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 in Slovakia (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 345,000 (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 7,227,240 (as L1: 5,182,240; as L2: 2,045,000).

Location

Widespread.

Language Maps

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia

Serbia

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:

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Austria

Language nameSlovak

Population Full

10,200 in Austria (2003 UNSD).

Location

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

Alternate Names

Slovenčina, Slovenský Jazyk

Status

5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (1955, Treaty of Vienna).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Croatia

Language nameSlovak

Population Full

3,790 in Croatia (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.

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Czechia

Language nameSlovak

Population Full

1,854,000 in Czechia, all users. L1 users: 154,000 in Czechia (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.

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Hungary

Language nameSlovak

Population Full

9,890 in Hungary (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.

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Romania

Language nameSlovak

Population Full

12,800 in Romania (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.

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Serbia

Language nameSlovak

Population Full

49,800 in Serbia (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.

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Ukraine

Language nameSlovak

Population Full

2,770 in Ukraine (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.

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Ethnologue

Slovak

Primary tabs

A language of Slovakia

Also spoken in:

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