Learn to Speak Slovak

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Learn Slovak
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Origins of the Slovak Language
The Slovak language is a member of the West Slavic branch of the Indo-European family of languages and is closely related to Czech.

Although Czech and Slovak are closely related, they are considered distinct languages for political, historical and linguistic reasons. For example, Slovakia has historically been dominated by Hungary and thus the language shows signs of Hungarian influence, whereas Czech shows signs of German influence because Bohemia and Moravia were controlled by Austria.

How many people speak the Slovak language?
Approximately 6.5 million people speak the Slovak language.

Slovak-speaking Countries
Slovak is the official language of Slovakia (formerly eastern Czechoslovakia) where approximately 5.6 million people speak it. It is also spoken in the United States, Hungary, the former Yugoslavia, Canada and Russia.

Screenshots from Talk Now! Learn Slovak CD-ROM

Talk Now Slovak CD-ROM Details

This is an excitingly different language learning series. Talk Now! uses games and quizzes as a basis for making the learning process fun, easy and relaxing. There is no better way to teach an old dog new tricks and this fun element of the program means that your fears are forgotten as you absorb words and phrases without even realising you are learning them.

Talk Now! is the world's best selling language learning CD-ROM series for beginners, used by more than three million people to date. It's ideal for travellers, holidaymakers, business people, schoolchildren, students and families.

Anyone over 10 years of age will find the disc indispensable for improving listening, understanding and spoken language skills. There are nine topics: first words, food, colours, phrases, parts of the body, numbers, time, shopping and countries.

The games and quizzes included on the disc ensure that users have fun whilst using the disc, without realising that they're learning. The "intelligent" software feature remembers words you get wrong and targets your weak points.

NOW includes Apple iPod integration, which allows you to listen to Talk Now Slovak wherever you are!

Slovak Art

After almost 900 years of Hungarian domination, a 19th-century National Revival commenced with the creation of the Slovak literary language by the nationalist L'udovít Stúr. This enabled the emergence of a Slovak national consciousness.

Slovak Music and Dance

Traditional Slovakian music is one of the most original of Slavic and European folklore. Its oldest form is liturgical from the time of the Great Moravia (9th century) which is the origin of the sacred music of the 15th and 16th centuries. National Slovakian music was heavily influenced by liturgical and chamber music.

Today, music is one of the most significant aspects of Slovakian culture. Traditional Slovak folk instruments include the fujara (a 2m/6.5ft-long flute), the gajdy (bagpipes) and the konkovka (a strident shepherd's flute). Folk songs helped preserve the Slovak language during Hungarian rule.

Slovak Food and Drink

Traditional Slovak eating and drinking habits date back to the old Slavic period - influenced later by Hungarian, Austrian and German cooking.

Slovak food is based on many different kinds of soups, gruels, boiled and stewed vegetables, roast and smoked meats and dairy products. The style of cooking varies from region to region. Slovak specialities include both sweet and savoury dishes made with flour, including dumplings. One such dish is the popular bryndzové haluky (small potato dumplings with sheep's cheese).

Popular drinks include Slovak beer, wine and mineral waters. Borovicka (strong gin) and slivovica (plum brandy) are particular specialities, as are wine from the Tokay region and sparkling wine from the Bratislava region.

Slovak Attractions

Bratislava Bratislava is Slovakia's largest city and has been the capital since 1969. Many beautiful monuments survive in the old town to tell of its past under Hungarian rule, and Bratislava's numerous museums are surprisingly rich. Franz Lizst visited Bratislava 15 times, and the opera productions of the Slovak National Theatre rival anything in Europe. Bratislava isn't as swamped by Western tourism as are Budapest and Prague.

The Vysoké Tatry The Vysoké Tatry (High Tatras) are the only truly alpine mountains in Eastern Europe and one of the smallest high mountain ranges in the world. Narrow rocky crests soar above wide glacial valleys with precipitous walls. Enhancing the natural beauty packed into this relatively small area (260 sq km) are 30 valleys, almost 100 glacial lakes and numerous bubbling streams.

The Malá Fatra National Park The Malá Fatra (Little Fatra) Mountains stretch 50km across northwestern Slovakia; Velky Kriván (1709m) is the highest peak. At the heart of the national park is Vrátna, a beautiful mountain valley with forested slopes on all sides.

Customer Testimonials

"This is an excitingly different language learning series. Talk Now! Uses games and quizzes as a basis for making the learning process fun and relaxing." - PC Answers

"I bought your Learn Malay CD today - I've only just begun, but I wanted to say how much I am enjoying it. I studied Malay from a book all day yesterday, making some 25 pages of notes on grammar and vocab, but I remember more from your CD from just an hour!" - James Bryce

Full list of Talk Now Language CD-ROMs available to buy online in the UK.