General Legal Terms
Here are some foundational legal terms that you will frequently encounter in Slovak:
1. **Zákon** – This term means **law** or **act**. It is used to refer to written laws passed by the legislative body.
2. **Právo** – This is the Slovak word for **right** or **law** in a more general sense. It can refer to legal rights or the field of law as a whole.
3. **Súd** – This means **court**. It is the place where legal cases are heard and decided.
4. **Sudca** – This term translates to **judge**, the official who presides over court proceedings.
5. **Právnik** – This is the word for **lawyer** or **attorney**. A právnik represents clients in legal matters.
6. **Zmluva** – This means **contract** or **agreement**. It is a legally binding document between parties.
7. **Obžaloba** – This term means **accusation** or **indictment**. It refers to the formal charge of a crime.
8. **Obhajca** – This is the term for **defense lawyer** or **counsel** who defends the accused party.
9. **Žalobca** – This means **prosecutor** or **plaintiff**, the party bringing a case against another.
10. **Rozsudok** – This translates to **verdict** or **judgment**. It is the decision made by a court.
11. **Trestný čin** – This term means **criminal offense**. It refers to actions that are punishable under criminal law.
12. **Právomoc** – This means **jurisdiction**. It refers to the authority of a court to hear a case.
Civil Law Terms
Civil law deals with the rights and duties of individuals among themselves. Here are some terms you might encounter:
1. **Občianske právo** – This is the term for **civil law**, which governs non-criminal disputes.
2. **Žaloba** – This means **lawsuit** or **complaint**. It is the formal legal claim filed by the plaintiff.
3. **Žalovaný** – This translates to **defendant** in civil cases.
4. **Dedičstvo** – This term means **inheritance**. It refers to property or money received from a deceased person.
5. **Rozvod** – This is the Slovak word for **divorce**. It refers to the legal dissolution of a marriage.
6. **Výživné** – This means **alimony** or **child support**. It refers to financial support provided to a spouse or child.
7. **Nájomná zmluva** – This term translates to **lease agreement**. It is a contract between a landlord and tenant.
8. **Vlastnícke právo** – This means **property right**. It refers to the legal rights to own and use property.
9. **Záväzok** – This is the term for **obligation** or **liability**. It refers to a legal duty to do or not do something.
10. **Súdny spor** – This means **litigation**. It refers to the process of taking legal action.
Family Law Terms
Family law is a branch of civil law that deals with family matters and domestic relations. Here are some essential terms:
1. **Manželstvo** – This means **marriage**. It refers to the legally recognized union of two people.
2. **Manžel** – This is the word for **husband**.
3. **Manželka** – This translates to **wife**.
4. **Dieťa** – This means **child**.
5. **Opatrovníctvo** – This is the term for **guardianship** or **custody**. It refers to the legal responsibility for a child.
6. **Adopcia** – This means **adoption**. It refers to the legal process of becoming a parent to a child who is not biologically yours.
7. **Výživné na dieťa** – This translates to **child support**.
8. **Dedič** – This means **heir**. It refers to a person who inherits property or money from a deceased person.
9. **Testament** – This is the Slovak word for **will**. It is a legal document outlining the distribution of a person’s assets after death.
10. **Súdne konanie o rozvod** – This means **divorce proceedings**.
Criminal Law Terms
Criminal law deals with behaviors that are considered offenses against the state or public. Here are some critical terms:
1. **Trestné právo** – This means **criminal law**.
2. **Obžalovaný** – This term means **defendant** or **accused** in criminal cases.
3. **Trestný čin** – This translates to **criminal offense**.
4. **Polícia** – This is the word for **police**.
5. **Vyšetrovanie** – This means **investigation**.
6. **Zatknutie** – This term translates to **arrest**.
7. **Obvinenie** – This means **charge** or **accusation**.
8. **Výsluch** – This is the term for **interrogation** or **questioning**.
9. **Súdny proces** – This translates to **trial**.
10. **Väzenie** – This means **prison**.
11. **Odsúdenie** – This term means **conviction**.
12. **Trest** – This translates to **punishment** or **sentence**.
13. **Podmienečný trest** – This means **probation**.
14. **Odvolanie** – This term means **appeal**.
Business and Commercial Law Terms
Business and commercial law govern the conduct of business and commercial activities. Here are some essential terms:
1. **Obchodné právo** – This means **commercial law** or **business law**.
2. **Spoločnosť** – This term translates to **company** or **corporation**.
3. **Zmluva o dielo** – This means **contract for work** or **service contract**.
4. **Obchodný register** – This is the **commercial register**, a public database of companies.
5. **Podnikanie** – This translates to **entrepreneurship** or **business activities**.
6. **Podnikateľ** – This is the word for **entrepreneur** or **businessperson**.
7. **Obchodná zmluva** – This means **commercial contract**.
8. **Bankrot** – This term translates to **bankruptcy**.
9. **Dlh** – This means **debt**.
10. **Akcia** – This is the word for **share** or **stock**.
11. **Akcionár** – This means **shareholder**.
12. **Zákazka** – This translates to **order** or **contract** in a commercial context.
13. **Pohľadávka** – This means **claim** or **receivable**.
14. **Fúzia** – This term translates to **merger**.
15. **Nadobudnutie** – This means **acquisition**.
Administrative Law Terms
Administrative law governs the activities of administrative agencies of government. Here are some important terms:
1. **Správne právo** – This means **administrative law**.
2. **Správa** – This translates to **administration** or **governance**.
3. **Úrad** – This is the word for **office** or **authority**.
4. **Právny predpis** – This means **regulation** or **legal provision**.
5. **Správne konanie** – This translates to **administrative proceedings**.
6. **Rozhodnutie** – This means **decision** or **ruling**.
7. **Odvolanie** – This term means **appeal** in an administrative context.
8. **Pokuta** – This translates to **fine** or **penalty**.
9. **Licencia** – This means **license** or **permit**.
10. **Kontrola** – This is the word for **inspection** or **audit**.
11. **Sťažnosť** – This means **complaint**.
12. **Úradník** – This term translates to **official** or **clerk**.
13. **Právomoc** – This means **authority** or **jurisdiction** in an administrative context.
14. **Nariadenie** – This translates to **regulation** or **directive**.
Real Estate Law Terms
Real estate law governs the buying, using, and selling of land and property. Here are some essential terms:
1. **Nehnuteľnosť** – This means **real estate** or **property**.
2. **Kúpna zmluva** – This translates to **purchase agreement**.
3. **Predajca** – This is the word for **seller**.
4. **Kupujúci** – This means **buyer**.
5. **Hypotéka** – This translates to **mortgage**.
6. **Záložné právo** – This term means **lien**.
7. **List vlastníctva** – This is the **certificate of ownership**.
8. **Prenájom** – This translates to **rental**.
9. **Nájomca** – This means **tenant**.
10. **Prenajímateľ** – This is the word for **landlord**.
11. **Stavebné povolenie** – This means **building permit**.
12. **Katastrálny úrad** – This is the **land registry office**.
13. **Zmluva o prenájme** – This translates to **rental agreement**.
14. **Vlastnícke právo** – This means **property right**.
Employment Law Terms
Employment law governs the relationship between employers and employees. Here are some important terms:
1. **Pracovné právo** – This means **employment law**.
2. **Zamestnanec** – This is the word for **employee**.
3. **Zamestnávateľ** – This translates to **employer**.
4. **Pracovná zmluva** – This means **employment contract**.
5. **Výpoveď** – This translates to **termination** or **notice**.
6. **Mzda** – This means **wage** or **salary**.
7. **Pracovný pomer** – This is the term for **employment relationship**.
8. **Dovolenka** – This means **leave** or **vacation**.
9. **Náhrada škody** – This translates to **compensation for damages**.
10. **Pracovné podmienky** – This means **working conditions**.
11. **Bezpečnosť pri práci** – This translates to **workplace safety**.
12. **Zdravotné poistenie** – This means **health insurance**.
13. **Sociálne zabezpečenie** – This translates to **social security**.
14. **Odmena** – This means **reward** or **bonus**.
Conclusion
Understanding these legal terms will not only help you navigate legal documents and proceedings more effectively but will also give you a deeper insight into the Slovak legal system. Whether you are studying law, working in a legal profession, or simply aiming to be more informed, having a grasp of these terms is indispensable.
Remember, learning legal terminology in a foreign language can be challenging, but with consistent effort and practice, you can achieve proficiency. Use this guide as a starting point, and don’t hesitate to seek out additional resources and practice opportunities to further enhance your understanding and skills in Slovak legal terms. Happy learning!
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