Hrdina is the Slovak word for “hero”. It refers to a person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. This noun is often used to describe someone who has performed a heroic act or has consistently shown heroism in their actions.

On je skutočný hrdina.
He is a true hero.

Usage and Context

In Slovak, **hrdina** can be used in various contexts. It can refer to a historical figure, a character in literature, or even an everyday person who has done something brave or admirable. Here are some additional contexts in which you might encounter this word:

– **Historical Heroes**: People like Milan Rastislav Štefánik, who played significant roles in Slovak history.
– **Literary Heroes**: Characters in Slovak literature who embody heroic qualities.
– **Everyday Heroes**: Ordinary people who perform extraordinary acts of bravery.

Milan Rastislav Štefánik je slovenský národný hrdina.
Milan Rastislav Štefánik is a Slovak national hero.

Grammatical Notes

The word **hrdina** is a masculine noun. In Slovak, nouns are declined based on their role in the sentence. Here are the different forms of **hrdina**:

– **Nominative**: hrdina (hero)
– **Genitive**: hrdinu (of the hero)
– **Dative**: hrdinovi (to the hero)
– **Accusative**: hrdinu (hero – as a direct object)
– **Locative**: hrdinovi (about the hero)
– **Instrumental**: hrdinom (with the hero)

Čítal som knihu o slovenskom hrdinovi.
I read a book about a Slovak hero.

Hrdinský

Hrdinský is the Slovak adjective for “heroic”. It describes actions, qualities, or characteristics that are typical of a hero. This word is often used to attribute heroic qualities to actions, events, or people.

Urobil hrdinský čin.
He performed a heroic act.

Usage and Context

**Hrdinský** is used to describe anything that pertains to heroism. It can modify nouns to attribute them with heroic qualities. Here are some common contexts in which you might encounter **hrdinský**:

– **Heroic Acts**: Actions performed with great bravery or courage.
– **Heroic Qualities**: Attributes such as bravery, selflessness, and determination.
– **Heroic Stories**: Tales that involve heroes and their deeds.

Jeho hrdinský príbeh nás všetkých dojal.
His heroic story moved us all.

Grammatical Notes

The word **hrdinský** is an adjective and must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. Here are the different forms of **hrdinský** based on gender:

– **Masculine**: hrdinský
– **Feminine**: hrdinská
– **Neuter**: hrdinské

Jej hrdinská odvaha bola inšpirujúca.
Her heroic courage was inspiring.

Comparing Hrdina and Hrdinský

Understanding the difference between **hrdina** and **hrdinský** is crucial for proper usage. Here are some key points of comparison:

– **Part of Speech**: **Hrdina** is a noun, while **hrdinský** is an adjective.
– **Meaning**: **Hrdina** refers to a person who is a hero, whereas **hrdinský** describes qualities or actions that are heroic.
– **Usage**: Use **hrdina** when you want to talk about a hero, and use **hrdinský** when you want to describe something as heroic.

Tento hrdina vykonal mnoho hrdinských činov.
This hero performed many heroic acts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse **hrdina** and **hrdinský** because they both derive from the same root word **hrd** (meaning “hero”). Here are some common mistakes and how to avoid them:

– **Using hrdina as an adjective**: Remember that **hrdina** is a noun. If you want to describe something as heroic, you need to use **hrdinský**.
– Incorrect: On je veľmi hrdina.
– Correct: On je veľmi hrdinský.

On je veľmi hrdinský.
He is very heroic.

– **Using hrdinský as a noun**: **Hrdinský** is an adjective, so it cannot stand alone as a noun.
– Incorrect: On je hrdinský.
– Correct: On je hrdina.

On je hrdina.
He is a hero.

Practice Exercises

To solidify your understanding, try the following exercises:

1. Translate the following sentences into Slovak:
– The hero saved the day.
– Her heroic efforts were recognized.
– He is considered a national hero.
– The heroic actions of the firefighters were commendable.

Answers:
Hrdina zachránil deň.
Jej hrdinské úsilie bolo ocenené.
Je považovaný za národného hrdinu.
Hrdinské činy hasičov boli chvályhodné.

2. Fill in the blanks with either **hrdina** or **hrdinský**:
– Jeho ______ čin bol nezabudnuteľný.
– Tento ______ zachránil mnoho životov.
– Potrebujeme viac ______ činov v našom svete.
– Ona je skutočný ______.

Answers:
Jeho hrdinský čin bol nezabudnuteľný.
Tento hrdina zachránil mnoho životov.
Potrebujeme viac hrdinských činov v našom svete.
Ona je skutočný hrdina.

By understanding and practicing these distinctions, you will be able to use **hrdina** and **hrdinský** correctly in your Slovak conversations and writing. Keep practicing, and soon these differences will become second nature to you. Happy learning!