Meaning
A residential building of significant size.
Cultural Background
In Slovak villages, a 'veľký dom' often has a 'letná kuchyňa' (summer kitchen) nearby, where the family cooks during hot months to keep the main house cool. The 'podnikateľské baroko' style of the 90s refers to oversized, flashy houses that are now often seen as a sign of poor taste from a specific era. Building a house 'svojpomocne' (with one's own hands) is a point of pride. A 'veľký dom' built this way represents years of family labor. Inheritance of a 'veľký dom' can be complex, as it was often intended for multiple children to live in together, which is less common now.
Adjective First
Always put 'veľký' before 'dom' in normal speech. 'Dom veľký' sounds like Yoda or a 19th-century poem.
Don't say 'Dóm'
Be careful with the length of the 'o'. A 'dom' is a house, but a 'dóm' is a cathedral. You don't want to tell people you live in a cathedral!
Meaning
A residential building of significant size.
Adjective First
Always put 'veľký' before 'dom' in normal speech. 'Dom veľký' sounds like Yoda or a 19th-century poem.
Don't say 'Dóm'
Be careful with the length of the 'o'. A 'dom' is a house, but a 'dóm' is a cathedral. You don't want to tell people you live in a cathedral!
Use 'priestranný'
If you want to sound more like a native speaker when praising someone's home, use 'priestranný' (spacious) instead of just 'veľký'.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of the adjective 'veľký'.
Môj brat má _______ dom.
'Dom' is masculine, so we use 'veľký'.
Which sentence is correct?
How do you say 'I see a big house'?
'Vidím' takes the accusative, which for masculine inanimate is the same as nominative.
Match the Slovak phrase with its English translation.
Match the following:
Basic vocabulary matching.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Bývaš v byte? B: Nie, bývam v _________.
After 'v' (in), we use the locative case: 'veľkom dome'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Types of Dwellings
Private
- • Veľký dom
- • Malý dom
- • Chata
Shared
- • Panelák
- • Bytovka
- • Internát
Practice Bank
4 exercisesMôj brat má _______ dom.
'Dom' is masculine, so we use 'veľký'.
How do you say 'I see a big house'?
'Vidím' takes the accusative, which for masculine inanimate is the same as nominative.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Basic vocabulary matching.
A: Bývaš v byte? B: Nie, bývam v _________.
After 'v' (in), we use the locative case: 'veľkom dome'.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
6 questionsNo, for an apartment building, use 'bytovka' or 'panelák'. 'Dom' refers to a single-family house.
The plural is 'veľké domy'.
It is neutral. You can use it with friends or in a business meeting.
You say 'veľmi veľký dom'.
Yes, a 'vila' is usually more luxurious and architecturally significant, while 'veľký dom' just describes size.
Historically, it was for multi-generational living. Today, it is a symbol of financial success.
Related Phrases
rodinný dom
similarfamily house
panelák
contrastconcrete apartment block
vila
specialized formvilla
chalupa
similarcottage
