Ways to say it
| Slovak | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ahoj | /aˈɦɔj/ | |
| nazdar | /nazdar/ | informal |
| servus | /ˈsɛrvus/ | informal |
| dobrý deň | /dɔbriː ɟɛɲ/ | formal |
Slovak offers different greetings for various social contexts. ahoj is a popular informal greeting used to say 'hi' or 'hello'. dobrý deň is a common and universal way to say hello, meaning good day. Other time-specific formal greetings include dobré ráno for 'good morning', dobrý večer for 'good evening' (used when greeting someone in the evening or at night) and vitajte for 'welcome'.
What does it mean word for word?
The formal phrase dobrý deň is composed of the adjective dobrý (good) and the noun deň (day).
Which one should you use?
The forms differ primarily by their social setting and meaning. ahoj is used for both 'hello' and 'bye' among friends and peers. In contrast, dobrý deň is the standard polite way to say hello to strangers, elders or in professional settings. For even more casual interactions, čau can be used as a way of saying hello or bye. The form ahojte is the plural form of ahoj used to greet a group of people.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal situations, use dobrý deň. For informal situations, you can use ahoj, nazdar or servus. Among friends, ahoj is very common, while nazdar is a casual, somewhat old-fashioned or 'buddy-style' greeting used primarily between male friends.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The greeting servus is more commonly associated with certain regional dialects or specific social circles rather than standard everyday Slovak.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase dobrý deň is used specifically during daylight hours. It is not used late at night.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈɦɔj/
Did you know?
- The informal greeting ahoj is actually a linguistic traveler from the English sea captain's call 'ahoy'.
- The phrase ahojte is a unique plural version of ahoj used specifically when greeting a group of people.
Examples in context
- Ahoj, ako sa voláš?Hello, what's your name?This sentence shows how to use ahoj to ask someone's name.Tatoeba #13217409 by Dominika7, translation #435080 by lukaszpp
- Dobrý deň! S kým hovorím?Hello! Who am I speaking with?This sentence demonstrates the use of dobrý deň when asking who you are speaking with.Tatoeba #9833991 by Dominika7, translation #9015749 by jaydenms
- Dobrý deň, vy ste pán Ogawa?Hello, are you Mr Ogawa?This sentence uses dobrý deň to greet someone in a professional or polite context.Tatoeba #10194573 by Dominika7, translation #419465 by blay_paul
- 25 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Barbora and Peter meet in a park.
- BarboraAhoj, Peter!Hello, Peter!
- PeterAhoj, Barbora! Ako sa máš?Hello, Barbora! How are you?
- BarboraMám sa dobre, ďakujem.I am doing well, thank you.
- PeterTo ma teší.I am glad to hear that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hello” translations and entries ahoj, nazdar, servus, dobrý deň, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ahoj, deň, dobrý, dobrý deň, servus, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
