Signification
To be in a winning position.
Contexte culturel
Horses are deeply embedded in Slovak history through the 'Hussars' and rural farming life. Being 'on a horse' isn't just a metaphor; it's a nod to a time when a horse was a person's most valuable asset. Similar idioms exist in Czech (být na koni) and Polish (być na koniu), showing a shared Slavic chivalric tradition where the horse represents the 'noble' path to victory. In the Slovak startup scene, 'byť na koni' is often used to describe a company that has just secured a 'Series A' funding round. Slovak sports commentators use this phrase almost every game to describe 'momentum'. If a team is 'na koni', the fans expect more goals immediately.
Use it for momentum
It's perfect for when things are going well and you feel like nothing can stop you.
Watch the 'ň'
Make sure to pronounce the 'n' in 'koni' softly. If you say it with a hard 'n', it sounds unnatural.
Signification
To be in a winning position.
Use it for momentum
It's perfect for when things are going well and you feel like nothing can stop you.
Watch the 'ň'
Make sure to pronounce the 'n' in 'koni' softly. If you say it with a hard 'n', it sounds unnatural.
Combine with 'konečne'
Saying 'Konečne som na koni' (Finally I'm on the horse) adds a great emotional touch of relief.
Don't be too 'na koni'
Slovaks value humility. If you brag too much about being 'na koni', people might find it annoying.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the idiom.
Vyhrali sme zápas! Teraz sme ___ ___.
The correct locative form for this idiom is 'na koni'.
Match the situation to the feeling.
You just got a 50% salary increase and your boss praised you in front of everyone.
'Som na koni' expresses success and dominance; 'pod psa' means feeling bad, and 'v kaši' means being in trouble.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Ako dopadol ten pohovor? B: Skvele! Ponúkli mi viac peňazí, než som chcel. Cítim sa ___ ___.
When describing a state of feeling, we use the locative 'na koni'.
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly in a professional context?
Select the best option:
This correctly uses the idiom to describe business success.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
State vs. Action
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesVyhrali sme zápas! Teraz sme ___ ___.
The correct locative form for this idiom is 'na koni'.
You just got a 50% salary increase and your boss praised you in front of everyone.
'Som na koni' expresses success and dominance; 'pod psa' means feeling bad, and 'v kaši' means being in trouble.
A: Ako dopadol ten pohovor? B: Skvele! Ponúkli mi viac peňazí, než som chcel. Cítim sa ___ ___.
When describing a state of feeling, we use the locative 'na koni'.
Select the best option:
This correctly uses the idiom to describe business success.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, but usually you would say 'Jazdím na koni' (I am riding) or 'Sedím na koni' (I am sitting on a horse). 'Byť na koni' is almost always understood figuratively.
Always 'na koni' in the idiom. 'Koňovi' is a grammatically possible form for the noun, but the idiom is fixed.
No, it's not offensive, but using it about yourself can sound a bit boastful depending on your tone.
Yes! 'Bol som na koni' (I was on the horse) is very common when telling stories about past success.
The most common opposite is 'ťahať za kratší koniec' (to pull the shorter end/to be losing).
Very much so. It's a standard way to describe a company with a market advantage.
It can. If someone is 'príliš na koni' (too much on the horse), it means they are acting arrogant.
Technically yes, but the singular 'Sme na koni' is much more common even for a group.
No, it's a standard idiom used by all age groups.
Use 'Dostal som sa na koňa'. Note the change to 'koňa' (accusative).
Expressions liées
Mať navrch
synonymTo have the upper hand
Znovu v sedle
similarBack in the saddle
Byť pod psom
contrastTo feel miserable/under the weather
Konečne na koni
builds onFinally on the horse
Vysadnúť na koňa
specialized formTo mount the horse
