Merry Christmas in Slovak
Veselé Vianoce
Say it like this: VEH-seh-lay VEE-ah-noh-tseh
Big letters show the part to say louder.
Quick answer
- In Slovak, Merry Christmas is Veselé Vianoce, said like VEH-seh-lay VEE-ah-noh-tseh.
- Happy New Year is Šťastný nový rok.
- People say it in Slovakia, Serbia (Vojvodina), Czechia, Hungary and more.
What Veselé Vianoce means
Word for word it is 'Veselé' (merry, cheerful) plus 'Vianoce' (Christmas). Vianoce is a plural noun in Slovak, which is why the greeting uses the plural form of the describing word.
Other ways to say it in Slovak
Šťastné a veselé Vianoce
Say it like this: SHTYAHST-nay ah VEH-seh-lay VEE-ah-noh-tseh
Means 'happy and merry Christmas'. A slightly fuller wish, often written on cards.
Happy New Year
Šťastný nový rok
Say it like this: SHTYAHST-nee NOH-vee rok
happy new year
To write in a Christmas card
Veselé Vianoce a šťastný nový rok
Say it like this: VEH-seh-lay VEE-ah-noh-tseh ah SHTYAHST-nee NOH-vee rok
Where people speak Slovak
SlovakiaSerbia (Vojvodina)CzechiaHungaryRomania
Slovak (slovenčina) belongs to the Indo-European, West Slavic language family.
Say it with Rally on Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve, Rally the corgi rides the Christmas Train to more than 100 places and teaches kids how to say Merry Christmas at every stop. Practice Slovak today, then follow his trip.
Follow Rally on Christmas Eve →Christmas traditions where people speak Slovak
- Štedrý večer, the Generous Evening: Christmas Eve is the biggest day of the season in Slovakia. Families eat a special supper that begins with oplatky, thin bread wafers, and a blessing. The meal often includes kapustnica, a thick cabbage soup, and fish such as carp.[1]
- Svätý Mikuláš and the shoes: On the evening of December 5, young children put their shoes near the door. Svätý Mikuláš, or St Nicholas, comes in the night and fills them with sweets and fruit for children who have been good.[1]
- Baby Jesus and the bell: In many Slovak homes children wait outside the room while Baby Jesus brings the presents. A bell rings, the children run to the tree to try to see him, but they always just miss him. Then the gifts are opened.[1]
🎄 Quick game: Merry Christmas in Slovak
Three quick questions for kids. Tap an answer to play.
Say Merry Christmas in more languages
- HungarianBoldog karácsonyt
- LatinFelix dies Nativitatis
- CatalanBon Nadal
- DutchVrolijk kerstfeest
- FaroeseGleðilig jól
- DanishGlædelig jul
- LatvianPriecīgus Ziemassvētkus
- GreekΚαλά Χριστούγεννα
Questions parents ask
How do you say Merry Christmas in Slovak?
The most common way to say Merry Christmas in Slovak is Veselé Vianoce. It is pronounced "VEH-seh-lay VEE-ah-noh-tseh". Slovaks use Veselé Vianoce on cards, in messages and face to face. You can also hear the fuller wish Šťastné a veselé Vianoce, which means happy and merry Christmas.[1][2]
How do you pronounce Merry Christmas in Slovak?
Say it like this: VEH-seh-lay VEE-ah-noh-tseh. In Slovak the stress always falls on the first syllable of a word. The letter š sounds like English sh, and the c in Vianoce sounds like ts, as in cats.
What does Merry Christmas mean word for word in Slovak?
Word for word it is 'Veselé' (merry, cheerful) plus 'Vianoce' (Christmas). Vianoce is a plural noun in Slovak, which is why the greeting uses the plural form of the describing word. So a child can remember it as 'merry Christmas' in two small pieces, one for the wish and one for the holiday.[2]
How do you write Merry Christmas in Slovak?
Write it as Veselé Vianoce. The accent mark over the final é in Veselé is part of the spelling. Slovak also uses a small hook, called a caron, on letters such as š and ť, which you will see in Šťastný. Capitalise Vianoce as the name of the holiday.
How do you say Happy New Year in Slovak?
Happy New Year in Slovak is Šťastný nový rok, pronounced "SHTYAHST-nee NOH-vee rok". It means happy new year, with the adjective first, as in English. Slovaks often join the two wishes together on cards, so you will see Veselé Vianoce a šťastný nový rok, which means merry Christmas and happy new year.[3]
Is there a formal and a casual way to say Merry Christmas in Slovak?
Veselé Vianoce works with everyone, from friends to teachers and grandparents. For a warmer card or a more formal message, many people write Šťastné a veselé Vianoce, meaning happy and merry Christmas. Both are polite and suitable for any age.[1]
When do people say Merry Christmas in Slovak?
People say it from the start of Advent, on cards and at school parties, and most of all on Christmas Eve, December 24. It is also used as a goodbye wish when you will not see someone again before the holidays.[1]
Which day is the main Christmas celebration for Slovak speakers: Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
Christmas Eve, December 24, is the main celebration in Slovakia. It is called Štedrý deň, the Generous Day, and the family supper on Štedrý večer is the heart of the holiday. Many people then go to Midnight Mass. Christmas Day is calmer, often spent visiting family.[1]
What is Štedrý večer in Slovakia?
Christmas Eve is the biggest day of the season in Slovakia. Families eat a special supper that begins with oplatky, thin bread wafers, and a blessing. The meal often includes kapustnica, a thick cabbage soup, and fish such as carp. Presents appear after supper, when a bell rings and Baby Jesus is said to have brought them.[1]
How can I teach Merry Christmas in Slovak to kids?
Split the greeting into two beats, veselé (merry) and Vianoce (Christmas), and clap once for each syllable. Then act out the bell story: ring a bell and let children run to a pretend tree. Moving and listening together helps the new words stick.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor by Leslie Dunn. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on AmazonSources
We check every greeting against dictionaries, language institutes and cultural sources.
- Christmas in Slovakia, WhyChristmas.com
- Merry Christmas (translations), Wiktionary
- Happy New Year (translations), Wiktionary