I can say where I'm going now and where I go regularly — idem do kina, chodím na koncert — invite a friend (“Poďme …! Prídeš?”), agree on a time, and say no politely.
Idem do kina: ísť, chodiť, and invitations
Idem do kina: ísť, chodiť, and invitations
Why: to say where you're going, invite a friend, and arrange to meet.
English “go” is one verb; Slovak has two. ísť is now or once: Idem na obed (I'm going now). chodiť is regularly: Chodím na obed o jednej (I go every day at one). ísť is irregular: idem, ideš, ide, ideme, idete, idú. chodiť goes like robiť: chodím … chodia.
Where to: kam? is “where to?”. Learn three phrases as a whole: do kina, do divadla — “to the movies”, “to the theater”; na koncert — “to a concert”. English “to the movies” is do kina, never v.
Coming: prísť is “to come”. Prídeš? — “Will you come?”; Môžeš prísť? — “Can you come?” The stress is on the first syllable; the mark over a letter is length: prídeš, vidím.
Inviting: Poďme do kina! — “Let's go to the movies!” To say yes: Platí! V poriadku. To je dobrý nápad. To arrange: Kedy sa stretneme? To say no: Prepáč, nemôžem, nemám čas.
Common mistakes:
• × “Ideme v kino” → “Ideme do kina”.
• × “Ideš na divadlo?” → “Ideš do divadla?”
• × “Oni chodí” → “Oni chodia”.
• × “Oni ide” → “Oni idú”.
ísť and chodiť
ísť — now or once; chodiť — regularly.
| Who | ísť — now, once | chodiť — regularly |
|---|---|---|
| ja | idem | chodím |
| ty | ideš | chodíš |
| on / ona | ide | chodí |
| my | ideme | chodíme |
| vy | idete | chodíte |
| oni / ony | idú | chodia |
Kam? — where to?
Three phrases — learn them as a whole.
| In English | In Slovak |
|---|---|
| to the movies | do kina |
| to the theater | do divadla |
| to a concert | na koncert |
Lesson notes
Idem do kina: ísť, chodiť, and invitations
Why: to say where you're going, invite a friend, and arrange to meet.
English “go” is one verb; Slovak has two. ísť is now or once: Idem na obed (I'm going now). chodiť is regularly: Chodím na obed o jednej (I go every day at one). ísť is irregular: idem, ideš, ide, ideme, idete, idú. chodiť goes like robiť: chodím … chodia.
Where to: kam? is “where to?”. Learn three phrases as a whole: do kina, do divadla — “to the movies”, “to the theater”; na koncert — “to a concert”. English “to the movies” is do kina, never v.
Coming: prísť is “to come”. Prídeš? — “Will you come?”; Môžeš prísť? — “Can you come?” The stress is on the first syllable; the mark over a letter is length: prídeš, vidím.
Inviting: Poďme do kina! — “Let's go to the movies!” To say yes: Platí! V poriadku. To je dobrý nápad. To arrange: Kedy sa stretneme? To say no: Prepáč, nemôžem, nemám čas.
Common mistakes:
• × “Ideme v kino” → “Ideme do kina”.
• × “Ideš na divadlo?” → “Ideš do divadla?”
• × “Oni chodí” → “Oni chodia”.
• × “Oni ide” → “Oni idú”.