Language

Lesson 3 Vocabulary: Numbers

In lesson 3 dialog, you learned how to ask how much something costs. The grammar section has bit of background info on the grammar involved when using numbers in Slovak. Now let’s actually learn the numbers.

Zero through 10

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

nula (0)
jeden (1)
dva (2)
tri (3)
štyri (4)
päť (5)
šesť (6)
sedem (7)
osem (8)
deväť (9)
desať (10)

Eleven through nineteen

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

jedenásť (11)
dvanásť (12)
trinásť (13)
štrnásť (14)
pätnásť (15)
šesťnásť (16)
sedemnásť (17)
osemnásť (18)
deväťnásť (19)

Twenty through ninety-nine

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

dvadsať (20)
dvadsať jeden (21)
dvadsať dva (22)
tridsať (30)
štyridsať (40)
päťdesiať (50)
šesťdesiat (60)
sedemdesiat (70)
osemdesiat (80)
deväťdesiat (90)
deväťdesiat deväť (99)

Some big numbers

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

sto (100)
tisíc (1000)
milión (one million, 10⁶)
miliarda (one billion, 10⁹)
bilión (one trillion, 10¹²)

Like this page? Add to your favorite bookmarking site:

Lesson 3 Grammar: Using Numbers

Let’s learn numbers in Slovak. After all, it’s not much good asking how much something costs, if you don’t know what the answer means. You will find the full list (with audio) of Slovak numbers in the vocabulary section. But here are few of them:

jeden (1)
dva (2)
tri (3)
štyri (4)
päť (5)
päťnásť (15)
dvadsať (20)

Let’s use these in some sentences. Let’s go back to the sentence from the dialog, koľko stojí káva? (how much for coffee?):

You: Koľko stojí káva?
Cheap restaurant: Káva stojí jedno euro
Less cheap restaurant: Káva stojí dve eurá
Not a cheap restaurant: Káva stojí tri eurá
Definitely not a cheap restaurant: Káva stojí štyri eurá
Expensive restaurant: Káva stojí päť eur
Really really expensive restaurant: Káva stojí dvädsať eur

Alright, what’s going on here?! I just told you that one and two are jeden and dva, respectively, but I used jedno and dve in the example. Typo? Nope, these two numbers change their form based on the gender of the noun they refer to. The forms for one are jeden, jedna, and jedno for masculine, feminine and neuter nouns, respectively. Since the word euro is neuter, we use jedno. For two you have dvaja for living masculine nouns and dve otherwise. Ok, what about dva? This form is used only as the numeral, when counting. In all practical sentences you will use one of the other two forms.

The word dollar, dolár, is masculine. On the other hand, Libra, the British pound, and koruna (crown), the currency in the Czech republic and formerly also in Slovakia, are feminine. Here are few examples for you to practice numbers with:

Hranolky stoja dva doláre (French fries cost two dollars)
Hamburger stojí päť dolárov (Hamburger costs five dollars)
Polievka stojí štyri libri (Soup costs four dollars)
Coca-cola stojí pätnáť českých korún (Coke costs 15 Czech crowns)

Any questions or something not clear? Just leave a comment and I’ll get back to you in a day or two.

Like this page? Add to your favorite bookmarking site:

Lesson 3 Dialog: How much?

We are still at the restaurant, where you ordered bryndzové halušky and beer. You are still enjoying your meal, when Mišo’s notices his friend Juraj (George).

Juraj passes by. After a short introduction, he asks if we shall have coffee.
Mišo: Juraj, nazdar!
Juraj: Hej Mišo, nazdar! Čo je nové?
Mišo: Nič moc. Tu je môj známy, Michael.
Juraj: Michael? Vy ste Angličan?
You: Nie, ja som Američan. A vy, vy ste Slovák?
Juraj: Áno, som. Dáme si kávu?
You, Mišo: Dobrý nápad!

Mišo flags down the waiter and asks how much is coffee.
Mišo: Pán čašník, koľko stojí káva?
Čašník: Káva je jedno euro (€1).
Mišo: Dobre, doneste štyri (4).

It’s time to pay. Mišo calls the waiter again.
Mišo: Zaplatíme. Koľko je to?
Čašník: Dokopy dvadsať päť eur (€25).
Mišo: Dobre, tu máte tridsať (30).

Juraj has to get going. He thanks for the coffee and says goodbye.
Juraj: Ďakujem za kávu. Už musím.
Mišo: Tak dovi.
Juraj: Dovidenia!

The Dialog, in details:

This dialog starts off with Mišo noticing his friend Juraj. He calls to him: nazdar means something like salut. It’s a common greeting used between friends. Juraj is pleasantly surprised to run into Mišo. Hej Mišo, nazdar! means Oh hey Mišo, howdy!. Juraj then asks what’s happening. Čo je nové? means what is new?. Not a whole lot: nič moc means (bit colloquially) nothing much. He then introduces you. Známy means an acquaintance, and tu je môj známy is here is my acquantance. You guys then talk bit about your nationalities, stuff you learned back in Lesson 1 (Greetings). Piece of cake. Juraj finally suggests to have a coffee. Dáme si …? means Will we have …?. The Slovak word for coffee is káva, but due to the various conjugation rules, it becomes kávu in sentences like this one. For those interested in grammar, this is because coffee is in the accusative case in this sentence. You all think this is a good idea, dobrý nápad.

Mišo thus calls over the (Mr.) waiter pán čašník. It’s customary to show bit of formality when addressing the wait staff. After all, they are the ones in carrying your food. Also, back in the day, the level of customer service was quite different from what you may be used to in the United States. Instead of the waiter coming by every few minutes asking if you need anything, or offering you free refills (which are very rare in Slovakia), you had to go out of your way to flag the waiter down. Things are changing, especially in the big cities, but don’t be surprised if you have to work a bit to get service in a restaurant. This doesn’t mean you are not welcome there, this is just the way things are.

To ask how much something costs, you use koľko stojí …?. Literally, this phrase means how much stands …?. Coffee is one euro, jedno euro. Until January 1st, 2009, the official currency of Slovakia was the Slovak Crown, slovenská koruna. Then Slovakia became the first country of the former eastern block to switch to the euro. The first former communist country to switch was Slovenia (which was part of Yugoslavia), but since Yugoslavia was not as “tight” with the Soviets as was, let’s say, Czechoslovakia, they are not generally considered to had been in the Soviet block. Mišo tells the waiter bring four (coffees), doneste štyri.

Since there never is a free lunch (unless somebody else pays, that’s it), it’s time to pay. Mišo tells the waiter that we will pay, zaplatíme. He again asks how much is it, but this time the phrase is slightly different. Since we are not asking for the price of something in particular, but rather something abstract, we use koľko je to?, how much is it?. Dokopy (altogether) the bill comes to 25 euro. Mišo gives the waiter little extra. Tu máte tridsať is here you have thirty. When I was growing up, tipping consisted of leaving just few pieces of coin on the table – perhaps just the change the waiter brought back. But things are changing, partly due to the influx of foreign tourists who are used to tip the 15% in their home countries.

Finally, it’s time to say good bye. Juraj thanks for the coffee, and says (he) already must (get going), už musím (ísť). The word for goodbye in Slovak is dovidenia, which translates as “to (the next) seeing”. Friends will often use the abbreviated form, dovi, when parting. Tak means in that case. Zatial dovidenia, goodbye for now!

Now continue onto the grammar and vocabulary sections to learn the basics of using numbers and the numbers in Slovak.

Like this page? Add to your favorite bookmarking site:

Lesson 2 Vocabulary: Prosím si

Let’s practice ordering food and describing things! New vocabulary words will teach you basic adjectives useful in describing your meal and your friends. You will also learn few basic phrases, such as prosím si (I would like). These two words will surely come in handy on your next visit to a Slovak restaurant or a pub. For the background info, please see the lesson 2 dialog and the grammar section.

New Adjectives

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

hungry: hladný (masc.), hladná (fem.), hladné (neut.)
thirsty: smädný (M), smädná (F), smädné (N)
pretty: pekný, pekná, pekné
ugly: škaredý, škaredá, škaredé
old: starý, stará, staré
new: nový, nová, nové
warm: teplý, teplá, teplé
hot: horúci, horúca, horúce
cold: studený, studená, studené
good: dobrý, dobrá, dobré
excellent: výborný, výborná, výborné
bad: zlý, zlá, zlé

New Nouns

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

beer: pivo (N)
soda: malinovka (F)
soup: polievka (F)
Kofola: Kofola (F)
breakfast: raňajky (fem plural)
lunch: obed (M)
dinner: večera (F)
sauerkraut soup: kapustnica (F)
potato dumplings: halušky (fem plural)

New Phrases

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Ja som hladný. A vy? (I am hungry. And you?)
Ja som tiež. A čo ty, Lucia? (I am too. And what about you, Lucia?)
Nie, nie som hladná. Ja som smädná. Poďme! (Nope, I am not hungry. I am thirsty. Let’s go!)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Prosím si bryndzové halušky. (I would like bryndza potato dumplings)
A ja si prosím jedno pivo. (And I would like one beer)
A vám? (And for you?)
Dám si kapustnicu a Kofolu. (I’ll have the sauerkraut soup and Kofola)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Kapustnica je výborná! (Sauerkraut soup is excellent!)
Malinovka je tiež dobrá. Je studená. (Soda is also good. It’s cold.)

Like this page? Add to your favorite bookmarking site:

Lesson 1 Vocabulary: Ja som Američan

In the first lesson you learned how to make simple greetings and tell people your nationalities. These were explained in more detail in the grammar section. Let’s now go back and review. Along the way you’ll learn few new vocabulary words.

Nationalities

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Slovak: Slovák (male), Slovenka (female), Slováci (plural), Slovenky (plural feminine)
Czech: Čech (M), Češka (F), Češi (P), Češky (PF)
American: Američan, Američanka, Američania, Američanky
German: Nemec, Nemka, Nemci, Nemky
Hungarian: Maďar, Maďarka, Maďari, Maďarky
Pole: Poliak, Poľka, Poliaci, Poľky
Russian: Rus, Ruska, Rusi, Rusky
Brit: Angličan, Angličanka, Angličania, Angličanky
French: Francúz, Francúzska, Francúzi, Francúzsky
Chinese: Číňan, Číňanka, Číňania, Číňanky
Indian: Ind, Indka, Indovia, Indky

My friends

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Ja som Slovák (I am Slovak)
Petra je Slovenka (Petra is Slovak, fem.)
Tereza je Češka (Tereza is Czech, fem.)
Chris je Američan (Chris is American)
Patrícia je Nemka (Patricia is German, fem.)
Julien je Francúz (Julien is French)
Olga je Ruska (Olga is Russian, fem.)
TaiSen je Číňan (TaiSen is Chinese)
Madhu je Ind (Madhu is Indian)

Like this page? Add to your favorite bookmarking site: