How do you wish someone a happy birthday in Slovak — and what do people actually sing when the candles are lit? In this fun and practical episode celebrating one year of Slovak Sound Check, we explore birthday vocabulary, from “narodeninová oslava” (birthday party) to “sfúknuť sviečky” (blow out the candles). Tune in and get ready to spread some “Všetko najlepšie!”
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Vocabulary
narodeniny = birthday
(Ne)mám dnes narodeniny. = I (don’t) have birthday today.
Oslavujeme prvé narodeniny. = We are celebrating a first birthday.
oslava narodenín / narodeninová oslava = birthday party
narodeninová torta = birthday cake
balóny = balloons
sviečky = candles
sfúknuť sviečky = blow out the candles
prekvapenie = surprise
Všetko najlepšie! = Happy birthday! / (literally) All the best!
Veľa šťastia, zdravia! = Lots of luck and health!
Recap
oslava = party / celebration
želanie = wish
darček = present / gift
Note 1: In Slovak, the phrase “oslavovať / osláviť narodeniny” (to celebrate a birthday) is often used together with ordinal numbers, just like in English. For example: “Oslavujeme prvé narodeniny” (We’re celebrating a first birthday).
Note 2: Slovak often forms related words from the same root. For example: “oslava” (celebration) and “oslavovať” means (to celebrate). Similarly, from “narodeniny” (birthday), we get the adjective “narodeninový / narodeninová / narodeninové”, as in “narodeninová torta” (birthday cake).
Note 3: In Slovak, words are frequently connected through grammatical cases. For example, birthday celebration can be expressed as “oslava narodenín” (literally, celebration of birthdays). Another common option is to use an adjective instead: “narodeninová oslava” (birthday party).
Note 4: A common Slovak birthday wish is “Všetko najlepšie!” (literally, All the best!).However, in the traditional Slovak birthday song, people usually sing “Veľa šťastia, zdravia” (Lots of luck and health).
