Episode 12: Order Like a Local (Café Edition)
This week we head to the café — and learn how to confidently order like a local. From asking for “Jednu kávu, prosím” (one coffe please) to deciding whether you want it “s cukrom” (with sugar), “bez mlieka” (without milk), or both, we’ve got you covered. We’ll also show you how to respond to "Bude to všetko?" (Will that be all?), and how to ask for the bill like a pro with "Zaplatím, prosím" or "Môžem zaplatiť?" Whether you're a coffee lover or a tea drinker, this café survival guide will help you feel more at home in any Slovak coffee shop!
Vocabulary
(tá) kaviareň (f) = café
(ten) čašník (m) = waiter
(tá) čašníčka (f) = waitress
(tá) káva = coffee
(ten) čaj = tea
Ja si dám čaj. = I’ll have tea.
Jednu kávu, prosím. = One coffee, please.
Prosím si kávu. = I’d like a coffee, please.
(ten) cukor (m) = sugar
s cukrom = with sugar
bez cukru = without sugar
(to) mlieko (n) = milk
s mliekom = with milk
bez mlieka = without milk
(Bude to) všetko? = Will that be all?
Áno, ďakujem(e). = Yes, thank you.
Zaplatím, prosím. = I’d like to pay, please.
Recap
otvorená (fem adj.) = open
zatvorená (fem adj.) = closed
Nech sa páči. = Here you go. / There you are.
Prosím = Please. / You're welcome.
Dovidenia. = Goodbye. (formal)
Kartou alebo v hotovosti? = By card or in cash?
Bonuses
(tá) hotovosť = cash
(tá) karta = card
Môžem zaplatiť? = Can I pay?
Note:
Just like the verb “mať” (to have), many Slovak verbs — especially those used to make requests — require their object to be in the accusative case. When you say “Prosím si kávu” (I’d like a coffee, please), you’re essentially asking “I request what?” — and in Slovak, the answer must take the accusative form. The noun “káva” (coffee) is feminine in its dictionary (nominative) form, but when used in this kind of sentence, it changes to “kávu” in the accusative. The ending “-u” is the typical accusative suffix for feminine nouns ending in “-a”.
Bonus note:
In Slovak, prepositions often determine the case that follows them — which means that the form of a noun will change depending on the preposition used. For example: “hotovosť” (cash) is a feminine noun in its basic (nominative) form, but when we say “v hotovosti” (in cash), it shifts to the locative case, which answers the question “in what?” Similarly, “karta” (card) becomes “kartou” when used in the phrase “zaplatím kartou” (I’m paying by card). This is the instrumental case, which answers the question “with what?”
ion “with what?”
SSCH_Ep12_Final
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