Meaning
Word from another language
Cultural Background
The 'Slovník cudzích slov' is a cultural icon. Owning one suggests a level of education and curiosity about the world. Linguists at the Ľudovít Štúr Institute actively monitor 'cudzie slová' to decide if they should be officially 'Slovakized' in spelling (e.g., 'smartphone' -> 'smartfón'). In Bratislava's corporate world, using English 'cudzie slová' (like 'meeting', 'deadline', 'feedback') is so common it's often called 'Slovenglish'. Many 'cudzie slová' from German (Germanizmy) are now considered 'old-fashioned' or dialectal, used mostly by the older generation in villages.
Spotting them
If a Slovak word ends in -cia (like informácia), it is almost certainly a 'cudzie slovo' from Latin.
Declension
Don't forget that 'cudzie' is a soft adjective. Its endings might differ from 'pekný'.
Meaning
Word from another language
Spotting them
If a Slovak word ends in -cia (like informácia), it is almost certainly a 'cudzie slovo' from Latin.
Declension
Don't forget that 'cudzie' is a soft adjective. Its endings might differ from 'pekný'.
Figurative use
Use 'To je pre mňa cudzie slovo' to politely say you have no idea what someone is talking about.
Purism
Older Slovaks might appreciate it if you use a native Slovak word instead of an English loanword.
Test Yourself
Vyberte správny tvar prídavného mena.
V texte je jedno ______ slovo.
'Slovo' is neuter singular, so the adjective must be 'cudzie'.
Doplňte chýbajúce slovo v genitíve plurálu.
Toto je Slovník ______ slov.
After 'Slovník', we use the genitive plural: 'cudzích slov'.
Priraďte vetu k situácii.
Veta: 'Pre neho je hygiena cudzie slovo.'
This is a figurative use meaning the person doesn't practice hygiene.
Doplňte dialóg.
A: Čo znamená 'víkend'? B: To je ______ z angličtiny.
'Víkend' is a single word borrowed from English.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Native vs. Foreign
Practice Bank
4 exercisesV texte je jedno ______ slovo.
'Slovo' is neuter singular, so the adjective must be 'cudzie'.
Toto je Slovník ______ slov.
After 'Slovník', we use the genitive plural: 'cudzích slov'.
Veta: 'Pre neho je hygiena cudzie slovo.'
This is a figurative use meaning the person doesn't practice hygiene.
A: Čo znamená 'víkend'? B: To je ______ z angličtiny.
'Víkend' is a single word borrowed from English.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsYes, it is an 'anglicizmus' (English loanword) that has been fully integrated into Slovak.
Look for non-Slavic roots or suffixes like -izmus, -cia, -túra, or -id.
Most are! For example, 'softvér' is declined like the masculine 'dub' paradigm.
Because the language has borrowed so much from Latin, German, and English that a guide is needed for technical terms.
No, names are 'cudzie mená', not 'slová'.
Yes, it's an internationalism of Italian origin.
Currently, English (IT, business, and lifestyle terms).
It is neutral. You can use it with friends or in a university essay.
Use 'lexikálna výpožička' or 'prevzatá lexéma'.
It can also mean 'someone else's' (e.g., cudzie dieťa - someone else's child).
Yes, many older words related to food and farming (e.g., 'ťava', 'gombík').
In formal Slovak, it's better to use native words if they exist to avoid sounding 'pretentious'.
Related Phrases
prevzaté slovo
synonymborrowed word
cudzia reč
similarforeign tongue/speech
materinský jazyk
contrastmother tongue
zdomácnené slovo
builds ondomesticated word
nespisovné slovo
specialized formnon-standard word
