Greetings and politeness in Slovak
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the ten openers everything else builds on. Play the ten Slovak words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 11 Slovak phrases in this lesson
- Dobrý deňDO-bree DYEN
- Hello
- Dobré ránoDO-breh RAH-no
- Good morning
- Dobrý večerDO-bree VEH-cher
- Good evening
- Dovideniado-vi-DEN-ya
- Goodbye
- Uvidíme saOO-vi-dee-meh sah
- See you
- ProsímPRO-seem
- Please
- ĎakujemDYAH-koo-yem
- Thank you
- Niet za čonyet za CHO
- You're welcome
- Je mi to ľútoyeh mee toh LYOO-toh
- Sorry
- Prepáčtepreh-PACH-teh
- Excuse me
- Teší maTYEH-shee mah
- Nice to meet you
Literally "good day", the polite greeting for strangers, shops and anyone older. It is the safe default for a visitor.
Used until around 9 or 10 in the morning. Suitable for all situations.
Said arriving anywhere in the evening.
Standard farewell meaning until we see each other again. Čau also works informally.
Literally "we'll see each other". Friends also say čau (chow). Dovidenia is the polite goodbye.
Same word as you are welcome. Add it to any request to sound polite.
The polite thank you. "Vďaka" (VDYA-ka) is the casual one.
Literally "there is nothing to thank for", and unambiguous. The alternative "prosím" also answers thanks, but it doubles as please and as "here you go", so context has to carry it.
Literally "it is sad to me", the real apology.
Formal excuse me used to get attention or apologize. Use dovolte to get past someone.
Literally "it pleases me".