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Slovak declension

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See also: Slovak language. Many Slovak words are given without translation on this page, for a translation see e. g. this (not very good) dictionary Slovak-English-Slovak Dictionary

Table of contents
1 Introduction
2 Legend
3 Nouns
4 Adjectives
5 Pronouns
6 Numerals
7 External links:

Introduction

The Slovak language, like most Slavic languages or like Latin, is an inflected language, meaning that the endings (and sometimes also the stems) of most words (nouns, adjectives, pronouns and numerals) change depending on the given combination of the grammatical gender, the grammatical number and the grammatical case of the particular word in the particular sentence:

a)Gender: All Slovak nouns and adjectives, as well as some pronouns and numerals are either masculine, feminine, or neuter

b)Number: Like in English, there is the singular and the plural

c)Cases: 

    * in certain contexts

Legend

Nouns

For each gender, there are four basic declension paradigms (i. e. declension models).

Note that many nouns (especially those following the paradigm chlap) have different endings then those of the paradigms in one or several grammatical cases. They are neither defined, nor listed in the following

A very small number of foreign nouns is not declined (i. e. the stem and ending never change).

The Masculine Gender

 

animate and ends in anything except -a

animate and ends in -a

inanimate and ends in a hard or neutral consonant

inanimate and ends in a soft consonant

 

sg.

pl.

sg.

pl.

sg.

pl.

sg.

pl.

Nmužmužihrdinahrdinoviadubdubystrojstroje
Gmužamužovhrdinuhrdinovduba dubovstrojastrojov
Dmužovimužomhrdinovihrdinomdubudubomstrojustrojom
Amužamužovhrdinuhrdinovdubdubystrojstroje
Lmužovimužochhrdinovihrdinochdube dubochstrojistrojoch
Imužommužmihrdinomhrdinamidubomdubmistrojomstrojmi

There is also a 5th paradigm for foreign nouns ending in .-i , -y, -e, -? -? -ě, -? (e. g. pony, kuli, T??i, Goethe, Krejč? abb? Poupě) and foreign personal names ending in -? -?(e. g. Jen?, which goes as follows:

Masculine animal nouns are declined like chlap in the singular, but in plural usually like dub (if they end in a hard or neutral consonant) or like stroj (otherwise)

Notes on chlap:

Notes on hrdina: -

Notes on dub:
Notes on stroj:

The Feminine Gender

 

ends in -hard or neutral consonant + a

ends in -soft consonant + a (or in -ia / -ya)

ends in a consonant other then for kosť (next column).

ends in -c /s / p / v / sť

 

sg.

pl.

sg.

pl.

sg.

pl.

sg.

pl.

Nženaženyulicaulicedlaňdlanekosťkosti
Gženyžienuliceul?dlanedlaniachkostikost?/TD>
Dženežen?uliciuliciamdlanidlaniamkostikostiam
Aženuženyulicuulicedlaňdlanekosťkosti
Lženežen?huliciuliciachdlanidlaniachkostikostiach
Iženouženamiulicouulicamidlaňoudlaňamikosťoukosťami

There is also a 5th paradigm for feminine nouns ending in -n? or -ovn?(e. g. princezn?/b>), where the singular and N pl and A pl are like pekn?(see under adjectives) and the remaining plural is like žena. In the G pl, there are changes in the stem: if the noun ends in -vowel + n? then this vowel receives an acute (e. g. švagrin?- švagr?), but otherwise an -ie- is inserted (e. g. princezn?- princezien).

There is also a 6th paradigm for the feminine nouns ending in -ea (idea, K?ea), which goes like žena, except that D sg and Lsg are idei, and G pl is ide?without change in the stem.

Notes on žena:

Notes on ulica:
  • In the G pl of some nouns, an ie is inserted (e. g. jedľa - jedieľ, sukňa - sukieň)
  • In the G pl of some nouns, in the last syllable of the stem the a / i / y / u / e / o /syllabic r (without an acute or a preceding i) is changed into ?(or ia)/ ?/ ?/ ?/ie / ? ŕ respectively (e. g. ulica -ul?, sudkyňa -sudk?#328;, Krkonoše, Krkon?#353;, košeľa - košieľ, guľa - g?#318;, hoľa - h?#318;, fľaša – fliaš

Notes on dlaň:
The following nouns are declined like dlaň, not like kosť: obec, p?ť, čeľusť, p?ť.
  • The following feminine nouns are not declined like dlaň, but like kosť: jar, zver, chuť, ortuť, pam?#357;, smrť, pleť, sneť, rukov?#357;, smeť, p?#357;, spleť, svojeť, reč, seč, meď, soľ, hluš, myš, voš, lož, bel, Sereď, Sib?, Budapešť, Bukurešť, Lešť and a few other nouns. The words myseľ, chuť, raž, tv?, hneď can be declined like dlaň or like kosť in the singular, but only like dlaň in the plural. The word hrsť is declined like dlaň in the singular, but like kosť in the plural.
  • most nouns in -eň lose the e in all cases except N sg and A sg (e. g. ?oveň - ?ovne)

    • Notes on kosť:
    • see the first two notes under dlaň
    • some nouns lose the e / o in all cases except N sg and A sg (e. g. ves - vsi, lož - lži, cirkev-cirkvi)

    The Neuter Gender

     

    ends in - o

    ends in - e (except -ie)

    ends in - ie

    ends in - a or -?/TD>

     

    sg.

    pl.

    sg.

    pl.

    sg.

    pl.

    sg.

    pl.

    Nmestomest?/TD>srdcesrdciavysvedčenievysvedčeniadievča dievčat?/ dievčence
    Gmestamiestsrdcasŕdcvysvedčeniavysvedčen?/TD>dievčaťadievčiat/ dievčeniec
    Dmestumest?srdcusrdciamvysvedčeniuvysvedčeniamdievčaťudievčat?/ dievčencom
    Amestomest?/TD>srdcesrdciavysvedčenievysvedčeniadievčadievčat? dievčence
    Lmestemest?hsrdcisrdciachvysvedčen?/TD>vysvedčeniachdievčatidievčat?h / dievčencoch
    Imestommestamisrdcomsrdcamivysvedčen?vysvedčeniamidievčaťomdievčatami / dievčencami

    For (any) neuter nouns ending in -vowel+um/on (e. g. št?ium, ganglion) there is actually a 5th paradigm (št?ium), which is declined like mesto except that the -um- / -on- is omitted in all cases except N sg and A sg. , L sg ends in -u (št?iu),and G pl in -? (št?i?.

    Notes on mesto:

    • Latin and Greek neuter nouns ending in -consonant +um/on (e. g. f?um, epiteton) are declined like mesto, except that the -um- / -on- is omitted in all cases except N sg and A sg (e. g. N sg and A sg: publikum, G sg: publikuma, D sg: publikumu etc. )
    • in the G pl of some nouns, an ie/ e / o / ?/(rarely ? is inserted in the last syllable of the stem (e. g. clo-ciel, mydlo-mydiel, zvieratko-zvieratiek, jedlo – jed?, vrecko-vrec?/vreciek, vl?no - vl?en / vl?ien, č?lo - č?el / č?iel, lajno – lajen, l?ko - l?ok, teliesko – teliesok
    • in the G pl of some nouns, in the last syllable of the stem the a / i / y / u / ?/ e / o /syllabic r / syllabic l (without an acute or a preceding i) is changed into ?/ ?/ ?/ ?/ia / ie / ? ŕ/ ĺ respectively (kladivo - klad?, zrno – zŕn)

    Notes on srdce:
    • In the G pl of some nouns, an ie/e is inserted in the last syllable of the stem. (e. g. citoslovce-citosloviec, okience – okienec, vajce - vajec)
    • In the G pl of some nouns, in the last syllable of the stem the a / i / y / u / ?/ e / o /syllabic r / syllabic l (without an acute or a preceding i) is changed into ?/ ?/ ?/ ?/ia / ie / ? ŕ/ ĺ respectively (plece-pliec, srdce-sŕdc, slnce-sĺnc).

    Notes on vysvedčenie: -

    Notes on dievča:

    • The -a- at the beginning of all endings is replaced by ?in nouns, where a p/b/m/f/v precedes the a (e. g. žrieb?- žrieb?#357;a - žrieb?#357;u. . . ).
    • Most nouns can take both the -at- endings and the -enc- endings in the plural (e. g. dievča, h?a, b??, some nouns however take only the -at- endings (e. g. knieža, zviera, ml?#271;a) and some nouns only the -enc- endings (e. g. kura). The following nouns do not take the -en- in the alternative plural endings : prasa (- prasat?/ prasce - prasiat / prasiec), teľa , šteňa.

    Adjectives

    Paradigms

     

    masculine

    neuter

    feminine

    pluralNpekn?/TD>pekn?/TD>pekn?/TD>pekn? (masc. animate: pekn?Gpekn?opekn?opeknejpekn?hDpekn?upekn?upeknejpekn?Apekn? (animate: pekn?o)pekn?/TD>pekn?/TD>pekn? (masc. animate: pekn?h)Lpeknompeknompeknejpekn?hIpekn?pekn?peknoupekn?i

    Otcov

    This paradigm is used for adjectives ending in -ov / -in [in the masculine gender] (e. g. otcov (“father’s“ ), mamin (“mather’s“)). All of them are, by the way, possessive adjectives ( adjectives in -ov for masculine persons, adjectives in -in for feminine persons)

     

    masculine

    neuter

    feminine

    plural

    Notcovotcovootcovaotcove (masc. animate: otcovi)
    Gotcovhootcovhootcovejotcov?h
    Dotcovmuotcovmuotcovejotcov?
    Aotcov (animate: otcovho)otcovootcovuotcove (masc. animate: otcov?h)
    Lotcovomotcovomotcovejotcov?h
    Iotcov?otcov?otcovouotcov?i

    The Comparative and Superlative

    The comparative is formed by replacing the adjective ending -?y/i/?by -ejš? or -š? There are exact rules for the choice between these two endings and there are several irregular comparatives. Examples:
    Regular: hrozn?– hroznejš? bohat?- bohatš?. . .
    Irregular: veľk?- v?#269;š? mal?- menš? dobr?- lepš? zl?- horš? pekn?- krajš? čierny - černejš? bl?ky-bližš? ďalek?- ďalš? hlbok?– hlbš?. . .
    The comparative forms are declined like cudz?p> The superlative (i. e. biggest, most difficult etc. )is formed as follows: naj+comparative . Examples: pekn?- krajš?- najkrajš? hrozn? hroznejš?– najhroznejš?. . .

    The comparative and superlative of adverbs (which by the way end in -o, -e or -y in the basic form)is formed by simply replacing the -(ej)š?from the adjective by -(ej)šie (e. g. pekne - krajšie - najkrajšie, hrozne - hroznejšie - najhroznejšie, teplo - teplejšie - najteplejšie, pomaly - pomalšie - najpomalšie)

    Pronouns

    Personal pronouns

     

    I

    you (sg)

    he

    she

    it

    we

    you (pl. or polite form)

    they (masculine animate, or mixed genders)

    they (otherwise)

    Njatyononaonomyvyoniony
    Gma (mňa)ťa (teba) ho (jeho, neho,-ňho, -ň)ju ho (jeho, neho, -ňho, -ň) n?v?ich (nich)ich (ne)
    Dmne (mi)tebe (ti)mu (jemu, nemu,-ňmu)jej (nej)mu (jemu, nemu,-ňmu)n?v?im (nim)im (nim)
    Ama (mňa)ťa (teba) ho (jeho, neho, -ňho, -ň, -eň)ju ho (-ň, -eň) n?v?ich (nich)ich (ne)
    Lmnetebeňomnejňomn?v?nichnich
    Imnouteboun?ňoun?namivaminiminimi

    There is also the reflexive pronoun sa, which is declined as follows: N: -, G: seba , D: sebe /si, A: seba/sa, L: sebe, I: sebou

    Notes:

    • the long forms mňa, teba, seba, mne, tebe, sebe in G, D and A are used after prepositions (e. g. pre mňa) or when emphasized, especially always at the beginning of the sentence (e. g. Vid?#353; len seba. , Teba vid?. )
    • the forms jeho, jemu in G, D and A are used when emphasized, especially always at the beginning of the sentence (e. g. Vid? jeho. Jeho vid? = It is him that I see)
    • the forms in n- (i. e. neho, nemu, nej, ňu, nich, nim, ne) are used after prepositions (e. g. pre neho (masc. )); the forms -ňho (or -ň), -ňmu, -ň can be used alternatively after the prepositions do, pre, na, za, o, po, do, u (e. g. pre neho (masc. ) = preňho = preň); the special form -eň can be used alternatively (for neutre nouns obligatorily) after the prepositions nad, ponad, cez, pod, popod, pred, popred (e. g. nad neho (masc.) = nadeň ).

    Demonstrative Pronouns

     

    masculine

    neuter

    feminine

    plural

    Ntentot?/TD>tie (masc. animate: t?
    Gtohotohotejt?h
    Dtomutomutejt?
    Aten (masc. animate: toho)tot?/TD>tie (masc. animate: t?h)
    Ltomtomtejt?h
    It?t?tout?i

    like ten (that, the) are declined: tamten (that one), henten (that one), tento (this one), tenže (the same). . .

    like adjectives are declined: e. g. ist?(certain, same), každ?(each), in?(other), tak?/ onak?(such), všetok (all), s? (-self), onen (that one),and žiaden=žiadny (no one) . . .

    Interrogative (and Relative) and Indefinite pronouns

    who: N: kto - G:koho -D:komu - A:koho - L:kom - I:k? [always masculine animate]
    what: N: čo - G:čoho - D:čomu - A: čo -L: čom -I:č? [always neuter]

    like kto/čo are declined: nikto (nobody), niekto/dakto (someone), niečo/dačo (something), hocikto (who ever), nič (nothing), ktosi (someone), čosi (something) . . .

    like adjectives are declined:č?(whose), nieč?/dač?/ hocič?(someone’s), nič?(noone’s), ktor?(which), ak?(what, which), nejak?/ dajak?/ (some), nijak?/ niktor?(no), č?i (someone’s), č?oľvek (whose ever). ak?i (some), ktor?i (some), ktor?oľvek (which ever). . .

    Possessive pronouns

     

    masculine

    neuter

    feminine

    plural

    Nm?mojemojamoje (masc. animate: moji)
    Gm?hom?homojejmojich
    Dm?mum?mumojejmojim
    Am? (animate: m?ho)mojemojumoje (masc. animate: mojich)
    Lmojommojommojejmojich
    Imoj?moj?mojoumojimi

    like m? (my) are declined:

    • tvoj (your (sg. )) and svoj (one’s own), except that the o never changes in ?(e. g. tvoj-tvojho . . . )
    • n?#353; (our) and v?#353; (your (pl. )), except that the -? in m? corresponds to an -? , and an -o- in m? corresponds to an -a- here (e. g. n?#353;-G:n?#353;ho- L:našom)

    not declined are:
    • jeho (his), jej (her), ich (their)

    Numerals

    Cardinal Numerals (one, two, three. . . )

    Paradigms

    jeden (one): is declined like the adjective pekn?p>
    • Changes for compound numerals in -jeden: not declined ; see Compound Numerals

    dva (two): N: dvaja (masc. animate); dva (masc. inanimate); dve (otherwise) - G: dvoch - D: dvom - A: dvoch (masc. animate); dva (masc. inanimate); dve (otherwise) - L: dvoch - I: dvoma

    • Changes for compound numerals in -dva:
    N: dvaja/dva (masc. animate); dva (otherwise)
    A: dvoch /dva (masc. animate); dva (otherwise)

    • Also declined like dva: obidva / oba (both) , and (with the above changes) the second part of the compound numerals 32, 42, . . . 92, if they are declined (see Compound Numerals)

    tri (three): N: traja (masc. animate); tri (otherwise) - G: troch - D: trom - A: troch (masc. animate); tri (otherwise) - L: troch - I: troma / tromi

    • Changes for compound numerals in -tri, -štyri:
    N: traja/tri (masc. animate); tri (otherwise)
    A: troch/tri (masc. animate); tri (otherwise)

    • Also declined like tri: štyri (4), and (with the above changes) the second part of the compound numerals 23, 33, 43, . . . 93; 24, 34, 44, . . . 94, if they are declined (see Compound Numerals)

    p?#357; (five): N: piati / p?#357; (masc. animate); p?#357; (otherwise) - G: piatich - D: piatim - A: piatich / p?#357; (masc. animate); p?#357; (otherwise) - L: piatich - I: piatimi

    • Also declined like p?#357;: the numerals p?#357; (6) to 19 (19), and 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and the second part of the compound numerals 25 - 29, 35-39 . . . 95-99, if they are declined (see Compound Numerals)

    100, 200, 300, . . . 900; 1000, 2000, 3000, . . . 9000: not declined, but 1000 can be declined like p?#357;

    Compound Numerals

    • if they end in -jeden (e. g. 21, 101):
      • not declined

    • otherwise:
      • 2 alternatives: not declined or declined; if they are declined, then each number making up the numeral is declined according to its own paradigm (e. g. 23 chlapov: dvadsiatich troch chlapov)

    Ordinal Numerals (first, second . . . . )

    They are declined like adjectives (paradigms pekn?and cudz?

    Note: Ordinal numerals are formed by adding adjective endings to the (slightly modified) cardinal numbers, e. g.

    5: p?#357; - 5th: piaty,
    20: dvadsať - 20th: dvadsiaty

    External links: