Meaning
A country other than one's own.
Cultural Background
Slovaks have a long history of 'drotárstvo' (tinkering), where men traveled to 'cudzie krajiny' to fix pots and pans. This makes the concept of working abroad a deep part of the national psyche. Since joining the EU, the 'foreignness' of neighboring countries like Austria or Czechia has decreased, but they are still technically 'cudzie krajiny'. For many Slovaks, North America was the ultimate 'cudzia krajina' during the 20th-century waves of emigration. It represented both loss and opportunity. Modern Slovak 'digital nomads' often use this phrase to describe their lifestyle of hopping between 'cudzie krajiny' while working remotely.
Soft Adjective Rule
Remember that 'cudzí' ends in -ia for feminine. Don't say 'cudzá'!
Preposition Choice
Use 'v' for being there and 'do' for going there. Both change the case of the phrase.
Meaning
A country other than one's own.
Soft Adjective Rule
Remember that 'cudzí' ends in -ia for feminine. Don't say 'cudzá'!
Preposition Choice
Use 'v' for being there and 'do' for going there. Both change the case of the phrase.
Sound like a Native
Use 'v cudzine' for general talk about being abroad, and 'v cudzej krajine' when you want to be more descriptive or emotional.
The 'Cudzinec' connection
A 'cudzinec' is a person from a 'cudzia krajina'. They share the same root!
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of 'cudzia krajina' in the locative case.
Môj brat žije už desať rokov ________.
The preposition 'v' (in) requires the locative case.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Select the correct sentence:
'Do' requires the genitive case. The genitive of 'cudzia krajina' is 'cudzej krajiny'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Where would you most likely hear: 'Aké sú dane v cudzej krajine?'
This is a formal question about financial regulations abroad.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Prečo sa sťahuješ? B: Chcem vyskúšať život v ________.
The preposition 'v' indicates location (locative).
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Cudzia Krajina vs. Zahraničie
Practice Bank
4 exercisesMôj brat žije už desať rokov ________.
The preposition 'v' (in) requires the locative case.
Select the correct sentence:
'Do' requires the genitive case. The genitive of 'cudzia krajina' is 'cudzej krajiny'.
Where would you most likely hear: 'Aké sú dane v cudzej krajine?'
This is a formal question about financial regulations abroad.
A: Prečo sa sťahuješ? B: Chcem vyskúšať život v ________.
The preposition 'v' indicates location (locative).
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsIt is neutral. You can use it with friends or in a newspaper.
'Zahraničie' is a general noun for 'abroad'. 'Cudzia krajina' refers to a specific (though unnamed) foreign country.
No, for a person you must use 'cudzinec' (foreigner).
Som z cudzej krajiny.
It can also mean 'someone else's' (e.g., cudzie auto - someone else's car).
It is 'cudzia' with a short 'a' at the end because of the rhythmic law (though 'ia' is a diphthong).
Yes, but 'cudzia zem' sounds more poetic or biblical.
Cudzie krajiny.
Z cudzích krajín.
Yes, to refer to foreign markets or jurisdictions.
Because 'cudzí' is a soft adjective, and the locative feminine ending for soft adjectives is -ej.
No, for a city you would say 'cudzie mesto'.
Related Phrases
v cudzine
similarabroad
cudzinec
builds onforeigner
zahraničie
synonymabroad / foreign countries
rodná krajina
contrastnative country
cudzie jazyky
similarforeign languages
za hranicami
similarbeyond the borders
