Models of Slovak nouns

In this lesson we will introduce you all the 12 models of Slovak nouns. The models help us to create a correct plural form. Also, we decline the nouns according to their models. So let´s get started!

Each out of 3 genders has 4 basic models:

Now, we will show you how all of the models are declined using 6 cases, both in singular and plural form.

Masculine gender and its models

Masculine nouns are divided into 2 groups:

1. living (people of masculine gender OR animals acting like humans (usually used in poets), usually ending with -o or -a or ending on consonants) = the models are chlap and hrdina

2. non-living (animals or things, endings of the words with consonants, but explained specifically for each model) = the models dub and stroj

As you could see from the table above, there are 4 models of masculine gender. Let's have a look at all of them:

Have a question?

Take online language lessons with a professional teacher

1. Native & verified teachers
2. Free trial lesson
3. Learning materials included

Mira M.

Nicole H.

Martina C.

Klára K.

Katarína K.

Sofia M.

Bibiana P.

Simona N.

Sign up for free

Chlap

Words that follow this declination: 

• Only living masculine nouns ending with -o (dedo, oco, Jano...) or other consonants (priateľ, brat, otec...)
• N, pl. can also end with -ovia (synovia, dedovia, potomkovia) or -ia (bratia, učitelia...)
• animals are also declined according to chlap, but only in singular!

Hrdina

Words that follow this declination: 

• Living masculine words ending with -a. (futbalista, hokejista, cyklista...

Dub

Words that follow this declination: 

• Non-living masculine nouns ending with hard or bilabial consonant: dom, strom, potok, skutok...

• Animal nouns only in plural form! (ending with a hard or neutral consonant): had, vlk, lev...

Stroj

Words that follow this declination: 

• Non-living nouns, ending with soft consonant: papier, kameň, dážď
• Animal nouns ending with soft consonant: ďateľ, medveď, mravec

Feminine gender and its models

We can divide the nouns of feminine gender into 2 groups:

and

Žena

Declination table

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	žen-a	žen-y
Genitive	žen-y	žien
Dative	žen-e	žen-ám
Accusative	žen-u	žen-y
Local	žen-e	žen-ách
Instrumental	žen-ou	žen-ami

Ulica

Declination table

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	ulic-a	ulic-e
Genitive	ulic-e	ulíc
Dative	ulic-i	ulic-iam
Accusative	ulic-u	ulic-e
Local	ulic-i	ulic-iach
Instrumental	ulic-ou	ulic-ami

Dlaň

Kosť

Neutral gender and its models

Mesto

Declination table

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	mest-o	mest-á
Genitive	mest-a	miest
Dative	mest-u	mest-ám
Accusative	mest-o	mest-á
Local	mest-e	mest-ách
Instrumental	mest-om	mest-ami

Words that follow this declination: 

• words ending with -o (auto, jablko...)
• words ending with -on (epiteton)
• word ending with -um (múzeum, ópium, koloseum...)

Srdce

Declination table

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	srdc-e	srdc-ia
Genitive	srdc-a	sŕdc
Dative	srdc-u	srdc-iam
Accusative	srdc-e	srdc-ia
Local	srdc-i	srdc-iach
Instrumental	srdc-om	srdc-iami

Words that follow this declination: 

• words ending on -e (vajce, more, pole)

Vysvedčenie

Words that follow this declination: 

• ending with -ie (plávanie, surfovanie, športovanie)

Dievča

Words that follow this declination: 

• words ending with -a (šťeňa, mláďa, knieža)
• words ending with -ä (žriebä, holúbä, plemä)

We know it's been a long lesson! Therefore, we would like to know what you remember! Try our exercises!