Ways to say it
| Slovak | Note |
|---|---|
| ako sa máš? | informal, singular |
| ako sa máte? | formal, plural |
These phrases are used as a greeting to ask about someone's well-being. You can modify the phrases to ask how someone is doing at a specific time or place, such as Ako sa máš dnes? (How are you today?) or Ako sa máš v Prešove? (How are you in Prešov?).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ako sa máš? literally translates to "how are you having yourself?", where máš is the second person singular form of the verb mať (to have).
Which one should you use?
ako sa máš? is used when addressing one person in an informal context, while ako sa máte? is used when addressing either a group of people or a single person in a formal context.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ako sa máš? is the informal version and should be used when speaking to a friend, a child or someone you know well. ako sa máte? is the formal version used when addressing a stranger, a boss or a group of people.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the formal version ako sa máte?, the second person plural verb form is used to express politeness when addressing a single person.
When do people say it?
When someone asks you ako sa máš?, a common and natural response is Dobre. (Good/Well). For a more polite response, you can say Ďakujem, dobre. (Thank you, well/good).
Did you know?
- In Slovak culture, responding to ako sa máš? with a long list of complaints is more common and socially acceptable than the habitually positive 'great' often used in English.
- The reflexive particle sa used in ako sa máš? comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *swé, which is a distant relative of the English word 'self'.
- Although ako sa máte? is the formal version, using it with a close friend can be perceived as a joke or a sarcastic way of creating artificial distance.
Examples in context
- Ahoj! Ako sa máš?Hi! How are you?This example shows a greeting and the phrase ako sa máš?Tatoeba #1047019 by Soninka, translation #30316 by Zifre
- „Ako sa máš?“ „Dobre.“"How are you doing?" "I'm doing okay."This example demonstrates a conversation using the phrase ako sa máš? and a response.Tatoeba #10183896 by Dominika7, translation #1051921 by CK
- Rád ťa vidím. Ako sa máš?Nice to meet you. How are you doing?This example shows the phrase ako sa máš? used after a polite greeting.Tatoeba #9033548 by Dominika7, translation #1346288 by marcelostockle
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends meet at a cafe.
- KateřinaČau Petre, ako sa máš?Hi Peter, how are you?
- PeterMám sa veľmi dobre, ďakujem.I am doing very well, thank you.
- KateřinaTo ma teší. Čo nového?I'm glad to hear that. What's new?
- PeterVlastne nič, všetko je v poriadku.Actually nothing, everything is fine.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “how are you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ako, sa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
