Slovak Language Lessons
Welcome to the Slovak language course page. Here you can learn to speak Slovak, the official language of Slovakia, from free online language lessons. Slovak is a Slavic language very similar to Czech, and also quite similar to Polish. It is written in the same Roman script as English, but the characters are extended with few diacritic accent marks. Before you get started, please see my few words on Slovak alphabet and the pronunciation practice.
The lessons revolve around an American traveler as he makes his way around the country. I start off each lesson with a common dialog that you may encounter on your own visit to Slovakia. Slovak is quite easy to read, but like all Slavic languages, has a complicated grammar. Hence I supplement the dialogs with grammar lessons. These will come in handy if you really want to learn the intricacies of the language. Each lesson also contains additional vocabulary with pronunciation. This is where I post little exercises for you to practice with.
Don’t forget to leave a comment if you have any questions or suggestions. This is a great way to share your thoughts with others also interested in learning Slovak. Feel free to email me if there is a particular phrase you want to know how to say in Slovak that is not listed (yet) in the lessons.
If you are looking for more, check out panorama.sk, where you can order Slovak language textbooks.
Thanks for visiting, good luck and happy travels!
Posted by
lubos Date:
Friday, August 7, 2009
Wow, you had an eventful day! You introduced yourself to new friends, went to a restaurant, and even managed to ask how much something costs. It’s time to head back to your hotel room and relax with some good ol’ Slovak TV. Luckily, STV2 (Slovak Television Channel 2) is showing music video clips from the 80s, and you turn the TV on just as Miro Žbirka’s song Biely Kvet (White Flower) comes on. Miro Žbirka was one of the most popular Slovak musicians in the 80s. He was the Slovak version of John Lennon; his mom was even British.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfXQL18O7Ao
So what is this song about? Here are the lyrics with as close to literal translation as I could muster. And don’t forget to sing along. I believe that songs are one of the best ways to learn a foreign language. Especially catchy ones like this one.
(VERSE 1)
biely kvet – darujem ti biely kvet
white flower – (I) gift you white flower
biely kvet – môžu ti ho závidieť
white flower – (they) may you it be-jealous-of
biely kvet – od šatnárky v kine Sen
white flower – from (the lady) attendant at cinema Dream
studený biely kvet ti na rozlúčku prinesiem
cold white flower (for) you for a farewall (I) bring
(CHORUS)
biely kvet – darujem ti biely kvet
white flower – (I) gift you white flower
biely kvet – posledný je, viac ich niet, niet
white flower – the last-one it-is, more of-it is-not, is-not
biely kvet – dlhá ryha smútku v ňom
white flower – long crease of sadness in it
studený biely kvet ti dávam navždy s úsmevom
cold white flower you (I) give forever with a smile
(VERSE 2)
Tak sa priprav na život s ním, priprav na život s ním
So get ready for the life with him, get ready for the life with him
Prežiješ s ním možno pár zím, možno pár dlhých zím
(You may) live-through with him maybe few winters, maybe couple long winters
Na svetlo vždy vyjdeš s tmou, nechám ti v ňom smútok slov
To the light you will come-out with darkness, (I’ll) leave for-you in it sadness of words
Tak sa priprav na život s ním – priprav na život s ním
So get ready for the life with him, get ready for the life with him
(CHORUS)
(VERSE 2)
(CHORUS)
Do you like this song? Find out more about popular Slovak songs from the 80s in the blog section of this website…
Posted by
lubos Date:
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Categories:
Dialogs, Language
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