Episode 15: Count Confidently in Slovak
In this episode of Slovak Sound Check, we dive into the essentials of Slovak numbers — from 1 all the way to 99! You’ll learn the logic behind Slovak counting, how to answer the question “Koľko máš rokov?” (How old are you?), and when to use “rok”, “roky”, or “rokov” (year(s)). Numbers are everywhere in daily life, so let’s make sure you can count with confidence!
Vocabulary
Koľko máš rokov? = How old are you?
Ja mám ... rokov. = I am ... years old.
rok / roky = year (singular) / years (plural)
jeden = one
dva = two
tri = three
štyri = four
päť = five
šesť = six
sedem = seven
osem = eight
deväť = nine
desať = ten
jedenásť = eleven
dvanásť = twelve
trinásť = thirteen
štrnásť = fourteen
pätnásť = fifteen
šestnásť = sixteen
sedemnásť = seventeen
osemnásť = eighteen
devätnásť = nineteen
dvadsať = twenty
tridsať = thirty
štyridsať = forty
päťdesiat = fifty
šesťdesiat = sixty
sedemdesiat = seventy
osemdesiat = eighty
deväťdesiat = ninety
Recap
mať = to have (possesive verb)
ja mám … = I have
ty máš … = you have (informal, sg.)
Bonuses
dvadsaťštyri = twenty-four
tridsaťjeden = thirty-one
šesťdesiatpäť = sixty-five
Note 1: In Slovak, we express age using the verb “mať” (to have), not "to be" like in English. Since “mať” takes the accusative case, the word for years — “rok” — changes its form accordingly. Here’s how it works: “Ja mám 1 rok” (singular), “2, 3, 4 roky” (plural) and “5+ rokov” (plural) all meaning — I am xy yrs old.
Note 2: In Slovak, numbers follow clear and consistent patterns. Teen numbers (11–19) are formed with the suffix -násť: for example, 11 = jedenásť, 14 = štrnásť, and 19 = devätnásť. Tens from 20 to 49 use the suffix -dsať: 20 = dvadsať, 30 = tridsať, and 40 = štyridsať. From 50 upwards, the suffix changes to -desiat: 50 = päťdesiat, 60 = šesťdesiat, 80 = osemdesiat, and so on. When it comes to non-round numbers, Slovak forms them just like in English — by combining the tens and units. So, for example, 27 is “dvadsaťsedem” (twenty-seven).
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