Start here: your A1–A2 roadmap
At beginner level, focus on what you’ll use daily: greetings, numbers, food, directions, time, and simple questions. Add a little grammar as you go, especially gender, cases in set phrases, present tense, and basic verb patterns.
Set tiny goals you can hit in a week, not a month. Consistency beats intensity. A clear plan keeps motivation high and helps you learn Slovak faster without overwhelm.
- Week 1–2: Alphabet, greetings, numbers, polite phrases
- Week 3–4: Food, shopping, prices, basic verbs in present
- Week 5–6: Directions, transport, time and dates
- Week 7–8: Daily routine, likes/dislikes, short dialogues
Master sounds and spelling
Slovak spelling is regular, and stress almost always falls on the first syllable. Learn the letters with accents (á, é, í, ó, ú, ý) and special consonants like č, ď, ľ, ľ, ň, š, ž, and the digraphs ch and dz/dž.
Train your ear early. Pair a pronunciation video with a printable PDF alphabet chart and repeat aloud. Five minutes a day prevents fossilizing mistakes and makes listening much easier.
- á vs a (long vs short vowels)
- ľ vs l (soft vs hard l)
- ť/ď/ň (soft t/d/n before i/e)
- ch = German “Bach,” not English ch
Introducing yourself and core phrases
Start speaking on day one with short lines you can recycle. Keep it slow, smile, and let your intonation help. People are friendly when you try Slovak, even as a complete beginner.
Learn a mini script for introducing yourself, asking simple questions, and handling shops or cafés. Repeat it until it feels automatic.
- Ahoj / Dobrý deň (Hi / Good day)
- Volám sa… (My name is…)
- Som z… (I’m from…)
- Prosím / Ďakujem (Please / Thank you)
- Prepáčte (Excuse me / Sorry)
- Koľko to stojí? (How much is it?)
- Kde je…? (Where is…?)
Build a simple study routine
A short, daily routine beats long, irregular sessions. Mix listening, speaking, reading, and writing so you touch the language from all sides and learn Slovak more naturally.
Use an online app for momentum, then anchor it with a notebook and simple dialogues. Beginners progress fastest with predictable, repeatable steps.
- 5 min: Review yesterday’s words aloud
- 5 min: Listen and shadow 6–8 sentences
- 5 min: App drill (Duolingo or similar)
- 3 min: Write two new sentences
- 1 min: Record yourself introducing yourself
- Weekly: One short conversation with a tutor or partner
Best online tools and apps
Combine a core app with audio, a dictionary, and short dialogues. Keep tools light and repeatable. Many resources are free and beginner friendly, and you can print PDFs for quick offline review.
Don’t chase every resource; pick two or three you’ll actually use daily. Repetition wins.
- Duolingo (free app): Great for beginners; add speaking out loud
- YouTube: “Slovak for beginners” playlists for listening/shadowing
- Forvo: Native audio for tricky words and names
- Memrise/Clozemaster: Vocabulary and short sentence exposure
- Wiktionary/SK dictionaries: Meanings + stress hints
- Printable PDF: Alphabet chart, phrase sheet, verb table
- italki/Preply: Short online lessons for real conversation
FAQ
- How long does it take to reach A2 in Slovak?
- With 25–30 minutes daily, many learners reach solid A2 in 3–6 months. Focus on high‑frequency phrases, pronunciation, and short dialogues. Add a weekly 20‑minute conversation to speed things up.
- Is Duolingo good for Slovak beginners?
- Yes, Duolingo is a helpful starter app for beginners: it’s free, structured, and keeps you consistent. Pair it with speaking out loud, a phrase PDF, and occasional tutoring to cover pronunciation and real conversation.
- Where can I find free Slovak PDFs?
- Search for “Slovak beginner PDF,” “Slovak phrasebook PDF,” or “Slovak grammar PDF.” Look at university language centers, cultural institutes, and teacher blogs. Print a one‑page alphabet, phrase sheet, and case prepositions for quick review.
- What’s the hardest part for English speakers?
- Pronunciation and cases. Solve pronunciation early with daily shadowing and Forvo. For cases, memorize set phrases (e.g., “do práce,” “v meste”) and learn patterns later. You don’t need full grammar mastery to communicate at A1–A2.
- Which app should I use to learn Slovak online?
- Start with Duolingo for momentum, add Memrise for vocab, and Forvo for audio. For conversation, book short online lessons on italki. Keep your toolkit small and consistent rather than jumping between apps.