Get ready to celebrate New Year’s Eve the Slovak way! In this festive episode of Slovak Sound Check, Veronika and Sean explore key phrases, traditions, and must-know vocabulary for “silvester”, Slovakia’s lively New Year’s Eve celebration. From toasting “o polnoci” (at midnight) to enjoying classic dishes, fireworks, and sparklers, you’ll learn how to wish people well and navigate the night’s biggest moments.
Vocabulary
Šťastný nový rok! = Happy New Year!
silvester = New Year’s Eve
oslava = celebration
oslavovať = to celebrate
Silvester oslavujem s kamarátmi. = I celebrate New Year’s Eve with friends.
Ľudia oslavujú do rána. = People celebrate until morning.
o polnoci = at midnight
Pripijeme si so šampanským. = We toast with champagne.
prípitok = toast
hymna = anthem
ohňostroj = fireworks
prskavky = sparklers
jednohubky = finger food
Recap
kapustnica = cabbage soup
rezeň so zemiakovým šalátom = schnitzel with potato salad
Note 1: In Slovak, New Year’s Eve is called “silvester”. The word comes from the name of Saint Silvester, whose name day is celebrated on December 31st.
Note 2: Slovak often creates new words by deriving nouns from verbs and vice versa, for example “oslavovať” (to celebrate) → “oslava” (celebration), or “pripiť” (to make a toast). Another common process is compounding, where two words are joined to form a new one. A nice example is “jednohubky” — small party snacks. If you break the word down, it literally means “one-mouths,” referring to food you can eat in a single bite.
Note 3: The preposition s and its vocalised form so (with) is used with the instrumental case. For example, Slovaks say: “silvester oslavujem s kamarátmi” ( I celebrate New Year’s Eve with friends). The longer form so is used for easier pronunciation, especially before certain consonants such as s / z and their softer forms š / ž, as in “rezeň so zemiakovým šalátom” (schnitzel with potato salad), or “pripijeme si so šampanským” (we toast with champagne).
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