Bedeutung
Being smart or having quick wit.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Slovak villages, 'mať filipa' was often associated with the 'múdry Maťko' (Clever Matthew) archetype—a simple person who outsmarts the greedy lords. The phrase is identical in Czech, reflecting the shared linguistic and cultural history of the two nations during the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Czechoslovakia. The personification of wit as 'Philip' is a unique Central European trait, possibly linked to the spread of the name Philip among the nobility and later the common folk. In Bratislava's tech scene, 'mať filipa' is increasingly used to describe 'growth hackers' or developers who find elegant, simple solutions to complex code problems.
Use it as a compliment
It's one of the best ways to tell a Slovak person they are smart without being too formal.
Watch the case
Always say 'filipa' (with an -a), never just 'filip'.
Bedeutung
Being smart or having quick wit.
Use it as a compliment
It's one of the best ways to tell a Slovak person they are smart without being too formal.
Watch the case
Always say 'filipa' (with an -a), never just 'filip'.
Combine with 'na'
You can specify what someone is smart at by adding 'na' + accusative: 'Má filipa na jazyky' (He's smart with languages).
Czech connection
If you travel to Prague, you can use this exact same phrase!
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of the idiom.
Môj brat je veľmi múdry, on ______ ______.
The correct form is 'má' (he has) + 'filipa' (accusative).
Which sentence is a compliment?
Select the best way to praise a clever idea.
'Ty máš filipa!' is the standard idiomatic compliment.
Match the situation to the phrase.
Your friend fixed a broken computer in 5 minutes.
Fixing things quickly shows cleverness, which is what 'má filipa' means.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Ako si vedel, že ten kľúč pasuje sem? B: No, musím ______ ______.
The infinitive 'mať' is used after 'musím'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
When to use 'Mať filipa'
At Home
- • Fixing a tap
- • Helping with homework
At Work
- • New ideas
- • Quick fixes
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenMôj brat je veľmi múdry, on ______ ______.
The correct form is 'má' (he has) + 'filipa' (accusative).
Select the best way to praise a clever idea.
'Ty máš filipa!' is the standard idiomatic compliment.
Your friend fixed a broken computer in 5 minutes.
Fixing things quickly shows cleverness, which is what 'má filipa' means.
A: Ako si vedel, že ten kľúč pasuje sem? B: No, musím ______ ______.
The infinitive 'mať' is used after 'musím'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, as a proper noun, it's a common male name. But in this idiom, it's an abstract concept.
No, the idiom is fixed. Even for women, we say 'Ona má filipa'.
Not at all! It's a very positive and warm compliment.
Yes, if the meeting is informal or with colleagues you know well. Avoid it in very formal presentations.
You could say 'byť sprostý' (rude/stupid) or more politely 'nemať filipa'.
It's historical! Philip was the biblical apostle associated with practical wit.
Yes, very often in Slovak classic literature and modern novels.
Yes, it's a timeless idiom that hasn't gone out of style.
You say 'Má veľkého filipa' to mean someone is extremely smart.
Not exactly. IQ is formal; 'filip' is about being clever and resourceful in real life.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Mať za ušami
similarTo be cunning or smart in a slightly mischievous way.
Byť hlavička
synonymTo be a 'little head' (a brainiac).
Mať pod čiapkou
similarTo be clever or to have a secret plan.
Páli mu to
synonymIt's 'burning' for him (his brain is working fast).
