Significado
Being very resilient or healthy.
Contexto cultural
In Slovak culture, longevity is highly respected. Being called a 'tuhý korienok' is a badge of honor, especially in mountain regions like Orava or Liptov. Similar root-based metaphors exist in Czech and Polish, reflecting a shared Slavic agricultural history. The diminutive '-ok' in 'korienok' shows the folk-nature of the phrase, making it sound more like a 'wisdom of the elders' than a scientific fact.
Use it for compliments
It's a very safe and warm way to compliment an older person's health without sounding patronizing.
Don't say 'tuhý koreň'
Always use the diminutive 'korienok'. Using the big 'koreň' makes it sound like a literal tree part.
Significado
Being very resilient or healthy.
Use it for compliments
It's a very safe and warm way to compliment an older person's health without sounding patronizing.
Don't say 'tuhý koreň'
Always use the diminutive 'korienok'. Using the big 'koreň' makes it sound like a literal tree part.
Combine with 'v našej rodine'
It's very common to say 'V našej rodine máme tuhý korienok' to explain why you are rarely sick.
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the missing word in the idiom.
Moja babka má 95 rokov, má naozaj tuhý _______.
The diminutive 'korienok' is the correct form for this idiom.
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Select the correct sentence:
The idiom uses the verb 'mať' (to have).
Match the situation to the meaning of 'tuhý korienok'.
A man survives a week in the mountains without food.
In this context, it refers to his physical ability to survive.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Môj dedko stále rúbe drevo.' B: 'Vážne? _______.'
This is the natural response to someone being active at an old age.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosMoja babka má 95 rokov, má naozaj tuhý _______.
The diminutive 'korienok' is the correct form for this idiom.
Select the correct sentence:
The idiom uses the verb 'mať' (to have).
A man survives a week in the mountains without food.
In this context, it refers to his physical ability to survive.
A: 'Môj dedko stále rúbe drevo.' B: 'Vážne? _______.'
This is the natural response to someone being active at an old age.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasNo, it's generally seen as a compliment on their vitality.
Yes, if a baby is very strong and healthy, you can say 'Má tuhý korienok'.
There isn't a direct idiom, but you could say someone is 'krehký' (fragile) or 'často chorľavý' (often sickly).
Not exactly. 'Tough nut to crack' usually means someone is hard to understand or convince. 'Tuhý korienok' is about physical/mental endurance.
It's a bit informal for a standard email, but okay if you have a friendly relationship with the person.
In this context, it means 'tough' or 'stiff'. 'Tvrdý' is 'hard' like a rock.
Slovak uses diminutives to express affection or to make idioms sound more 'folksy' and natural.
Yes! If your dog is 15 years old and still running, he definitely has a 'tuhý korienok'.
It's used everywhere in Slovakia, though its origins are rural.
Yes: 'majú tuhé korienky', but it's more common to use the singular even for a group: 'majú tuhý korienok'.
Frases relacionadas
zdravý ako buk
similarHealthy as a beech tree
mať tuhý život
synonymTo have a tough life (hard to kill)
nezmar
synonymA person who is tireless
byť z ocele
similarTo be made of steel
