Is Slovak on Duolingo? Your options now
At the time of writing, Slovak is not available for English speakers on Duolingo. That doesn’t mean you can’t start today. You can combine free online resources, beginner-friendly apps, and light grammar PDFs to build steady progress.
Because Czech and Slovak are closely related, some learners use Duolingo’s Czech course as a gentle intro to Slavic basics, then switch to Slovak-specific materials. Just remember there are differences in vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation.
- Use Duolingo for Czech to warm up, then pivot to Slovak.
- Pick one main app for Slovak and one dictionary site.
- Download a short A1 pdf cheat sheet for cases and phrases.
- Schedule 20–25 minutes daily for focused, bite-size practice.
A1–A2 beginner roadmap: 30-day starter plan
Keep it simple and consistent. Aim for 20–25 minutes per day. Focus on sounds first, then core phrases and the most common grammar patterns. Track new words in an app or flashcards to keep review easy.
By day 30, you should confidently handle greetings, introducing yourself, ordering, numbers, directions, and basic questions. Repeat the cycle with new topics to grow toward A2.
- Week 1: Alphabet, stress (always first syllable), key sounds (ď, ť, ň, ch, ô).
- Week 2: Greetings, introducing yourself, countries, professions, numbers, time.
- Week 3: Cases you meet early (accusative, genitive), gender, plurals.
- Week 4: Daily routines, food, shopping, transport; short listening every day.
- Daily micro-goal: 8–10 new words + 5 minutes of speaking out loud.
Core phrases for introducing yourself and daily life
Learn set phrases you can use right away. Say them out loud and record yourself to check rhythm and stress. These cover greetings, introducing yourself, and polite interactions.
Swap in your name, country, or job to make each sentence personal and reusable in real conversations.
- Dobrý deň / Ahoj – Good day / Hi
- Volám sa… – My name is…
- Teší ma. – Nice to meet you.
- Odkiaľ ste? (form.) / Odkiaľ si? (inf.) – Where are you from?
- Som začiatočník. – I’m a beginner.
- Hovoríte po anglicky? – Do you speak English?
- Prosím / Ďakujem / Prosím pekne – Please / Thank you / You’re welcome
- Koľko to stojí? – How much does it cost?
- Kde je…? – Where is…?
- Môžem zaplatiť kartou? – Can I pay by card?
Free and online resources (PDFs, apps, dictionaries)
Mix one main app with reliable references. Many learners like a spaced-repetition app for words plus short grammar PDFs to clarify cases and endings. Keep your toolkit light so you actually use it daily.
Always pair reading with audio when possible; Slovak spelling is consistent, and listening will train your ear fast.
- e-slovak.sk (Comenius University) – Free online courses, exercises, audio.
- Krížom-krážom A1 (sample materials) – Search for official sample pdf + audio.
- Juls dictionary: slovnik.juls.savba.sk – Accurate, free monolingual/bi-lingual entries.
- Forvo.com – Crowd-sourced audio for Slovak words and names.
- Memrise/Clozemaster/Mondly – App options with Slovak decks or courses.
- Anki shared decks – „Slovak 1000 words” style lists for beginners.
Pronunciation and grammar tips for beginners
Pronunciation first: stress is almost always on the first syllable. The letter ô sounds like “uo,” and ch is a single sound (like the Scottish “loch”). Soft consonants ď, ť, ň are distinct—listen and mimic. Vowels with accents (á, é, í, ó, ú, ý) are long.
Grammar: focus on what you say most. Learn gender (m/f/n), a few key case endings for objects and possession, and common verb patterns in the present tense. Build short, correct sentences; accuracy beats speed at the A1–A2 stage.
- Practice minimal pairs: d/t vs ď/ť; n vs ň; s vs š; c vs č.
- Chunk it: “Volám sa…”, “Chcel by som…”, “Môžem…?” to stay fluent.
- Learn article-less thinking: no the/a; context and cases do the work.
- Start with present tense; add past of “byť/bol” when ready.
- Review endings with a one-page case pdf to reduce confusion.
FAQ
- Is Slovak available on Duolingo?
- Not currently for English speakers. You can learn basics via Czech on Duolingo and switch to Slovak-focused online resources, PDFs, and apps listed above.
- Can I learn Slovak for free?
- Yes. Combine e-slovak.sk, the JULS dictionary, Forvo for audio, and community Anki decks. Add sample A1 pdf sheets for cases and phrases, and you have a strong free toolkit.
- How similar are Slovak and Czech?
- Very close and often mutually intelligible, especially in writing. Still, there are sound and word differences, so don’t assume everything matches 1:1 when you learn.
- How long to reach A2 in Slovak?
- With 20–30 minutes daily and regular speaking practice, many beginners reach A2 in about 4–6 months (roughly 150–200 focused hours). Consistency is key.
- Which app should I pick as a beginner?
- Choose one main app you like (Memrise, Clozemaster, Mondly) and stick to it. Support it with a dictionary site and a short grammar pdf for quick lookups.