Bedeutung
To be extremely exhausted.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In rural Slovakia, the 'duša' (soul) is often personified in folklore as a small bird or a light. This makes the idiom 'vypustiť dušu' feel more vivid to native speakers. Slovak sports commentators frequently use this phrase during cycling (Peter Sagan) or skiing (Petra Vlhová) to describe the athletes' immense effort. There is a cultural pride in 'vypustenie duše' for one's family or home, reflecting the history of building houses manually ('svojpomocne'). Young Slovaks use it ironically for slow internet or old laptops, showing a shift from physical to digital frustration.
Use it for machines!
Slovaks find it very natural and slightly funny when foreigners use this for broken electronics. It makes you sound very native.
Don't use for real death
Unless you are reading a 19th-century poem, use 'zomrieť' for people passing away. 'Vypustiť dušu' is too dramatic/informal for a modern obituary.
Bedeutung
To be extremely exhausted.
Use it for machines!
Slovaks find it very natural and slightly funny when foreigners use this for broken electronics. It makes you sound very native.
Don't use for real death
Unless you are reading a 19th-century poem, use 'zomrieť' for people passing away. 'Vypustiť dušu' is too dramatic/informal for a modern obituary.
The 'vypľuť' variation
If you are with very close friends at the gym, use 'vypľuť dušu' (to spit out the soul) for extra emphasis.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of the idiom.
Po maratóne som skoro ________ dušu.
If the speaker is male (som), 'vypustil' is the correct past tense form.
Which situation best fits the idiom 'vypustiť dušu'?
Kedy povieš 'vypustil som dušu'?
The idiom is used for extreme exhaustion.
Match the Slovak sentence with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are the standard translations for different subjects and tenses.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Prečo si taký spotený? B: Bežal som na 5. poschodie a skoro som ________.
The idiom 'vypustiť dušu' fits the context of physical exertion.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenPo maratóne som skoro ________ dušu.
If the speaker is male (som), 'vypustil' is the correct past tense form.
Kedy povieš 'vypustil som dušu'?
The idiom is used for extreme exhaustion.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
These are the standard translations for different subjects and tenses.
A: Prečo si taký spotený? B: Bežal som na 5. poschodie a skoro som ________.
The idiom 'vypustiť dušu' fits the context of physical exertion.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, it's not rude, but it is informal. You can use it with friends, family, and colleagues you know well.
Yes! It's very common to say 'Baterka vypustila dušu' when your phone or car battery dies.
'Vypustiť' is the finished action (I am already tired), while 'vypúšťať' is the process (I am currently getting very tired).
Yes, they are very similar! Both come from the idea of the soul leaving the body at death.
No, we don't use the possessive 'moju' (my) in this idiom. Just 'vypustil som dušu'.
Only in creative writing, journalism, or blogs. Avoid it in legal or formal academic papers.
You can say 'Asi tam vypustím dušu' (I will probably let my soul out there).
In this context, yes, but it also means the inner tube of a tire, which adds a funny double meaning.
Absolutely. It's very common for students during exams or people with stressful jobs.
The past tense ('vypustil som dušu') is the most common because you usually talk about it after the effort is done.
Verwandte Redewendungen
vypľuť dušu
similarTo spit out the soul.
nechať na tom dušu
builds onTo leave one's soul on something.
byť v koncoch
synonymTo be at one's ends.
mleť z posledného
synonymTo be on one's last legs.
