Prepositions

Prepositions express relationships between words.

They are classified as follows:

  • simple: na, v, pod, nad, od, z, po, medzi, za
  • compound: popod, ponad, popred

Prepositions are uninflected words (they are not declined, conjugated, or compared).

v (vo)? + L
z (zo) + G
do + G
k (ku) + D
s (so) + I
pri + L
na + L
nad + I
pod + I
pred + I
za + I
oproti + D

Slovak prepositions are associated with different cases. One preposition can be associated with two or three cases.

Zuzka položila knihu na stôl. na + A (direction)
Kniha leží na stole. na + L (location)

You must distinguish between::

Ide do školy. KAM (WHERE, WHENCE - in what direction)
Je v škole. KDE (WHERE - in what place)
Ide zo školy. ODKIAĽ (FROM WHERE)

The first sentence expresses the DIRECTION of movement. We've used the prepositional phrase do + G. More examples:

na + A na vlakovú stanicu
k + D k domu

The second sentence expresses a LOCATION of a person or object. We've used the prepositional phrase v + L. More examples:

na + L na vlakovej stanici
pri + L pri dome

The third sentence expresses the DIRECTION of movement FROM a location. We've used the prepositional phrase z + G. More examples:

z + G z vlakovej stanice
z + G z domu

Kde - kam (Where - to where)

Na akej škole študuješ? = Kde študuješ? (WHERE - in what place)

na + L na strednej, základnej škole, na univerzite, na gymnáziu
v + L v meste, v Bratislave, v Nitre

Na akú školu chodíš? = Kam chodíš do školy? (WHERE, WHENCE - in what direction)

na + A na strednú školu, na univerzitu, na gymnázium
do + G do škôlky, do školy, do Nitry, do Bratislavy, do Trnavy
Kde si? Kam ideš?
Som v... + L Idem do... + G
Som na... + L Idem na... + A
Idem cez... + A
Som v banke.
I'm at the bank.
Idem do banky.
I go to the bank.
Som na pošte.
I'm at the post office.
Idem na poštu.
I go to the post office.
Idem cez park.
I go through the park.