Learning a new language involves mastering various aspects, and one of the fundamental topics is numbers and counting. For English speakers learning Slovak, understanding how to count in Slovak can be both intriguing and challenging. This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide to help you learn numbers and counting in Slovak, including grammatical rules, usage, and pronunciation.

Basic Numbers

In Slovak, numbers from 1 to 10 are the building blocks for forming higher numbers, so it is essential to memorize them. Here is a list of numbers from 1 to 10 in Slovak:

– 1 – jeden
– 2 – dva
– 3 – tri
– 4 – štyri
– 5 – päť
– 6 – šesť
– 7 – sedem
– 8 – osem
– 9 – deväť
– 10 – desať

Example: Koľko jabĺk máš? Mám tri jablká. (How many apples do you have? I have three apples.)

Teen Numbers and Tens

The numbers from 11 to 19 are formed by adding the word “násť” to the end of the numbers from 1 to 9. For instance, 11 in Slovak is “jedenásť,” which combines “jeden” (one) and “násť.”

– 11 – jedenásť
– 12 – dvanásť
– 13 – trinásť
– 14 – štrnásť
– 15 – pätnásť
– 16 – šestnásť
– 17 – sedemnásť
– 18 – osemnásť
– 19 – devätnásť

Example: Mám dvanásť kníh. (I have twelve books.)

For multiples of ten, the numbers are formed differently:

– 20 – dvadsať
– 30 – tridsať
– 40 – štyridsať
– 50 – päťdesiat
– 60 – šesťdesiat
– 70 – sedemdesiat
– 80 – osemdesiat
– 90 – deväťdesiat

Example: Cena je dvadsať eur. (The price is twenty euros.)

Compound Numbers

Numbers from 21 to 99 are formed by combining the tens and the units. For instance, 21 would be “dvadsať jeden” (twenty-one), and 58 would be “päťdesiat osem” (fifty-eight).

Example: Potrebujem päťdesiat osem strán. (I need fifty-eight pages.)

Hundreds and Thousands

To form hundreds, Slovak uses the base number followed by “sto” for hundreds. Here are some examples:

– 100 – sto
– 200 – dvesto
– 300 – tristo
– 400 – štyristo

Example: V banke mám štyristo eur. (I have four hundred euros in the bank.)

For thousands, the word “tisíc” (thousand) follows the base number:

– 1000 – tisíc
– 2000 – dvetisíc
– 5000 – päťtisíc

Example: Mesto má päťtisíc obyvateľov. (The city has five thousand inhabitants.)

Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal numbers in Slovak are used to express order or sequence. They are formed differently compared to cardinal numbers and often require agreement in gender and case depending on their use in sentences.

– 1st – prvý (masculine), prvá (feminine), prvé (neuter)
– 2nd – druhý, druhá, druhé
– 3rd – tretí, tretia, tretie

Example: Je to moja prvá návšteva. (It is my first visit.)

Using Numbers in Everyday Conversation

Numbers are used in various daily situations, such as shopping, telling time, giving dates, or discussing quantities. Practice using numbers in context to improve your fluency.

Example: O koľkej sa stretneme? Stretneme sa o šiestej. (What time are we meeting? We are meeting at six.)

Conclusion

Mastering numbers in Slovak is crucial for effective communication. Start by learning the basics and gradually move to more complex structures. Regular practice, especially in real-life conversations, will enhance your understanding and usage of Slovak numbers.