December 03, 2025

How to say “Watch out for thieves!” in Slovak; Tradition and Customs on St. Barbara the Patron Saint of Miners; What is Rhythmic rule in Slovak Language; S9E18

32 minutes

Today's episode is about traditional and modern celebrations of St. Barbara, the patron saint of Slovak miners. In the Slovak lesson, you will learn about the Slovak rhythmic rule as well as a few new words from my dialogue. You will also learn how to say “Watch out for thieves!“ in Slovak. At the end of this episode, you can find my short dialogue.

Episode notes

In today's episode, I’m talking about traditional and modern celebrations of St. Barbara, the patron saint of Slovak miners. In the Slovak lesson, you will learn about the Slovak rhythmic rule as well as a few new words from my dialogue. You will also learn how to say “Watch out for thieves!“ in Slovak. At the end of this episode, you can find my short dialogue.

Slovak lesson

1. baník (miner)

2. baňa (mine)

3. chrániť (to protect)

4. dávať pozor (to watch out)

5. omša (mass / church service)

6. zapáliť (to light)

7. lampa (lamp)

8. chodba (hall or corridor)

9. svietiť (to shine)

10. tma (darkness)

11. kapela (band)

12. pochodovať (to march)

13. uniforma (uniform)

14. žmurkať (to wink)

15. pyšný ako kohút (proud as a rooster)

16. Dávajte pozor na zlodejov! (Watch out for thieves!)

DIALOGUE:

Vnuk: Dedko, čo je to vlastne tá Barborka?
Dedko: Barborka? To bola naša patrónka. Jej meno bolo vlastne Barbora, ale my baníci sme ju mali veľmi radi a tak sme ju volali Barborka.

V: Prečo ste mali radi Barborku?
D: Lebo nás chránila v bani. Dávala na nás pozor, aj keď sme boli veľmi hlboko pod zemou.

V: Aj ste ju oslavovali? Napríklad na jej meniny?
D: Pravdaže. A práve na jej meniny. Ráno sme išli na omšu. Celá dedina.

V: Ale ja myslím oslavy v bani.
D: V bani sme zapálili lampy. Všetky chodby svietili. Vyzeralo to krásne, ako keď si rozsvietiš vianočný stromček.

V: A nebál si sa pod zemou?
D: Ale kdeže. Keď bola Barborka s nami, nebál som sa ničoho, ani tmy. A tmy tam bolo dosť!

V: A ešte ako ste oslavovali? (And how otherwise did you celebrate?)
D: Spievali sme a niektorí z nás hrali v kapele.

VNUK: A čo tvoj ocko? Aj on bol baník, pravda?
D: Pravda. Spolu sme pochodovali celou dedinou. Mali sme oblečené banícke uniformy a boli sme na ne pyšní ako kohúti.

V: Dedko, aj ja chcem oslavovať Barborku.
D: No dobre. Pôjdeme spolu do Štiavnice. Potom ti ukážem všetky tie staré chodby.

V: A budú tam aj lampy?
D: Pre teba ich rozsvietim všetky. Ešte aj Barborka bude žmurkať.

Timestamps

00:34 Introduction to the lesson

02:33 About St. Barbara

13:52 Fun fact

15:41 Slovak lesson: Rhythmic Rule

17:57 Vocabulary

23:33 Dialogue in Slovak

25:51 Dialogue with the English translation

30:29 Final thoughts

If you have any questions, send it to my email [email protected]. Check my Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bozenasslovak/ where I am posting the pictures of what I am talking about on my podcast. Also, check my website https://www.bozenasslovak.com

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By Bozena Hilko

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