novákovcami)

U with the genitive means 'at someone's home': u Kováčovcov (see u + genitive). Other plural cases work as in the plural cases.

Agreement. The word is a masculine plural for people, so the verb and adjectives take those forms: Novákovci už prišli. Naši susedia Novákovci sú milí.

Other ways to say it. You can also say rodina Nováková or rodina Novákovcov. Surnames that are adjectives, such as Horský, use the plural adjective instead: Horskí, u Horských. For the wife's surname alone, see surnames in -ová.

Examples (6)

  1. Novákovci bývajú na prízemí.

    The Nováks live on the ground floor.

    Word by Word: Nováks live on ground-floor.

  2. V sobotu sme boli na večeri u Kováčovcov.

    On Saturday we had dinner at the Kováčs'.

    Word by Word: On Saturday we were at dinner at Kováčs'.

    U takes the genitive: Kováčovcov.

  3. Na dovolenku ideme s Horváthovcami.

    We're going on holiday with the Horváths.

    Word by Word: On holiday we-go with Horváths.

  4. Zavolaj Hlinkovcom, či prídu.

    Call the Hlinkas and ask whether they're coming.

    Word by Word: Call Hlinkas(dat) whether they-will-come.

  5. Rozprávali sme sa o Novákovcoch.

    We were talking about the Nováks.

    Word by Word: We-talked about Nováks.

  6. Poznáš Kováčovcov zo susedného domu?

    Do you know the Kováčs from the house next door?

    Word by Word: You-know Kováčs from neighbouring house?

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving the name in the nominative after u.

    Večerali sme u Kováčovci.
    Večerali sme u Kováčovcov.

    U takes the genitive, and the genitive of Kováčovci is Kováčovcov.

  • Using a singular verb.

    Novákovci už je doma.
    Novákovci už sú doma.

    Novákovci is plural, so the verb must be plural: sú, prišli, bývajú.

  • Using the wrong instrumental ending.

    Na dovolenku ideme s Horváthovci.
    Na dovolenku ideme s Horváthovcami.

    S takes the instrumental, and the instrumental plural is Horváthovcami.

How It Connects

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

-ovciLevel 5Whole Families: -ovci

Learn This First

Before Whole Families: -ovci, learn Women's Surnames in -ová. -ovci names families from their surnames.