I can find clothes, shoes, and the drugstore in a shopping mall, buy shampoo, soap, and toothpaste, name clothes and colors, ask about the size, and ask to try something on.
Clothes and the drugstore: where, what, and what size
Clothes and the drugstore: where, what, and what size
In a shopping mall, look at the signs: ODEVY — clothes, OBUV — footwear, DROGÉRIA, DOMÁCE POTREBY — home goods. The floor is next to them: prízemie (the US first floor), 1. poschodie (the US second floor). Unlike a US drugstore, drogéria sells no medicine: it has šampón, mydlo, zubná pasta.
The clothes are in the table. Two words exist only in the plural: nohavice, šaty; they take sú and tie, not tá. English pants work the same way; šaty is plural even for one dress: “Moje nové šaty sú modré.” Topánky is usually plural; one shoe is topánka.
Buying takes the accusative: a feminine noun changes -a → -u, its adjective -á → -ú: peknú tašku. After a long syllable the adjective ends in a short -a and takes -u: biela → bielu, čierna → čiernu. Masculine and neuter nouns don't change: sveter, tričko.
Trying on: “Môžem to vyskúšať?” Size is veľkosť: “Aká je vaša veľkosť?” Too big or too small: use an adjective, “Nohavice sú veľké.” If it doesn't fit, use the set phrase “Máte to aj v inej veľkosti?” Learn it as a whole.
Common mistakes:
• ×Potrebujem taška → Potrebujem tašku.
• ×Tá topánky → Tie topánky (plural).
• ×Drogéria = pharmacy: for medicine, go to a lekáreň.
Signs in a shopping mall
The floor is written next to each department. 1. poschodie is the US second floor; prízemie is the first.
| Sign | What's there | Floor |
|---|---|---|
| ODEVY | clothes | 1. poschodie |
| OBUV | footwear | prízemie |
| DROGÉRIA | cleaning products and cosmetics | prízemie |
| DOMÁCE POTREBY | home goods | 2. poschodie |
Clothes
Nohavice, šaty — plural only: they take sú and tie.
| In Slovak | In English |
|---|---|
| tričko | T-shirt |
| košeľa | shirt |
| blúzka | blouse |
| sveter | sweater |
| sukňa | skirt |
| nohavice (pl.) | pants |
| šaty (pl.) | dress |
| topánky (pl.) | shoes |
| kabát | coat |
Lesson notes
Clothes and the drugstore: where, what, and what size
In a shopping mall, look at the signs: ODEVY — clothes, OBUV — footwear, DROGÉRIA, DOMÁCE POTREBY — home goods. The floor is next to them: prízemie (the US first floor), 1. poschodie (the US second floor). Unlike a US drugstore, drogéria sells no medicine: it has šampón, mydlo, zubná pasta.
The clothes are in the table. Two words exist only in the plural: nohavice, šaty; they take sú and tie, not tá. English pants work the same way; šaty is plural even for one dress: “Moje nové šaty sú modré.” Topánky is usually plural; one shoe is topánka.
Buying takes the accusative: a feminine noun changes -a → -u, its adjective -á → -ú: peknú tašku. After a long syllable the adjective ends in a short -a and takes -u: biela → bielu, čierna → čiernu. Masculine and neuter nouns don't change: sveter, tričko.
Trying on: “Môžem to vyskúšať?” Size is veľkosť: “Aká je vaša veľkosť?” Too big or too small: use an adjective, “Nohavice sú veľké.” If it doesn't fit, use the set phrase “Máte to aj v inej veľkosti?” Learn it as a whole.
Common mistakes:
• ×Potrebujem taška → Potrebujem tašku.
• ×Tá topánky → Tie topánky (plural).
• ×Drogéria = pharmacy: for medicine, go to a lekáreň.