Lesson 1: Greetings
You just arrived in Slovakia, and checked into a hotel. You meet some fellow travelers, and get in a little conversation with them…
Mišo: Ahoj! Vy ste američan?
You: Yes, I am American. And you, are you Slovak?
Mišo: Áno, ja som Slovák. Volám sa Mišo.
You: Hi Mišo. My name is also Michael.
Mišo: No tak ahoj Michael! A tu je Lucia. Ona je tiež slovenka.
You: Hi Lucia! My name is Michael.
Lucia: Ahoj Michael! Tam je Bob, on je tiež američan.
Lucia: Bob, vy ste američan, že?
Bob: Áno, som. Prečo?
Lucia: Tu je Michael, on je tiež američan.
Bob: Oh, hi Michael, nice to meet you!
You: Nice to meet you, Bob!
Notes
Let’s go over this dialog. You are approached by a Slovak guy named Mišo. This is a very common Slovak name. It’s the short form of Michal, just like Mike is the short form of Michael. He says hi (ahoj), and asks if you are American. Vy ste means you are. Note that you don’t have to reverse the verb and the noun as is done in English. Instead, the fact you are asking a question is indicated by your intonation.
Mišo next tells you that he is Slovak. Áno mean yes and ja som is i am. To say my name is … you say volám sa …. Literally this phrase means (I) call myself …. Neat, you guys have the same first names! No tak ahoj is a little embellishment which the Slovak language is full off. It means, roughly, well, in that case, hi. Mišo next introduces his (female) friend Lucia. A tu je is and here is. Ona je tiež Slovenka means She is also Slovak. Note that the female form of “Slovak” (slovenka) is different from the male one (slovák). This is very common in our language. The endings of most words change based on whether they are referring to male, female or neuter items, and also based on what form they serve in the sentence. This behavior is called conjugation.
Lucia next introduces her friend Bob. Tam je means there is. Bob has been living in Slovakia for a while, and speaks good Slovak. Lucia double checks his origin. The že added to the end of the sentence serves the same role as right in you are American, right?. Bob confirms. Note that he just says som, and not ja som. You will notice that the pronouns (ja, on, ona, my, vy, etc…) are not used very often. This is because the form of the verb indicates which pronoun it refers to. This is just as if you were saying “Am Slovak” instead of “I am Slovak”. You could do this in English with the verb “to be” (but it would sound strange) . In Slovak, you can get away with not using the pronoun with ANY verb. Pretty neat, right? Finally, prečo simply means why.
This is my first lesson. Please let me know what you think. What I have in mind is to create a series of lessons, following an American traveler as he makes his way around Slovakia. Let me know if you would like to see a lesson a certain specific topping. Thanks!
Lubos, There are only a couple sentence my father taught me when I was little- please feel free to correct me, as I’m only going on memory and pronunciation, not reading. One is, “Yit doma spots” and was told it was, “Lets go home” and the other was, “Yits, nya hla doi ak doma” whas supposed to mean, “Eat, don’t starve like you do at home”, like a hospitality invitation type of thing. I was spelling as it had been pronounced to me. I’m curious if these are common sayings, and how they’re really said and spelled?
Thank you,
Hehe, took me few seconds to figure these out! 🙂
The first one is probably “Jiď domov späť”, which is “Go home back” (go back home). The first word is a slang (I thinks it’s from Czech) for “to go”. You could say “Jiďme” for “lets go”. But the correct way is “Poďme”. So to say “let’s go home” you can say “poďme domov”, and to say “let’s go back home” you would say “poďme späť domov”.
The second one was easier: “Jedz, nehladuj ako doma”, which means just what you remember: “eat, don’t starve yourself like at home”. This is a really common saying! My grandma says something along these lines, while offering me a plate full of assorted goodies, whenever I visit her.
I remember Dzedo teaching me to count in Slovak when I was just 3 years old. It was so cool. Do you have the numbers here at this website? Can’t find them if you do.
Nope, not yet. I’ll probably introduce numbers in lesson 3. But here you go: jeden, dva, tri, štyri, päť, šesť, sedem, osem, deväť, desať (that’s one through ten)
Hi, Karen, if you want, I can prepare the Slovak numbers for you, or send the lesson to Lubos and he will them rearrange it and post it for all you Slovak fans.
Best regards,
Xenia
lubos, I did not paid too much attention to language lessons (as I went through school in Slovakia all the way to post graduate level)
I just want to say, that you have talent to do this “stuff”.
Je to vyborne a dufam ze sa toho nevzdas, aj keď len ako na “na čiastočný úväzok
Ahoj Lubos! Love the language lessons… only one slight correction from an teacher ;)…you conjugate verbs and decline nouns! So when the noun or adverb changes endings thats declension, when the verb changes person, thats conjugation. No big deal, but thought I’d throw that in there!
I had no idea there was a difference between the two. Thank you!
Hi, all, Lubos, great idea, all this website, I can help you with anything if you wish, I have a little experience with teaching Slovak to foreigners and designing my own lectures.
And cooking is my great passion. I have a recipe for “mačanka”. Great day to everyone,
Xenia
Please post the macanka recipe as soon as you can!
Tim
Ahoj Lubos! This is an absolutely wonderful website! I am 100% Carpatho-Rusyn on both sides of my family. In fact, on my father’s side I have birth certificates dating back to 1750! Even though my name is Molnar (Mylnar in Slovak) and is Hungarian, my paternal grandfather came from a town east of Kosice, Kalsa is the name. My paternal grandfather came from a town south and east of Kalsa, it’s name is Cejkov. That town is very close to the Hungarian border as well as the border with Ukraine. All four of my grandparents were Rusniki. As were their parents, grand parents, etc. I’m from a small coal mining town in Western Pennsylvania, WIndber, which is just south east of Johnstown. My baba on both sides lived very close to me in Windber and I spent most of my time as a child with one baba or another. Although my maternal baba lived near a creek and a playground with swings, sliding boards, etc. Guess which baba I spent more time with? I loved trying to catch the small crawfish in the creek! Rusyn/Slovak was my first language as a kid but I have forgotten so much of it. As I go through these pages it is all coming back to me. I have no problem with the pronunciation because of my childhood, it just seems to roll off the tongue. I was also an altar boy in my church (Greek-Catholic, known as Byzantine Catholic in the U.S.) and weekdays it was usually the priest, me and about eight old ladies (stary babas?) in church, so the liturgy was in Old Slavonic. To this day I love liturgy in Old Slavonic. I have cds of liturgy from Slovakia that are in Rusyn or Slovak or Old Slavonic that a friend gave to me. He recorded them off a Slovak radio station that he could get on the internet.
This site is just wonderful. Thank you so much. Dakujem! I have posted a few times now and can’t wait to see every link. I know you are busy, but keep adding as much as you can. The recipes are great, I am familiar with most of them and can cook them. My son is 12 and loves the traditional recipes. He doesn’t know it, but most of the time he is eating cabbage, which he claims to hate. But I won’t tell him and he will continue to eat the foods! I make my chicken soup as you do and he and my wife thinks it is the best chicken soup in the world. So do I.
Oh, one quick thing. My maternal baba gave me a nickname that my family still uses–Duze moja. I would always be getting into things as a kid-the coal bin, the wood pile, the creek, and she would catch me doing something and say “Duze Moja!” which means “my soul!” of course. But she said it so often that my siblings and mother picked it up. They would say things like “We can get going as soon as “Duze Moja” over there gets changed.” Or “Mom, duze moja is licking the icing off the cake!” Things like that. I call my son that for the same reasons!
Tim
Hi, Tim, Rusyn Boy,
I am from Kosice. I work with Lubos on Macanka recipe, just sent an email to him. I hope it works in US, I never tried making it out of Slovakia, as some ingredients are really local. But I guess you have access to dried mushrooms and sour juice from cabbage. I use no meat or potatoes or cream, but if you browse online, you will find infinite versions of this Slovak magic. I love it and can bath in it.
I must check your chicken soup recipe, I have one specific myself.
If you need anything, just let me know, I hope I can be helpful at least by words.
Greetings from Egypt.
Xenia (Zamrijova) Youssef
Ahoj Xenia! I have to ask…what is someone from Kosice doing in Egypt??!! Mind you, I’m jealous. I have always wanted to go to Egypt and not just for the usual. I think the country is fascinating.
Oh, and am I remembering the “duze moja” correctly? I know it means “my soul” and is also the name of a famous song. But I might be remembering it incorrectly. The gender of things and such. Since she used it as a saying, as in “Good grief” I don’t know if the gender thing matters. Please feel free to correct me, anyone.
Dakujem,
Tim
here you can find the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AipE4XH3DIE&feature=related
Did you mean this one? Here is the lyrics:
Anička, dušička, kde si bola, keď si si čižmičky zarosila.
[:Bola som v hájičku, žala som trávičku, duša moja, duša moja.:]
A ja som po tri dni trávu kosil, ja som si čižmičky nezarosil.
[:A ja som hrabala, teba som čakala, duša moja, duša moja.:]
Ano, Monika, presne tuto myslim!!! Dakujem. :o))
Yes, this is exactly the song I mean, thank you so much, really. Enjoy, Tim.
What are all the Slovak Pronouns? I only know theses that you posted, But I need to know all :O can you tell me please?
Never mind I found them <3
Hi, Lubos. I’m living in Slovakia in Zvolen 🙂 (that’s south from Lubos’s hometown Banská Bystrica)
I just found a great web side, that you can leard slovak language, for free, and it’s really easy and fun (there are even some games!)
It’s also in, for example, in polish, german, french, lithuanian, and esperanto!
http://www.slovake.eu/en/
I am searching for my mothers family, we were told we are Czech, but our greating was (not sure of the spelling) sounds like – “Yack sa maush?” meaning “How are you?” and the answer would be “Dobrea” meaning “Good!” We are doing research to find my family, and the records so far say Polish and Hungarian, no Czech. Could you tell me if this sounds Czech?
It’s Czech, no doubt about it “jak se mas” and reply “dobre” is Czech language and phrases, though the heritage may be from surrounding countries. But the language IS Czech!
Well, Miro, …, we would have to hear it actually, to be sure it is Czech, coz, if you say “Yak sa mash? – that is Slovak, in Czech it would sound a simple letter different: “Yak SE mash? Reply would be in Czech : Dobre (r would have the softener sign, I don’t have it on my keyboard) it sounds like “rze”) In Slovak we use Yak sa mash? in a dialect, especially in the east, but originally the word YAK is Czech, so from that point of view, yes, we can assume that Germaine Binns is of Czech origin. Best of luck in your search, Germaine.
Xenia
Greetings Lubos,
I spoke fluent Slovak as a child, my Baba was my caregiver. I am the last one alive from her lineage that still speaks the language (very poorly) use it or lose it. Does yak tham … how are things there (or with you) thu being here and tham being there. What region of Slovakia is home to this particular dailect? I know baba was a peasant and came to America through Ellis Island in 1898/99. So sorry I did not ask more questions of her life and locale. I lost her much too soon.
Bernadette
Americanized Slovak?
As everything you posted was in English like language, I have no idea what it would sound in Slovak. Nothing close to Slovak language and thus hard to judge. I would make a bet on East Slovakia but have no idea why it crossed my mind.
take care 🙂
I read the words “yak tham” like “jak tam”. It means “ako tam- as there.” The word “jak- how” is of Czech origin. I conclude from this that it is a dialect of Western Slovakia.
I don’t want to argue, as I don’t have enough facts, and it really does not matter.
It may be a polish influence in the borders, as all those words are used in Polish or in bordering areas., the same for the Eastern Slovakia, my son married to that part of Slovakia “Jak sa mas … si tam a my sme tu” I really don’t know.
As I said many times I am born Czech, speaking both languages and then some more. I simply do not know and am not ready to say where the dialect came from
Was just reading your post. We also said Jak sa mas’ although we were told the proper form was Ako sa mas’. My mother was from a small village near Senica and my dad was from Rajac. Both were slovak and not czech. An easy test, my dad could not pronounce the letter W but my mom could. Funny, eh?
I will be in Svidnik, Slovakia in one week to visit family and don’t speak any Slovak. Only one of them speaks some English. Looking forward to this experience!
Lauren–you’re my kind of woman! Live on the edge. You’ll do fine I have a feeling. Be adventurous whenever you can. Enjoy your visit!
Hi Lubos!
I just found your blog. Cool.
I have Slovak ancestry, but I know very little about Slovakia.
While I was growing up, my dad always called me “Mizo” I’m not sure that is the correct spelling.
My name is “Michael.”
When I ask him; “How do you spell Mizo?”
If I remember correctly, he told me “M-i-z-o, with a little “Nike symbol” hook above the z”
Is that correct?
Do I remember correctly?
From your lesson, it looks like it should be M-i-s-o (with a little curve above the “s.”
I have a few questions:
1. Which one is correct?
2. Is “Mizo” a translation for “Michael” or “Mike?”
3. What do you call the little hook?
Thank you.
Hello Michael,
Your name sounds familiar Mišo, Miško, Mižu / Misho, Mishko, Mizhu/.
http://www.mojosud.sk/?charakteristika-krstnych-mien&meno=Michal,%20Michaela
Germaine,
Growing up in Cleveland Ohio….“Yack sa maush?” was always spoken in Polish areas of the city and entering the church when greeting friends on Sunday. “Dobeshea” and “swabo Dobeshea” were common replies (phonetic)
Dennis
Polish ” jak sie masz” means “how are you”.
” Dobrze” means ” well- okay- all right”.
Happy New Year 2013
Wow, am I glad I found this site. I’m the proud descendant of Slovak immigrants who came to America circa 1912, and, while I was fortunate to have enjoyed both sets of grandparents company for a short while as a boy, I didn’t ‘t realize how much I would miss my connection to the ” old world” until I was grown and had children of my own. With both parents working most of the time, I was raised by Baba and Dzedo who taught me Slovak. Sadly, my parents did not keep pace and I only remember a few words and phrases. Now I have several questions and I look for sites, just like this, for answers. Hopefully, I can benefit from the kindness of the readers here who know and would be willing to share. Here’s a biggie for me… Could I be part Rusyn? My father’s people were from Vellka Domasa ( the village, before the dam created the lake that flooded the area) and my mother’s people were from Trebisova, just a bit south. The Gordans (original spelling) apparently spoke Slovak but understood Polish, Ukranian and could read and speak Russian. The Kasko family knew Slovak and Magyar. Here’s the thing… Baba Kasko was Greek Catholic and used a few words that are similar to, but not quite, regular Slovak. One of these was the word “tso” as in what. I’ve used it since I was a boy and remember distinctly being told years later that it was pronounced “cho” by some Russian friends, but my whole family has always said “tso”. Jak tam and jak se mas and dakujem were pretty strong in my memory too. I know there was a lot of “borrowing” done in Vychodslovenska but I was just wondering… Thanks for listening!
George, while not been and expert on all languages, I new/know a few from Central Europe.
First, indeed, the Eastern Slovakia was a “melting pot” for many surrounding countries (Slovakia, Polish, Ukraine, Hungary, even Czechs).
Looking at examples you posted, it’s obvious that it’s not a “standard Slovak language” So lets start to “eliminate” Nope there is no Hungarian influence, Nope there is no Russian influence. The best guess is Polish and Czech, considering the location, I think your family picked up “polish accent”. It Happens frequently in “boarder areas” E.g., I lived for many years in Bratislava, an people picked up many geman expression and Hungarian expressions/words.
I think your family was Slovak, using some Polish dialect.
That’s about all I can come up with… cheers.