teta
/ceta/feminine
The Slovak word for "aunt" is teta.
teta refers to a parent's sister or sister-in-law. Beyond biological relations, it is also used as a common informal way to address or refer to an older woman who is not a close relative, similar to how one might use "auntie" in English.
Meaning: a parent's sister or sister-in-law (noun)
Which one should you use?
While teta is the standard form, tetka is a colloquial variation. For a more affectionate and diminutive tone, you can use tetička, which translates to "aunty".
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of teta is tety.
How do you pronounce it?
/ceta/
Did you know?
- If you are a child, calling an older woman teta is considered polite, but calling her pani (lady) might actually make her feel much older than she wants to be.
- The word teta is inherited from the Proto-Slavic root *teta.
- In some Slovak dialects and older traditions, the term for aunt can change depending on whether she is from the mother's or father's side, though teta remains the standard.
Examples in context
- Kde je vaša teta?Where's your aunt?This sentence is useful for asking where someone's teta is.Tatoeba #10172036 by Dominika7, translation #7453787 by CK
- Ona je jeho teta.She's his aunt.This sentence is useful for stating that she is his teta.Tatoeba #10172114 by Dominika7, translation #8537101 by CH
- Mária je moja teta.Mary is my aunt.This sentence is useful for identifying that Mária is my teta.Tatoeba #10172118 by Dominika7, translation #8298371 by soliloquist
- Dobrý deň, teta! Ako sa máte?Good day, aunt! How are you?
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Peter and Kateřina are looking at family photos.
- PeterKto je táto žena na fotke?Who is this woman in the photo?
- KateřinaTo je moja teta z Bratislavy.That is my aunt from Bratislava.
- PeterJe veľmi milá.She is very kind.
- KateřinaÁno, moja teta je skvelá.Yes, my aunt is great.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “aunt” translations and entries teta, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries teta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
