§ What does it mean and when do people use it?
Alright, let's get straight to it. Today we're tackling the Slovak word jedlo. This is a super basic and important word, so pay attention! It's rated A1 on the CEFR scale, which means it's one of the first words you should learn.
- DEFINITION
- Food
Simple, right? Jedlo means 'food'. Just like in English, you'll use it in all sorts of everyday situations. Think about when you talk about eating, buying groceries, cooking, or even just being hungry. If it's something you consume to nourish yourself, it's jedlo.
Let's look at some examples so you can see how it fits into sentences. Context is key, and seeing jedlo in action will help you remember it better.
Chcem jedlo.
This translates to: I want food. (Chcem = I want)
Máme dobré jedlo doma.
This means: We have good food at home. (Máme = We have; dobré = good; doma = at home)
You'll notice that jedlo doesn't change its ending in these examples. That's because it's a neuter noun, and in its basic form (nominative case), it looks just like this. We'll get into cases later, but for now, just focus on recognizing the word.
Think about everyday situations where you would use 'food' in English. All of those are situations where you'd use jedlo in Slovak. Here are a few more scenarios:
- Talking about a meal you just had: Bolo to dobré jedlo. (It was good food.)
- Asking if there's food available: Je tu nejaké jedlo? (Is there any food here?)
- Describing types of food: Slovenské jedlo je chutné. (Slovak food is tasty.)
Potrebujem kúpiť jedlo.
This means: I need to buy food. (Potrebujem = I need; kúpiť = to buy)
As you can see, jedlo is a versatile word. It can refer to food in general, or a specific meal. Don't overthink it at this stage. Just get comfortable with its basic meaning and how it functions in simple sentences. The more you hear and use it, the more natural it will become. Practice these examples out loud. Repetition is your friend when learning new vocabulary.
Wusstest du?
The root *ěd- is common across Slavic languages for words related to eating.
Beispiele nach Niveau
Chutné jedlo je dôležité.
Tasty food is important.
Chutné is an adjective modifying jedlo.
Varím slovenské jedlo každý deň.
I cook Slovak food every day.
Slovenské is an adjective modifying jedlo.
Toto jedlo je veľmi dobré.
This food is very good.
Toto is a demonstrative pronoun, similar to 'this'.
Mám rád talianske jedlo.
I like Italian food.
Mám rád means 'I like'. Talianske is an adjective.
Kde môžem nájsť dobré jedlo?
Where can I find good food?
Kde means 'where'. Dobré is an adjective.
Potrebujem nejaké jedlo na večeru.
I need some food for dinner.
Na večeru means 'for dinner'.
Toto je moje obľúbené jedlo.
This is my favorite food.
Obľúbené is an adjective.
Jem veľa jedla, keď som hladný.
I eat a lot of food when I am hungry.
Veľa means 'a lot'. Keď means 'when'.
Wortherkunft
Proto-Slavic
Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: *ědlo (food, eating)
Indo-European, Balto-SlavicKultureller Kontext
<p>Food is central to Slovak culture, with hearty meals often reflecting the country's agricultural heritage. Traditional Slovak cuisine features a lot of meat, potatoes, cabbage, and dairy products.</p><p>Slovaks often share meals with family and friends, and hospitality is a significant aspect of their culture, often expressed through offering food and drink.</p>
Teste dich selbst 12 Fragen
Write a short sentence about your favorite food in Slovak. Use the word 'jedlo'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Moje obľúbené jedlo je pizza. (My favorite food is pizza.)
Translate this sentence into Slovak: 'This is good food.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Toto je dobré jedlo.
Write a sentence asking 'What is this food?' in Slovak.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Čo je toto jedlo?
What is Anna's favorite food?
Read this passage:
Ahoj! Ja som Anna. Rada jem dobré jedlo. Moje obľúbené jedlo je halušky. Je to slovenské jedlo. Chutí mi to. (Hi! I am Anna. I like to eat good food. My favorite food is halušky. It is a Slovak dish. It tastes good to me.)
What is Anna's favorite food?
Anna says: 'Moje obľúbené jedlo je halušky.'
Anna says: 'Moje obľúbené jedlo je halušky.'
What does the speaker think about Slovak food?
Read this passage:
Mám rád slovenské jedlo. Je veľmi chutné. (I like Slovak food. It is very tasty.)
What does the speaker think about Slovak food?
The speaker says 'Je veľmi chutné' which means 'It is very tasty'.
The speaker says 'Je veľmi chutné' which means 'It is very tasty'.
Where is the speaker?
Read this passage:
V reštaurácii je veľa jedla. Chcem si vybrať. (There is a lot of food in the restaurant. I want to choose.)
Where is the speaker?
The passage says 'V reštaurácii je veľa jedla' (There is a lot of food in the restaurant).
The passage says 'V reštaurácii je veľa jedla' (There is a lot of food in the restaurant).
This means 'That is good food.' 'To' means 'That', 'je' means 'is', 'dobré' means 'good', and 'jedlo' means 'food'.
This means 'I like food.' 'Mám rád' is a common way to say 'I like' (masculine speaker), and 'jedlo' is 'food'.
This means 'I want food.' 'Chcem' means 'I want', and 'jedlo' means 'food'.
/ 12 correct
Perfect score!
