Slovak

A language of Slovakia

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

Slovakian

Autonym

Slovenský Jazyk, Slovenčina

Population

5,115,000 in Slovakia, all users. L1 users: 4,770,000 (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 345,000 (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 7,215,200 (as L1: 5,170,200; as L2: 2,045,000).

Location

Widespread.

Language Maps

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia

Language Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1992, Constitution, Article 6(1)).

Classification

Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Czech-Slovak

Dialects

None known. Slovaks in western and central parts of the speech community can understand Czech [ces].

Typology

SVO; prepositions; noun head final; gender (masculine/feminine/neuter); no articles; case-marking (6 cases); verb affixes mark number, person; passives; tense and aspect; comparatives; 27 consonants, 10 vowels, 4 diphthongs; non-tonal; stress on first syllable.

Language Development

Fully developed. Bible: 1832–1999.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Slovak

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage.

Other Comments

Christian.

Also spoken in:

Expand All

Collapse All

Austria

Language nameSlovak

Population Full

10,200 (2003 UNSD).

Location

Scattered, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Styria, Vienna.

Alternate Names

Slovenčina, Slovenský Jazyk

Status

5 (Dispersed). Statutory language of national identity (1976, Ethnic Groups Act, Article 1(2)).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Austria

Croatia

Language nameSlovak

Population Full

3,790 (2011 census). Ethnic population: 4,750 (2011 census).

Location

Osijek-Baranja and Vukovar-Syrmia counties.

Alternate Names

Slovenčina, Slovenský Jazyk

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Croatia

Czechia

Language nameSlovak

Population Full

1,854,000 in Czechia, all users. L1 users: 154,000 (2011 census). L2 users: 1,700,000 (European Commission 2012).

Location

Major cities.

Alternate Names

Slovenčina, Slovenský Jazyk

Status

5 (Dispersed). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Rights Act No. 273, Article 2).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Czechia

Hungary

Language nameSlovak

Population Full

9,890 (2011 census). Ethnic population: 29,600 (2011 census).

Location

Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and Zala counties; near Slovak-Hungary border.

Alternate Names

Slovenčina, Slovenský Jazyk

Status

4 (Educational). Recognized language (1993, Minorities Act No. LXXVII).

Language Development

Taught in primary and secondary schools.

View other languages of Hungary

Romania

Language nameSlovak

Population Full

12,800 (2014 UNSD).

Location

Arad, Bihor, Salaj, and Timis counties.

Alternate Names

Slovenčina, Slovenský Jazyk

Status

5 (Dispersed). Recognized language (2001, Local Public Administration Law No. 215, Article 40(7), others).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Romania

Serbia

Language nameSlovak

Population Full

49,800 (2013 UNSD).

Location

South Backa district: Vojvodine.

Alternate Names

Slovenčina, Slovenský Jazyk

Status

2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Autonomous Province Vodjvodina (2009, Autonomous Province Vodjvodina Statute, Article 26).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Serbia

Ukraine

Language nameSlovak

Population Full

2,770 (2003 UNSD). Ethnic population: 6,400 (2001 census).

Location

Zakarpattia region.

Alternate Names

Slovenčina, Slovenský Jazyk

Status

5 (Dispersed). Recognized language (2004, Law, Status of Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, Article 1(5)), protected language.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Ukraine

Ethnologue

Slovak

Primary tabs

A language of Slovakia

Also spoken in:

Browse by

Current Edition

Products

Related Sites