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".
- Irish outlet hails Slovak spa town as top European holiday spot
- After years of straddling two worlds, this American is now reconnecting with his Slovak roots
- Why a British teacher chose Slovakia as home Audio
- Slovakia’s secret weapon is living abroad
- Man appeals for help finding strangers who saved his life
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Music in the veins
- A bus now runs through it: Slovakia and Poland’s Tatras finally connect
- Irish outlet hails Slovak spa town as top European holiday spot
- Slovak physicist: I do not employ doctoral students; I make them go abroad. I expect them to push us forward
- Where can vegetarians and gluten-free diners eat out in Bratislava?
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- After years of straddling two worlds, this American is now reconnecting with his Slovak roots
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Music in the veins
- Weekend: Summer kick-offs around every corner Photo
- Slovak physicist: I do not employ doctoral students; I make them go abroad. I expect them to push us forward
- Where can vegetarians and gluten-free diners eat out in Bratislava?
- Man appeals for help finding strangers who saved his life
- Why a British teacher chose Slovakia as home Audio
- After years of straddling two worlds, this American is now reconnecting with his Slovak roots
- Weekend: Summer kick-offs around every corner Photo
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Why a British teacher chose Slovakia as home Audio
- Bratislava unveils its first 3D-printed bus stop Photo
- Slovakia’s secret weapon is living abroad
- Where can vegetarians and gluten-free diners eat out in Bratislava?
- Slovak physicist: I do not employ doctoral students; I make them go abroad. I expect them to push us forward
- Irish metal band to make long-awaited debut in Bratislava Video
- Man appeals for help finding strangers who saved his life
- News digest: Ex-judge Harabin cleared of charges over pro-Russian war comments
- Slovak universities, SAV, local governments top 2025 trust rankings
- Irish outlet hails Slovak spa town as top European holiday spot
- “We, the European Ministers of Culture, are calling to open our eyes to the richness of our own cinema”
- Weekend: Summer kick-offs around every corner Photo
- With more tax irregularities detected, Slovakia still collects less
- Slovak brewers win hearts in Porto with beer inspired by a childhood favourite
- News digest: Renaissance lady vanishes, ministry brushes off ‘stupid questions’ More articles ›
