In this lesson you will learn five common Slovak greetings and farewells. You will practice using them at the right time of day and in the right level of formality, and you will hear them in a short polite conversation.
Objectives
- Greet someone politely in Slovak during the day with Dobrý deň.
- Use informal greetings and farewells like Ahoj with friends and family.
- Choose the right farewell for a formal situation, such as Dovidenia.
Phrases
Good day
Polite daytime greeting; also used when leaving, though Dovidenia is more common as a goodbye.Hi / Bye
Informal; use with friends, family, and people your own age, both when meeting and parting.Good morning
Used early in the morning.Good night
Used when going to bed or leaving someone late at night.Goodbye
Polite farewell for formal situations or with people you do not know well.Explanations
Dobrý deň: the polite daytime greeting
Dobrý deň is the standard polite greeting used during the day. It works both when you meet someone and when you leave, though Dovidenia is the more common goodbye in many situations. Use it with shopkeepers, officials, and people you do not know well.
Ahoj: informal hello and goodbye
Ahoj is an informal greeting used with friends, family, and people your own age. It can be used both when meeting and when parting. It is not the right choice for a formal or professional situation.
Time of day and polite farewells
Dobré ráno is used early in the morning, and Dobrú noc is used when going to bed or leaving someone late at night. Dovidenia is a polite goodbye used in formal situations or with people you do not know well. In the dialogue, Ako sa máte? is the polite or plural form of 'How are you?'; the informal singular form is Ako sa máš?.
Dialogue
Good day, how are you?
Good day, I am well. And you?
I am well too. Goodbye.
Goodbye.
Pronunciation
Listen carefully to the recording and repeat each phrase aloud. Copy the rhythm and the length of the vowels exactly as you hear them.
Common mistake
Using Ahoj with a shopkeeper or in a formal meeting.
Use Dobrý deň when you meet someone politely during the day, and Dovidenia when you leave a formal situation.
Practice
Greet a shopkeeper politely in the afternoon.
Use the polite daytime greeting.
Show answer
Dobrý deňDobrý deň is the standard polite greeting used during the day, so it fits a shopkeeper in the afternoon.
Greet a close friend informally.
Use the informal greeting that works with friends.
Show answer
AhojAhoj is informal and is used with friends, family, and people your own age.
Say goodbye politely at a formal meeting.
Use the polite farewell for people you do not know well.
Show answer
DovideniaDovidenia is a polite goodbye used in formal situations or with people you do not know well.
Match the greeting to the time of day and the situation: Dobrý deň and Dovidenia are polite, while Ahoj is for friends and family.
Practice with Yapr
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