pekný
/pekniː/
The English word "beautiful" is translated into Slovak as pekný.
pekný is an adjective meaning attractive. In everyday Slovak, it is more commonly used to mean "nice" or "pretty" than the more intense concept of "beautiful" or "gorgeous" which is expressed by the word krásny.
Meaning: attractive (adj)
Which one should you use?
While it is a standard translation for "beautiful", pekný functions more like "nice" or "pretty" in daily conversation. For something truly gorgeous or intense, a speaker would use krásny.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, pekný changes its form to match the gender and number of the noun it describes. The feminine form is pekná, the neuter form is pekné and the masculine plural form is pekní. The genitive plural form is pekných.
How do you pronounce it?
/pekniː/
Did you know?
- The word pekný shares an ancient root with the English word 'fasten'. This is because the original Proto-Indo-European meaning related to 'fixing' or 'placing' something securely in a certain state.
- In Slovak, the word pekný can be used to describe a person's behavior or a situation, meaning it describes 'good' or 'pleasant' rather than just physical looks.
- When describing a person, using pekný is a safe, friendly compliment, but calling someone krásny can feel overly poetic or intensely romantic.
Examples in context
- Ukázali mi veľa pekných fotografií.They showed me a lot of beautiful photos.This sentence shows how to use the form pekný with a plural noun in the genitive case.Tatoeba #11247872 by miro, translation #317701 by CK
- Tom má pekný dom.Tom has a beautiful house.This sentence shows the use of the form pekný with a masculine noun.Tatoeba #13352739 by Adelpa, translation #5745877 by CM
- To je veľmi pekný kvet.This is a very beautiful flower.Tatoeba #13084862 by Adelpa, translation #55872 by CK
- Tento obraz je úžasný.This painting is beautiful/astonishing.
- Veľtrh ponúkal množstvo nádherných artefaktov.The fair showcased a multitude of gorgeous artifacts.
- Si naozaj veľká krásavica!You are truly a great beauty!
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Michal and Dana are looking at a view from a hill.
- MichalPozri na ten pekný výhľad!Look at that beautiful view!
- DanaÁno, je to naozaj úžasné.Yes, it is truly amazing.
- MichalMáš pekný úsmev, Dana.You have a beautiful smile, Dana.
- DanaĎakujem, Michal, to je milé.Thank you, Michal, that is sweet.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pekný, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pekný, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
