Lesson 4 Dialog: White Flower
Wow, you had an eventful day! You introduced yourself to new friends, went to a restaurant, and even managed to ask how much something costs. It’s time to head back to your hotel room and relax with some good ol’ Slovak TV. Luckily, STV2 (Slovak Television Channel 2) is showing music video clips from the 80s, and you turn the TV on just as Miro Žbirka’s song Biely Kvet (White Flower) comes on. Miro Žbirka was one of the most popular Slovak musicians in the 80s. He was the Slovak version of John Lennon; his mom was even British.
So what is this song about? Here are the lyrics with as close to literal translation as I could muster. And don’t forget to sing along. I believe that songs are one of the best ways to learn a foreign language. Especially catchy ones like this one.
(VERSE 1)
biely kvet – darujem ti biely kvet
white flower – (I) gift you white flower
biely kvet – môžu ti ho závidieť
white flower – (they) may you it be-jealous-of
biely kvet – od šatnárky v kine Sen
white flower – from (the lady) attendant at cinema Dream
studený biely kvet ti na rozlúčku prinesiem
cold white flower (for) you for a farewall (I) bring
(CHORUS)
biely kvet – darujem ti biely kvet
white flower – (I) gift you white flower
biely kvet – posledný je, viac ich niet, niet
white flower – the last-one it-is, more of-it is-not, is-not
biely kvet – dlhá ryha smútku v ňom
white flower – long crease of sadness in it
studený biely kvet ti dávam navždy s úsmevom
cold white flower you (I) give forever with a smile
(VERSE 2)
Tak sa priprav na život s ním, priprav na život s ním
So get ready for the life with him, get ready for the life with him
Prežiješ s ním možno pár zím, možno pár dlhých zím
(You may) live-through with him maybe few winters, maybe couple long winters
Na svetlo vždy vyjdeš s tmou, nechám ti v ňom smútok slov
To the light you will come-out with darkness, (I’ll) leave for-you in it sadness of words
Tak sa priprav na život s ním – priprav na život s ním
So get ready for the life with him, get ready for the life with him
(CHORUS)
(VERSE 2)
(CHORUS)
Do you like this song? Find out more about popular Slovak songs from the 80s in the blog section of this website…
I wish I had found your site 2 years ago when I was studying alone from texts and CDs trying to remember the limited Slovak of my childhood (50 years ago). Still my husband and I were able to manage very well driving around Slovakia on our own. Everyone was so kind and patient with my efforts to communicate. I know my grammar is terrible. Also, I learned that what I remembered is actually Rusyn which explains why some words in my Slovak dictionary are different from what my grandmother used.
My grandfather had 15 grandchildren. 14 of them (from his 1st marriage in Slovakia) always knew each other and now I (#15) from his 2nd marriage in America have found them too.
Thank you Eileen. It’s great to hear that you are learning Slovak and that you were actually able to use it in Slovakia. My site is less than 2 years old, so it wouldn’t be helpful when you were learning, since it didn’t exist yet back then. But if you do decide to continue with your learning, and have any questions, just shoot me an email. I’ll be glad to help you with your queries.
Hi Lubos again want to thank you for creating them site <3 I have a couple of questions though. 1 Are you going to create more lessons. 2 Do you have a recommended way for me to learn about the tences of verbs. like Past, Present, and Future? I was told that words like "the" and "will" has no eqivalent translation in Slovak. Anyway you can explain how and what other words English has that Slovak doesn't. I'm really trying hard to learn Slovak and to be fluent.
Hi Rebekah, I am definitely planning to resume posting lessons in the future. I have sort of put this on hold for now because I got really busy in my “real” life. I am in the final stretches of my PhD program and am hoping to defend this Winter. I have also been quite busy getting my new blog/company, particleincell.com, off the ground. And yes, the are no articles in Slovak, so not only is there no equivalent for “the”, there isn’t one for “a”. But will? I think that has to do how the future tense is formed. In English it’s done easily by just adding will. In Slovak, the actual form of the verb changes. But there is another way, one similar to “will” using budem (for singular 1st person). For instance, “tomorrow I will read” would be “zajtra budem čítať”.
Ďakujem veľmi pekne. I understand how life can be busy at times. So I will wait patiently for the next lessons you create. I do have a Slovak teacher online. But due to his lack in English, explaining to me rules/grammar is quite difficult on his part. But he has taught me alot. I’m learning now 2 and half months and already know over 400 words/phrases and some basic grammar rules, thanks to your website and my Teacher.
man your English is horrendous…. seriously, get some one to help you with the translations because this is awful!
Kristine, Lubosh English is pretty good. I know him, and one can’t write PhD dissertation in bad English.
Here is a problem. Translating poetry (which songs are) or translating books using a colloquial language from Slovak to English, or other way around, can not be done on literal translation … word by word. You have to translate in to something that has some meaning in the other language, not just dictionary translation.
I think Lobos tried to do this “dictionary translation” word by word, in trying to teach Slovak language, but it came out wrong for English speakers.
As I said, it’s not easy, but here is my attempt of forgetting “word by word” translation and making it more acceptable to English speaking world. Not saying I*’ve succeded, as it’s not easy!
biely kvet – darujem ti biely kvet
white flower – I’ll give you white flower
biely kvet – môžu ti ho závidieť
white flower – Other might be jealous of you
biely kvet – od šatnárky v kine Sen
white flower – from an attendant at Dream Movie Theatre
studený biely kvet ti na rozlúčku prinesiem
I’ll bring you that cold white flower to say goodbye
(CHORUS)
biely kvet – darujem ti biely kvet
white flower – I’ll give you white flower
biely kvet – posledný je, viac ich niet, niet
white flower – it’s the last one in the world, you won’t find any more of them
biely kvet – dlhá ryha smútku v ňom
white flower – it caries a deep scar of sadness in it
studený biely kvet ti dávam navždy s úsmevom
but I give you this cold white flower with smile on my face
(VERSE 2)
Tak sa priprav na život s ním, priprav na život s ním
So get ready for the life with your love, get ready for the life with him
Prežiješ s ním možno pár zím, možno pár dlhých zím
You will most likely go through some hard times together, like we go through a few long cold winters.
Na svetlo vždy vyjdeš s tmou, nechám ti v ňom smútok slov
You have to go through the dark site before you find a light, sorry I have to leave you with a sadness my words brings to you.
Tak sa priprav na život s ním – priprav na život s ním
So get ready for the life with your love, get ready for the life with him … it won’t be easy
It was about man who is saying goodbye to his love as she goes for the other man and wishing here the best luck!
How do you translate that?!
I am a 3rd generation Slovak-American and had the wonderful opportunity of hosting two Slovak college students over the summer. I have tried do hard to pronounce the words but can’t even come close. I am an English major so I am very interested in language however my tongue seems to lack to muscle to form certain sounds. It is very frustration but I will persevere as I am visiting my new friends next summer in Slovakia. I have learned to understand quite a bit though!
Schnithzel’s awesome, thank U!!
(However, da song sucks. Who is that weird guy, anyway?
He was very popular in the 80s, he was sort of the Slovak version of John Lennon.
I dreamt about these words. It was a strange dream. There were hebbrew words on a brass or copper square medal, but the only thing I could read was Kvet. So I looked for this word on internet. Flower. That was the word I found. I am Brazilian and know nothing of Hebbrew or Slowak at all. Isn’t it funny?
I wish I knew women from this country, at the age between 25 to 36. Thanks.