Bedeutung
Hands that need washing
Kultureller Hintergrund
Hand-washing is a strict social norm before meals. Offering a guest a place to wash their hands is a sign of good hosting. The 'honest worker' with dirty hands is a common trope in socialist-era art, contrasting with the 'clean-handed' exploiter. Anti-corruption movements in Slovakia often use the 'Clean Hands' (Čisté ruky) slogan to contrast with the 'Dirty Hands' of the establishment. The biblical image of Pontius Pilate washing his hands is well-known in Slovakia, influencing the idea of 'washing one's hands' of guilt.
Use with children
Use the diminutive 'špinavé rúčiky' to sound more affectionate when talking to kids.
Reflexive Pronoun
Always use 'si' with 'umyť' (umyť si ruky) unless you are washing someone else's hands.
Bedeutung
Hands that need washing
Use with children
Use the diminutive 'špinavé rúčiky' to sound more affectionate when talking to kids.
Reflexive Pronoun
Always use 'si' with 'umyť' (umyť si ruky) unless you are washing someone else's hands.
Political Context
If you hear this on the news, it almost always refers to corruption or scandals.
Handshakes
Slovaks take handshakes seriously. If your hands are literally dirty, apologize and don't shake hands.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of 'špinavé ruky'.
Deti, pred večerou si musíte umyť ________.
We need the accusative plural form as the object of the verb 'umyť'.
Which sentence uses the phrase figuratively?
Select the figurative usage:
This refers to moral corruption (taking bribes), not physical dirt.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Chceš mi pomôcť s týmto kšeftom? B: Nie, nechcem mať ________.
The person is refusing to get involved in a 'dirty' deal.
🎉 Ergebnis: /3
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Clean vs Dirty
Aufgabensammlung
3 AufgabenDeti, pred večerou si musíte umyť ________.
We need the accusative plural form as the object of the verb 'umyť'.
Select the figurative usage:
This refers to moral corruption (taking bribes), not physical dirt.
A: Chceš mi pomôcť s týmto kšeftom? B: Nie, nechcem mať ________.
The person is refusing to get involved in a 'dirty' deal.
🎉 Ergebnis: /3
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenTechnically yes, but 'nečisté' sounds more biblical or ritualistic. 'Špinavé' is the standard word for physical dirt.
Usually, because we have two hands. You'd only use singular 'špinavá ruka' if only one hand is dirty.
You use the verb 'zašpiniť si ruky'.
Literally, no. Figuratively, yes, it is an accusation of dishonesty.
The opposite is 'čisté ruky' (clean hands).
No, for clothes you just say 'špinavé oblečenie'.
Yes, to describe unethical business practices.
Slovak uses 'mať v tom prsty' (to have fingers in it) for involvement, but 'špinavé ruky' for the state of guilt.
Like the 'sh' in 'shoe'.
Yes, especially in rock and protest music.
Verwandte Redewendungen
mať čisté ruky
contrastTo be innocent or honest
mať v tom prsty
similarTo be involved in something
zašpiniť si ruky
builds onTo get one's hands dirty
mať krv na rukách
specialized formTo have blood on one's hands
