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Navigating Social Etiquette: Choosing Between Formal and Informal 'You' in Slovak Conversations

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Slovak language is full of wonderful (once you master them) twists and bends. One of them is the distinction between informal and formal addressing. In Slovak grammar,  ‘ty’ and ‘vy’ are pronouns used for the second person singular and plural, respectively. They both translate to the English pronoun ‘you’, but their usage depends on the level of familiarity, formality, or respect you want to convey in a conversation. Addressing someone with informal you is called ‘tykanie’. Addressing someone with formal you is called ‘vykanie’. Understanding when to use formal and informal you is essential in order to be fluent and avoid random awkward situations.

‘Ty’—Tykanie (informal you, singular):

This is used when addressing someone in a familiar, informal way. It's typically used among friends, family members, or individuals of the same age group. It creates a sense of closeness and informality.

‘Vy’—Vykanie (formal you, plural):

This pronoun is more formal and respectful. It is used in situations where you want to acknowledge a certain level of social distance or hierarchy. ‘Vy’ is employed when addressing someone in a more formal setting, such as in professional environments, various services, or when speaking to someone older or in a position of authority. 

In plural form, ‘Vy’ is also used for both formal and informal situations when addressing a group of people.

Typically, younger individuals use the formal you form (vykanie) with older ones, subordinates with superiors, and men with women. When proposing the use of the informal form, it is usually the socially more significant person who suggests it. To be on the safe side, the best thing to do is always to address somebody you don’t know using the formal you (unless it’s a kid).

Using Correct Verb Forms

 '-š' verb suffix

This suffix is associated with the informal, singular second person.

Example (talking to a friend): 

Ahoj! Ako sa máš? (EN: Hello! How are you?) note: greeting Ahoj is informal.

Čo si o tom myslíš? (EN: What do you think about it?)

'-te' verb suffix

This suffix is tied to the formal, second person plural. 

Example (talking to a teacher): 

Dobrý deň! Ako sa máte? (EN: Hello! How are you?) Note: greeting Dobrý deň is formal.

Čo si o tom myslíte? (EN: What do you think about it?)

Mastering Formal You (vykanie)—Basic Rules to Remember

# 1 We always use the verb in the plural form 

Sometimes it can be tempting to use the singular verb form that corresponds to the gender of the person we are addressing. However, that is a common mistake, one that even many native Slovak speakers often make. The only correct verb form is always the plural one.

Example:

Correct form: 

Vedeli by ste mi, prosím, povedať, kde je pošta? (EN: Could you please tell me where the post office is?)

Incorrect form: 

Vedela by ste mi, prosím povedať, kde je pošta? 

Vedel by ste mi, prosím povedať, kde je pošta? 

# 2 Endings of adjectives match with the gender of the person we are addressing to

When using the formal 'you,' adjectives have to match the gender of the person we are addressing. When addressing a woman, adjectives have to be in the singular feminine form. When addressing a man, adjectives have to be in the singular masculine form. When addressing more than one person, we use adjectives in the plural form to match the gender of the group.

Example:

Correct form:

Addressing a woman: Boli by ste taká milá a podali mi pero? (EN: Would you be so kind as to hand me a pen?)

Addressing a man: Boli by ste taký milý a podali mi pero? (EN: Would you be so kind as to hand me a pen?)

Incorrect form:

Addressing a woman: Bola by ste taká milá a podala mi pero? 

Addressing a man: Bol by ste takí milí a podal mi pero? 

Understanding when to use the respectful ‘Vy’ and the familiar ‘ty’ is not merely a linguistic consideration but a cultural and social one. The choice between these forms extends beyond grammatical rules to reflect societal hierarchies, professional etiquette, and personal relationships. Try to notice as many situations as possible in your surroundings and think of what form to use when talking to a friend, or an elderly person, a co-worker, a stranger, a kid or a cashier. You can also take our little quiz to help you with practice.

Do you want to learn how to conjugate verbs in Slovak? Check the A1 My Slovak Course.