A1 Expression Neutral

Ako sa povie...?

How do you say...?

Significado

Asking for a translation.

🌍

Contexto cultural

Slovaks appreciate any effort to speak their language. Using this phrase often triggers a 'mini-lesson' where the native speaker will repeat the word several times to help you with pronunciation. In the capital, people are used to foreigners and might answer in English immediately. You can insist on the Slovak word by saying 'Nie, po slovensky prosím!' In villages, people might use dialect words. If you ask 'Ako sa povie...?', they might give you a word that isn't in your textbook, which is a great way to learn local culture. In formal settings, using 'Ako sa povie' is perfectly fine, but adding 'Prosím vás' (I ask you) at the beginning is highly recommended for politeness.

💡

Use your hands!

If you don't know the English word either, point at the object and say 'Ako sa povie tomuto?'

⚠️

Don't forget the 'sa'

Saying 'Ako povie' sounds like 'How will he say', which is confusing.

Significado

Asking for a translation.

💡

Use your hands!

If you don't know the English word either, point at the object and say 'Ako sa povie tomuto?'

⚠️

Don't forget the 'sa'

Saying 'Ako povie' sounds like 'How will he say', which is confusing.

🎯

Add 'po slovensky'

Always add 'po slovensky' at the end to be clear, especially in tourist areas.

Ponte a prueba

Fill in the missing reflexive particle.

Ako ___ povie 'house' po slovensky?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: sa

The particle 'sa' is required to make the phrase 'How is it said'.

Choose the correct way to ask for a translation of 'water'.

Which one is correct?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Ako sa povie water?

'Ako sa povie' is the standard idiom for translation requests.

Match the phrase to the situation.

You are pointing at a strange fruit in a market.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Ako sa povie tomuto?

Using 'tomuto' (to this) is correct when pointing at an object.

Complete the dialogue.

A: Prepáčte, neviem slovo pre 'table'. B: ________ 'stôl'.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Povie sa to

When answering, you can say 'Povie sa to [word]' or simply '[Word]'.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Ayudas visuales

Banco de ejercicios

4 ejercicios
Fill in the missing reflexive particle. Fill Blank A1

Ako ___ povie 'house' po slovensky?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: sa

The particle 'sa' is required to make the phrase 'How is it said'.

Choose the correct way to ask for a translation of 'water'. Choose A1

Which one is correct?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Ako sa povie water?

'Ako sa povie' is the standard idiom for translation requests.

Match the phrase to the situation. situation_matching A2

You are pointing at a strange fruit in a market.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Ako sa povie tomuto?

Using 'tomuto' (to this) is correct when pointing at an object.

Complete the dialogue. dialogue_completion B1

A: Prepáčte, neviem slovo pre 'table'. B: ________ 'stôl'.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Povie sa to

When answering, you can say 'Povie sa to [word]' or simply '[Word]'.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Preguntas frecuentes

4 preguntas

No, for names use 'Ako sa voláš?' (What is your name?) or 'Ako sa volá ten človek?' (What is that person called?).

Use 'povie' for a specific word/translation. Use 'hovorí' for general proverbs like 'Ako sa hovorí, trpezlivosť ruže prináša'.

It is neutral. You can use it with anyone. To make it more formal, add 'Prosím vás' at the beginning.

'Sa' is the direct reflexive (itself), while 'si' is the indirect reflexive (to itself). In this passive construction, 'sa' is the only correct choice.

Frases relacionadas

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Ako sa to volá?

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Čo znamená...?

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Ako sa to píše?

builds on

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🔗

Ako sa to vyslovuje?

builds on

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