Slovak Phrases: Hello, Thank You & the Most Common Words for Everyday Life

Slovak phrases – Here you will find the most common phrases in Slovak with translation and pronunciation. | Free & useful

Slovak phrases are the short expressions you use every day to greet someone, say thank you, apologise, or make a little small talk. They’re the fastest way to sound polite and human in Slovak — and, from my own experience learning languages as an adult, they’re also the fastest confidence boost. Learn a handful and you can already break the ice at your partner’s family table or on a trip to Slovakia.

Below you’ll find the most useful ones, grouped by situation, each with English translation and phonetic pronunciation (IPA).

Slovak phrases you should know

OUR TIP: If you want to learn these phrases interactively, we recommend the free language course demo from 17-Minute-Language, where you can learn Slovak phrases and dialogues today.

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How to say hello in Slovak

Greeting someone in Slovak is easy. Among friends and family you’ll mostly hear ahoj or čau; in more formal situations, dobrý deň is your safe, all-purpose choice.

If you are greeted in Slovak, the best way to respond is as follows:

Formal or informal? Vy vs. ty in Slovak

Here’s the one thing English speakers always trip over: Slovak has two words for you. There’s the informal ty, which you use with family, close friends, and children — and the formal vy, which you use with strangers, elders, and, crucially, your partner’s parents until they invite you to switch. Getting this right is the difference between coming across as warm and coming across as rude, and the verb changes with it. From experience, when in doubt, start with vy: no one is ever offended by being addressed politely.

How to say thank you in Slovak

This is the phrase people look up more than any other — and no wonder, because ďakujem is the word that instantly makes you sound warm and polite. Here are the versions worth knowing, from casual to heartfelt:

How is my dialogue partner?

As in any other country, it is polite to start by asking how the person you are talking to is doing. Here’s how you do it:

If you are asked how you feel, you can answer with the following phrases:

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How do I say goodbye to someone in Slovak?

Saying goodbye to a friend or stranger in Slovak is not that difficult. Just use the following phrases:

How do I introduce myself in Slovak?

When travelling in Slovakia, sooner or later you will come into contact with local people. Naturally, you’ll want to introduce yourself in Slovak and know who you’re talking to.

If you want to tell people where you come from, the following sentences are useful:

If you have problems with your Slovak, it is good to know which languages are still spoken:

Useful sentences with ‘I am…’

The following sentences will help you orientate yourself in Slovak and express your wishes and concerns:

Slovak terms of endearment

If you’re learning Slovak to get closer to a partner, these are the little words that land hardest. Use them warmly — they’re everyday, affectionate, and very Slovak:

Apologising in Slovak

Here’s how to apologise to a Slovak speaker:

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Useful signs and notices in Slovak

Useful signs and messages in Slovak that you will often see.

Numbers to 25 in Slovak

Counting in Slovak is not that difficult. Here are the numbers in Slovak from 1 to 25.

The colours in Slovak

The most common colours in Slovak with phonetic transcription for pronunciation.

Days of the week, months and seasons in Slovak

Of course, you will also need the days of the week in Slovak and the pronunciation of the months and seasons in dialogues and daily communication in Slovak.

OUR TIP: If you want to learn these Slovak phrases interactively, we recommend the free language course demo from 17-Minute-Language, where you can learn Slovak phrases and dialogues.

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Frequently asked questions about Slovak phrases

How do you say thank you in Slovak?
You say Ďakujem (pronounced DYAH-koo-yem). For thank you very much, say Ďakujem pekne, and for a casual thanks among friends, Vďaka. The reply, you are welcome, is Prosím or Nie je za čo.

How do you say hello in Slovak?
Among friends and family you say Ahoj or Čau. In polite or formal situations, the safe choice is Dobrý deň, which means good day.

How do you say goodbye in Slovak?
The polite goodbye is Dovidenia. Among friends you can simply say Ahoj or Čau, which work for both hello and goodbye.

What are the most useful Slovak phrases for beginners?
Start with Ahoj, Dobrý deň, Ďakujem, Prosím, Prepáč, Áno, Nie, Ako sa máš, and Dovidenia. With these nine you can already greet, thank, apologise, and take your leave politely.

About the author – Sven Mancini
Sven is a published language author with four language-learning books and more than 20 years of self-teaching experience. He has learned several languages as an adult and knows exactly how far a handful of the right phrases can carry you when you’re trying to connect with people. More about Sven.

Keep learning Slovak:

• How to learn Slovak – the complete beginner’s guide
• The different ways of learning languages
• Learning vocabulary successfully
• It is so easy to train your understanding of a language at the same time

Reading this in another language? 🇳🇴 Vanlige fraser på slovakisk