s / so + Instrumental

With: S and So

Level 1

S (with) takes the instrumental: káva s mliekom (coffee with milk), s kamarátom (with a friend), so sestrou (with my sister).

How It Works

S means with, in the sense of together with. It takes the instrumental case and answers s kým? (with whom?) or s čím? (with what?).

Singular instrumental endings:

  • Masculine and neuter → -om: kamarát → s kamarátom, mlieko → s mliekom, dievča → s dievčaťom.
  • Feminine → -ou: mama → s mamou, ulica → s ulicou, kosť → s kosťou.

In the plural, the ending is usually -mi or -ami: s priateľmi (with friends), s deťmi (with the children).

So replaces s before words that start with s, z, š or ž, and before some consonant groups: so sestrou, so synom, so ženou, so psom, so mnou (with me). So is usually pronounced [zo], but before a pronoun it is [so], as in so mnou.

Do not use s for the means or tool you use. For that, use the instrumental on its own: Idem do školy autobusom. (I go to school by bus.) Compare: Idem do školy s bratom. (I go to school with my brother.)

Examples (6)

  1. Pijem kávu s mliekom.

    I drink coffee with milk.

    Mlieko becomes mliekom.

  2. Idem do kina s kamarátom.

    I am going to the cinema with a friend.

    Kamarát becomes kamarátom.

  3. Bývam so sestrou.

    I live with my sister.

    Sestra starts with s, so the preposition is so.

  4. Rozprávam sa s mamou.

    I am talking with my mom.

    Feminine mama becomes mamou.

  5. Chcem chlieb so syrom.

    I want bread with cheese.

    Syr starts with s, so the preposition is so.

  6. Hrám sa s deťmi.

    I am playing with the children.

    In the plural, deti becomes deťmi.

Common Mistakes

  • Using s instead of so before a word starting with s.

    Bývam s sestrou.
    Bývam so sestrou.

    Before s, z, š or ž, the preposition s becomes so.

  • Using s for a means of transport.

    Idem do školy s autobusom.
    Idem do školy autobusom.

    S means together with. To say by what means, use the instrumental without a preposition.

  • Keeping the dictionary form after s.

    Pijem kávu s mlieko.
    Pijem kávu s mliekom.

    S takes the instrumental, so mlieko becomes mliekom.

How It Connects

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s / so + InstrumentalLevel 1With: S and So

Learn This First

Before With: s and so, learn The Six Cases. s / so takes the instrumental.

Learn Next

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Words in This Pattern

s