Slovak Learning Community and Resources

How to Use Gender-sensitive Language in Slovak

Source: Unsplash

Language is a dynamic reflection of our societal values and has the profound ability to shape our perceptions and reinforce cultural norms. Using gender-sensitive language helps to promote gender equality and, at the same time, indicates its state in society. Gender-sensitive language operates on the principle of non-discrimination, ensuring that no individual or group is marginalized or disparaged based on their gender. Let’s explore how we can use the Slovak language in a way that respects and acknowledges the diverse spectrum of identities.

Generic Masculine as Default

The Slovak language has three grammatical genders: masculine (animate and inanimate), feminine, and neuter. In Slovak, as in many other languages, a phenomenon known as the "generic masculine" has been traditionally used. This refers to the practice of using masculine forms of words to represent both genders or a mixed-gender group in a generic or unspecified sense. In essence, it's a linguistic convention where the masculine form is employed as a default, with the assumption that it includes individuals of any gender. The use of a generic masculine is usually accompanied by a belief in its neutrality. However, this approach makes people of the feminine (or other) gender invisible.

Examples of the Use of Generic Masculine:

When addressing some group of people: 

• Generic masculine version: Milí čitatelia (Dear readers)
• Gender-balanced version: Milí čitatelia, milé čitateľky (Dear readers)

When referring to a work position, a masculine form is often used for women.

• Generic masculine version: Anna Horváthová, manažér kvality (quality manager)
• Gender-sensitive version: Anna Horváthová, manažérka kvality (quality manager)

Using Gender-sensitive Language

There are different strategies on how to use gender-sensitive language in Slovak. Let’s have a look at them.

Using Both Gender Forms 

Generally, it is easier to use in plural form. We should alternate the position of masculine and feminine forms (e.g., we put masculine first and feminine second, and then the other way round).

• Generic masculine: klienti (clients)
• Gender-balanced: klienti a klientky (masculine and feminine) (clients)

• Generic masculine: študenti (students)
• Gender-balanced: študentky a študenti (feminine and masculine) (students)

Shortened Forms

In Slovak, we can form shortened forms using slashes to express variation:

• učiteľ/-ka, učitelia/-ky (teacher, teachers)

Some people prefer to use asterisks* (more rarely full stops.) instead of slashes.

• občania*ky (citizens)
• učitelia.ky (teachers) 

However, it is recommended to use both full forms whenever the space allows it. But since slashes make text more difficult to read, they are particularly suitable to be used in forms, short notices, advertisements, etc.

• študent/študentka (student)
• študenti/študentky (students)

Gender-neutral Forms

Instead of masculine or feminine form, we try to use a neutral construction.

• Gendered form: Učitelia (teachers)
• Gender neutral: Učiteľský zbor (teaching staff)

• Gendered form: Súťaž študent roka (Contest Student of the year)
• Gender neutral: Súťaž študentská osobnosť roka (Contest student figure of the year)

• Gendered form: Vyhľadajte odborníka (Seek a specialist)
• Gender neutral: Vyhľadajte odbornú pomoc (Seek a specialist help)

There is also a new tendency to create gender-neutral words ending with the suffix -stvo. These words refer to everybody in the group.

• Študenstvo instead of študenti/študentky (students)
• Kamarátstvo instead of kamaráti/kamarátky (friends)

As we have illustrated, there are various possibilities for gender-sensitive use of the Slovak language. However, when using it, we should always consider the adequacy of the target group or person being addressed. We should also pay attention to grammatical rules: all the elements (number, adjectives, pronouns, etc.) should match the gender they refer to.

Language is a living system, and it evolves all the time. We all contribute to its development. By adopting language that is sensitive to gender, we contribute to the creation of a space where no one feels excluded and where the narrative of equality is woven into the very fabric of our discourse.  

Have you encountered any of these gender-sensitive forms? If so, where? And how does gender sensitivity work in the languages you speak? You can share your experience here.

Learning Tip: if you want to learn about masculine and feminine nouns and what suffixes are used to form them, check the A1 My Slovak Course.