How to Learn Numbers and Numerals in Slovak for English Speakers

Introduction to Slovak Numbers

Numbers are an essential part of any language, and Slovak is no exception. For English speakers learning Slovak, understanding how numbers and numerals work is crucial for everyday communication, from telling time to shopping and beyond.

Cardinal Numbers in Slovak

Cardinal numbers are used for counting and answering the question "How many?" Here are the basic Slovak cardinal numbers from 1 to 10:

Note that Slovak numbers have gender forms for some numbers, especially 'one' (jeden - masculine, jedna - feminine, jedno - neuter). This is important when counting objects that have different grammatical genders.

Numbers 11 to 20

Numbers from 11 to 20 are formed by combining the base number with the suffix '-násť', similar to the English '-teen':

Tens, Hundreds, and Thousands

After twenty, Slovak forms numbers by combining the tens and units. Here are the tens:

For example, 21 is 'dvadsaťjeden', 35 is 'tridsaťpäť'. Hundreds and thousands are:

Ordinal Numbers in Slovak

Ordinal numbers indicate position or order, like first, second, third. They are often used with dates, floors, or ranking.

Ordinal numbers agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, so their endings change accordingly.

Using Numbers in Everyday Slovak

Numbers are used in many contexts such as telling time, dates, prices, and quantities. For example, to say "I have two cats" you would say "Mám dve mačky" (note the feminine form 'dve' for two).

Telling Time

To say the time, Slovak uses the 24-hour clock commonly, but the 12-hour clock is also used informally. For example, 3:15 is 'tri hodiny pätnásť minút'.

Tips for English Speakers Learning Slovak Numbers

1. Pay attention to gender forms of numbers, especially 'one' and 'two'.
2. Practice pronunciation, as Slovak has some sounds unfamiliar to English speakers.
3. Learn the suffixes for teens and tens to build numbers easily.
4. Use flashcards or apps to memorize numbers and their forms.