List of author's articles
What abides: Giving a shit
The twin towers are down, we’ve all moved on, but The Slovak Spectator’s essentials are as relevant as ever.
Slovník is its own reward
Reading the dictionary is also funny.
Mikuláš or the Devil: Were you obedient?
In Slovakia, Mikuláš isn't just a jolly old fellow.
Vivat Slovakia: A language guide to independence
Written over 20 years ago, this article is surprisingly relevant to politics still today.
Slovak Matters: Slovak cooking lingo
Mixing up cesto (dough) and cesta (road/way/journey) may cause confused faces around you.
Slovak Matters: Sick as a dog, or under the dog?
The social aspect of being sick has changed since the pandemic, but the language is the same.
Slovak Matters: Hold your mushroom
Mushroom picking is Slovakia's favourite hobby, involving bugs, rain, cold, and poisonous fungi.
Slovak Matters: in praise of burčiak
The activity taking place in a bottle of burčiak can cause internal September storms.
Slovak Matters: learning with less trstenica and more internet
What a teacher will find in a Slovak classroom.
Slovak Matters: A 613 or bugatka car?
A litany of car expressions for you.
Slovak Matters: Slovak rich in words for ugly
Many Slovak words for ugly have supernatural overtones, as if people might make the sign of the cross at you if you left the house without brushing your hair.
Súpers are super: Winning and losing in Slovak
The Slovak language in the context of hockey.
Slovak Matters: If it looks like Slovak and sounds like Slovak, it still may be Czech
While Slovaks seem to naturally understand Czech, for foreigners who have learned Slovak, Czech is often unintelligible.
Ways to skin a Slovak: Lies, damn lies and (re)klamy
Though this article was originally written 21 years ago, has much changed?
Fraud in a butterfly
By dint of huge effort, I managed to make up for my bad behaviour - with everyone but the ball organiser, that is.
Slovak Matters: What's in a (sur)name?
Slovak Matters: What's in a (sur)name?
Slovak Matters: One word, a hundred meanings
A discussion on prefixes takes a journey from mistakes through to toilets and alcohol - because they are related of course.
Slovak Matters: Top 10 Slovak words
Every language has its own particular words that have a special meaning no other language has - here are the top 10 in Slovak.
Slovak Matters: Departures, even when drinking
The last column was dedicated to saying hello; now we go over the last word, whether saying goodbye or taking the customary last shot.
Slovak Matters: Dobrý deň and all it entails
Slovak Matters is a column dedicated to learning Slovak - here we start with greetings and everything you need to know to say "good day".
- Ambulance hit by Russian drone goes on display in centre of Bratislava
- Slovak Matters: A flirtatious Easter of water and whipping
- Bratislava’s embassy-backed events you don’t want to miss
- “Return not,” the ocean cried. But I returned for her
- German shoemaker Lowa joins wave of factory closures in Slovakia
- When to shop over Easter: Opening hours for supermarkets in Slovakia
- The British Film Institute shines a light on Slovak cinema’s boldest chapter Video
- Why this gorge deserves a spot on your bucket list Photo
- Ambulance hit by Russian drone goes on display in centre of Bratislava
- Bratislava’s embassy-backed events you don’t want to miss
- “Return not,” the ocean cried. But I returned for her
- When to shop over Easter: Opening hours for supermarkets in Slovakia
- The British Film Institute shines a light on Slovak cinema’s boldest chapter Video
- US giant pulls plug on Slovak factory, axing 137 jobs
- Why this gorge deserves a spot on your bucket list Photo
- Slovak Matters: A flirtatious Easter of water and whipping
- “Return not,” the ocean cried. But I returned for her
- Ambulance hit by Russian drone goes on display in centre of Bratislava
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- The British Film Institute shines a light on Slovak cinema’s boldest chapter Video
- Bratislava’s embassy-backed events you don’t want to miss
- Slovakia's latest basketball star is destined for great things in the USA
- Weekend: What to make of Easter in Slovakia
- News digest: Finns air unseen video of Fico shooting, PM’s bloody jacket driven away by minister
- “Return not,” the ocean cried. But I returned for her
- German shoemaker Lowa joins wave of factory closures in Slovakia
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- US giant pulls plug on Slovak factory, axing 137 jobs
- Ambulance hit by Russian drone goes on display in centre of Bratislava
- When to shop over Easter: Opening hours for supermarkets in Slovakia
- Hundreds of people ousted from Bratislava’s Volkswagen
- Danish shoemaker to shut Slovak factory, axing 650 jobs in fresh blow to struggling region
- Slovakia mourns Pope Francis, a shepherd of hope and humility Photo
- Confetti, chants and history: Hejková’s dream goodbye after nearly 40 years at the top
- Slovakia’s public finances remain in deep trouble
- Ambulance hit by Russian drone goes on display in centre of Bratislava
- Why this gorge deserves a spot on your bucket list Photo
- The British Film Institute shines a light on Slovak cinema’s boldest chapter Video
- Bratislava’s embassy-backed events you don’t want to miss
- Water supply to be cut in parts of Bratislava’s Old Town in late April More articles ›
