Meaning
Using physical money for payment.
Cultural Background
In Slovakia, it is common to 'round up' the bill when paying in cash as a tip. If the bill is 8.60 EUR, you might hand over 10 EUR and say 'To je v poriadku' (That's fine). Germans have a very strong 'cash culture' (Bargeldkultur), even more so than Slovaks. Many high-end restaurants in Berlin still only accept cash. Sweden is almost entirely cashless. Many shops have signs saying 'Vi hanterar ej kontanter' (We do not handle cash). In Slovakia, this is very rare. Despite being a tech giant, Japan remains very cash-heavy. Small shops and temples often only accept cash, similar to Slovak markets.
Always carry a backup
Even in Bratislava, carry at least 10-20 EUR in cash for small shops or if a terminal fails.
Check for signs
Look for 'Len hotovosť' (Cash only) signs before you start shopping to avoid awkwardness at the till.
Meaning
Using physical money for payment.
Always carry a backup
Even in Bratislava, carry at least 10-20 EUR in cash for small shops or if a terminal fails.
Check for signs
Look for 'Len hotovosť' (Cash only) signs before you start shopping to avoid awkwardness at the till.
Tipping etiquette
When paying in cash at a cafe, it's polite to leave the small copper coins (1, 2, 5 cents) as a minimum tip.
The 'Ready' Mindset
Remember that 'hotovosť' means readiness. Being ready with cash is a sign of a prepared traveler.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing preposition and noun in the correct case.
Prepáčte, nemám kartu. Môžem platiť ___ _________?
The standard phrase is 'v hotovosti' (preposition 'v' + locative case).
Which sentence is correct for a formal sign in a shop?
How would a shop say they only accept cash?
Signs use the noun 'platba' (payment) followed by 'v hotovosti'.
Complete the dialogue between a waiter and a customer.
Čašník: 'Bude to kartou?' Zákazník: 'Nie, _________.'
The customer is specifying the method of payment.
Match the phrase to the most likely situation.
Where would you most likely hear: 'Prijímame len platby v hotovosti'?
Remote locations often lack card terminals.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Cash vs Card Vocabulary
Practice Bank
4 exercisesPrepáčte, nemám kartu. Môžem platiť ___ _________?
The standard phrase is 'v hotovosti' (preposition 'v' + locative case).
How would a shop say they only accept cash?
Signs use the noun 'platba' (payment) followed by 'v hotovosti'.
Čašník: 'Bude to kartou?' Zákazník: 'Nie, _________.'
The customer is specifying the method of payment.
Where would you most likely hear: 'Prijímame len platby v hotovosti'?
Remote locations often lack card terminals.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt can be inconvenient for small shopkeepers if they don't have enough change. Try to use smaller notes for small purchases.
Yes, but it's very informal slang. Stick to 'v hotovosti' in most situations.
Grammatically, 'v hotovosti' is locative and 'hotovosťou' is instrumental. In practice, 'v hotovosti' is much more common in speech.
Most city taxis do, but it's always safer to ask 'Môžem platiť kartou?' or have cash ready.
Yes, for business transactions, the limit is 15,000 EUR. Above that, you must use a bank transfer.
You can say 'Môžete mi vydať?' (Can you give me change?).
It means 'Only in cash'. You will see this on many signs.
It is a feminine noun.
In Slovak, 'v' de-voices to 'f' when it stands before a voiceless consonant or at the start of a phrase before certain sounds.
Yes, the Euro is the official currency since 2009.
Related Phrases
Platiť kartou
contrastTo pay by card
Drobné peniaze
similarSmall change
Vrátiť výdavok
builds onTo give back change
Vybrať z bankomatu
builds onTo withdraw from an ATM
