Slovak language: history and features

The Slovak language is a close relative of the Czech language, and both of them have similar grammatical and phonetic characteristics. Thanks to this, Slovak and Czech languages can be mutually understood.

In the vocabulary of the Slovak language, you can find many common words with Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, etc. However, the Slovak language also has many archaic and dialect words that can cause difficulties for an unaccustomed ear.

The grammar of the Slovak language is relatively difficult for foreigners, especially because of noun declension and verb changes by tenses and persons. However, awareness of these rules allows you to speak and write freely in the Slovak language.

Slovak is one of the West Slavic languages that is actively used in Slovakia. It is the official language of the country and is also used in some regions of the Hungarian region of Slovakia.

The Slovak language has its own unique alphabetic-spelling system based on the Latin alphabet. It includes 46 letters, including additional symbols such as diakritiky (diacritics).

Slovak is not only an important means of communication in Slovakia, but also plays an important role in the preservation and development of the cultural and historical heritage of the country. Many Slavic writers and poets recorded their works in this language, which made it significant in literature.

The language represents the rich culture and history of the Slovak people, and studying it allows you to dive deeper into this cultural context. It is part of the identity of Slovaks and symbolizes their national identity.

History of the Slovak language

Slovak is one of the Slavic languages and is at its own level in this line of language classification. The history of the Slovak language has more than a thousand years of history, starting with its origin from the Proto-Slavic language.

The Proto-Slavic language was the original form of the language, which was divided into several different declension systems that exist among different Slavic peoples in the future. From the Proto-Slavic language, such languages as Russian, Ukrainian, Polish and Slovak developed.

In historical documents, the Slovak language was first mentioned in the XI century. During the Middle Ages, the language developed in the environment of the feudal system and Catholicism, which greatly influenced its linguistic structure. The language had many borrowings from Latin and German, which made it more studied and the influence of these languages lasted for a long time.

In the XVI century, the Slovak language became the language of the Book, and its literary use continued until the XIX century, despite a long periodic pause in the development of the Slovak language caused by political and social reasons during the Reformation and Counter-Reformation.

In the 19th century, the Slovak language began to undergo reforms, like other Slavic languages of that time. A typical example from this time is the creation of a standardized grammar and spelling of the Slovak language. The proud national movement of the Slovak people also contributed to its revival and establishment as an official language.

In the XX century, the Slovak language developed further, the modern literary and linguistic tradition continues to develop and adapt to modern needs and requirements. It has become the official language of Slovakia and the language of communication for about five million Slovaks.

The history of the Slovak language speaks about its uniqueness and development over the centuries. It represents an important part of Slavic languages and Slavic culture in general, preserving its individuality and at the same time actively adapting to the modern world and new technologies.

Features of the Slovak language

The Slovak language has its own characteristics that make it unique and attractive to learn. It will take you only 8 months to master the C1 level. With us, you will not only be able to learn the language, but also prepare for studying at Slovak universities

The most remarkable thing about the Slovak language is its sound. It sounds melodic and soft, smoothing out sounds and creating harmonious musicality. One of the features of the sound of the Slovak language is its pronunciation of vowel sounds. They are soft, gentle and melodious, unlike the harsh and characteristic sounds of other languages.

Another feature of the Slovak language is its phonetic system. It has some sounds that are absent or rare in other languages. For example, the sound "ŕ" or "r'ʉ", which looks and sounds unusual to an unaccustomed ear. Also in the Slovak language there is a sound "ľ" or "ʎ", which combines the features of the consonant sound "l" and the vowel sound "i".

Grammatical features of the Slovak language also deserve attention. 

Slovak is an inflectional language with many cases and grammatical forms. For example, there are 7 cases in the Slovak language, and it depends on the context which case will be used in a particular situation. Also, the Slovak language has a rich system of endings that indicate the person, number, case and gender of the noun.

The language is also rich in various expressions and proverbs. They allow you to be creative and accurately express your thoughts. They include many words and phrases that have a specific meaning and meaning.

An amazing and attractive language that sounds soft and melodious, has interesting phonetic features and grammatical structure. Learning the Slovak language opens up new opportunities for communication and immersion in the culture of Slovakia.

Where and how to learn Slovak?

One of the most prestigious and high-quality educational institutions in the Czech Republic is the Prague Education Center. A leading language school offering a variety of programs and courses for the study of the Slovak language. Here you will find professional teachers qualified in teaching foreign students.

At Prague Education Center, you will be able to choose the program that best suits your needs and capabilities. Depending on your goals and level of knowledge of the Slovak language, various courses will be offered to you, including intensive training in grammar, conversational practice, listening comprehension, reading and writing. You will be able to choose individual training or group classes in small groups in order to master the Slovak language as effectively as possible.

The teachers of Prague Education Center have a rich teaching experience and will create a comfortable and supportive atmosphere for your learning. They use modern techniques, a variety of interactive exercises and games to make your learning more interesting and effective.

In addition, it offers additional opportunities for practicing the language in real situations. Here you can attend cultural events and excursions to Slovak cities. This will help you immerse yourself in the environment of native speakers, improve your communication skills and better understand Slovak culture and traditions.

Prague Education Center is an ideal place to study the Slovak language. Here you will receive high-quality training, beautiful travel experiences and the opportunity to meet interesting people. Do not delay your dream of mastering the Slovak language - come to us and start your language journey today!