Signs and symbols of Slovak language

1. Signs and symbolsof Slovak language

2. Slovak is a Western Slavonic language spoken by about 5.6 million people in Slovakia and also in Canada, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Ukraine and the USA. Slovak is closely related to Czech, Polish, and Sorbian. • Documents in Slovak started to appear in the 15th century, however a widely accepted literary standard for Slovak did not emerge until the 19th century. Slovak literature flourished between 1918 and 1938 when the Slovak-speaking area became part of Czechoslovakia, though the Czech majority did not all recognise the separate status of the Slovak language. • Since the demise of Czechoslovakia in 1993, Slovakia has been an independent country and the Slovak and Czech languages have started to drift away from each other, though they are still more or less mutually intellegible.

3. Slovak alphabet (slovenská abeceda) & pronunciation (výslovnosť)

4. Sample text in Slovak • Všetci ľudia sa rodia slobodní a sebe rovní, čo sa týka ich dôstojnosti a práv. Sú obdarení rozumom a majú navzájom jednať v bratskom duchu. • Translation • Allhumanbeings are bornfree and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowedwithreason and conscienceandshouldacttowardsoneanother in a spiritofbrotherhood.

5. Usefulphrases • Hereis a small, buthandfulSlovak-Englishdictionary, so youcanlearn to speak Slovak language. Please, note thattheadjective “Slovakian” or phrase “learnSlovakian” are notcorrectaccording to theEnglishgrammar! • Conversation • Yes – ÁnoNo – NieMaybe – MožnoGoodmorning – Dobré ránoGoodevening – Dobrý večerGoodnight – Dobrú nocMy nameis … – Volám sa …You’rewelcome – Nemáte za čo (or Prosím)Thankyou – ĎakujemPlease – ProsímItisnice to meetyou – Teší maWelcome – VítajteHow are you? – Ako sa máš?

6. DifficultiesI (don’t) understand – (Ne)RozumiemDo youspeakEnglish? – Hovoríte po anglicky?DoesanyoneherespeakEnglish? – Hovorí tu niekto po anglicky?Whatdoesitmean? – Čo to znamená?Canyou show me …? – Môžete mi ukázať …?

7. TransportBoat/Ship – LoďBus – AutobusPlane – LietadloI wouldlike a oneway/returnticket. – Chcel by som jednosmerný/spiatočný lístok.

8. I’m looking for … – Hľadám …Guesthouse – PenziónHotel – HotelHostel – Hostel or UbytovňaWhere is there a cheap hotel? – Kde je tu lacný hotel?What is the address? – Aká je to adresa?Could you write it down, please? – Môžete mi to, prosím, napísať?How much is it? (per night/per person) – Koľko to stojí? (na noc/na osobu)Do you have any rooms available? – Máte nejaké voľné izby?Is breakfast included? – Sú raňajky v cene? Accommodation

9. Reservation I’dlike to book … – Chcel by som si rezervovať …Date – DátumFrom (date) – OdTo (date) – DoCreditcard – Kreditná kartaNumber – ČísloPleaseconfirm – Prosím o potvrdeniePrice – CenaOnenight – Jedna nocOne person – Jedna osobaRoom – IzbaBathroom – Kúpeľňa

10. Directions Whereis? – Kde je?Whichway? – Kadiaľ?Gostraightahead – Choďte rovnoTurnleft/right – Zabočte do ľava/pravaStop! – Stop!/Stojte!Atthecorner – Na rohuBehind – ZaIn front of – PredFar – ĎalekoClose – BlízkoNorth – SeverSouth – JuhWest – ZápadEast – Východ

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