Ways to say it
| Slovak | IPA |
|---|---|
| ďakujem | /ɟakujem/ |
| vďaka | /vɟaka/ |
The terms are used to express appreciation or gratitude. You use the verb form to say "I thank" and the noun form to express the concept of thanks or gratitude, often in constructions like "thanks to the fact that…"
Which one should you use?
ďakujem is a first-person singular verb meaning "I thank", while vďaka is a noun meaning "thanks" or "gratitude".
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form ďakujem is a verb meaning "I thank (you)". To specify who you are thanking, you can add pronouns: use ďakujem ti to thank one person informally or ďakujem vám to thank a group of people or to address someone formally. For a more heartfelt expression, you can say ďakujem pekne, which means "thank you very much" or "thank you nicely". The noun vďaka is used in specific constructions such as vďaka, že…, which translates to "thanks to the fact that…".
How do you pronounce it?
/ɟakujem/
When do people say it?
A common response is Prosím, which means "Please". For a more profound or sincere expression of gratitude, you can say Váš čas a pomoc si vážim srdcom, meaning "I appreciate your time and help from the heart".
Did you know?
- The response prosím is so versatile that it is used to say 'you are welcome', 'please', and 'pardon me' when you didn't hear someone.
- While vďaka is standard, you will often hear díky in casual conversation, a version heavily influenced by the neighboring Czech language.
- If someone points out a mistake you made, saying ďakujem with a specific tone is a common way to express sarcasm or annoyance.
Examples in context
- Ďakujem, to je všetko.Thanks, that's all.This sentence shows how to use ďakujem to say thanks.Tatoeba #1047007 by Soninka, translation #1653 by brauliobezerra
- Vďaka, že si to spomenula.Thanks for mentioning that.This sentence demonstrates the use of vďaka.Tatoeba #10567158 by Dominika7, translation #870463 by CK
- Ďakujem, že mi vždy pomáhaš.Thanks for always helping me.This sentence illustrates using ďakujem to express gratitude for help.Tatoeba #9027470 by Dominika7, translation #5938047 by CK
- Ďakujem za pomoc.Thank you for your help.
- Veľmi pekne vám ďakujem za vašu obetavosť.Thank you very much for your dedication.
- 58 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Michal hands Kateřina a glass of water.
- KateřinaĎakujem za vodu, Michal.Thanks for the water, Michal.
- MichalProsím veľmi, Kateřina.You are very welcome, Kateřina.
- KateřinaSi veľmi milý.You are very kind.
- MichalNemáš za čo.Don't mention it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thanks” translations and entries ďakujem, vďaka, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
