Take a walk through autumn in Slovak! In this episode of Slovak Sound Check, we explore useful seasonal vocabulary — from “farby jesene, mokré ulice” and “dáždnik” to “huby” and “gaštany”. We’ll also practise a few handy phrases for talking about autumn weather, shorter days and favourite seasonal activities.
SSCH_Ep59
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Vocabulary
jesenné počasie = autumn weather
pestrofarebný/á/é = colourful
farby jesene = colours of autumn
Vonku je zima. = It’s cold outside.
Vonku je skoro tma. = It gets dark early.
Dni sú krátke = The days are short.
Noci sú dlhé = The nights are long.
dážď = rain
dáždnik = umbrella
mokré ulice = wet streets
mláka = puddle
blato = mud
huby = mushrooms
gaštany = chestnuts
tekvica = pumpkin
vyrezávať tekvicu = to carve a pumpkin
Na jeseň zbierame huby a gaštany. = We pick mushrooms and collect chestnuts in autumn.
Na jeseň vyrezávam tekvicu. = In autumn, I carve a pumpkin.
Recap
farby = colors
jeseň = autumn / fall
Na jeseň padajú listy. = The leaves fall in autumn.
Prší. = It’s raining.
Mám rada … = I like …
Nemám rada … = I don’t like …
Bonus
teplo = warmth
Note 1: In Slovak, we use “mám rád” (masculine) or “mám rada” (feminine) to say I like, and “nemám rád / nemám rada” to say I don’t like. For example: “Mám rada teplo” (I like warm weather) and “Nemám rada jesenné počasie” (I don’t like autumn weather).
Note 2: Slovak often uses the impersonal construction “je” (it is) when talking about the weather or conditions outside. For example, “Vonku je zima” (It’s cold outside), or “Vonku je skoro tma" (It gets dark early or, more literally, It’s dark outside early).
Note 3: Some Slovak words are formed from other, related words. For example, “dážď” (rain), and “dáždnik” (umbrella). The verb “prší” (it’s raining) is related in meaning, although it has a different form.
Note 4: Slovak uses different prepositions for the seasons. We say “na jeseň” (in autumn) and “na jar” (in spring), but “v lete” (in summer) and “v zime” (in winter). It’s best to learn these expressions as a set.
