Dictionary of Slovak terms

Important words that foreigners in Slovakia come across every day — with a translation and a short explanation. Click a term to open its page.

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Found 27 terms

Power of Attorney — a document that allows another person to act for you.

A power of attorney that allows another person to represent you at institutions, a bank, or a court.

Čestné vyhlásenie

Solemn (honest) declaration — a written confirmation of facts under personal responsibility.

Statement under personal responsibility, confirming facts when no other document exists.

Občiansky preukaz

Civil ID card — Slovakia's national ID card.

National identity card for citizens and permanent residents; foreigners, however, have a residence permit.

The mandatory detail on an invoice is the date of actual supply.

Matrika — the department for registering births, marriages, and deaths (similar to a registry office).

Registry of Civil Status Acts: births, marriages, and deaths; issues relevant certificates.

Osvedčenie podpisu

Notarized signature.

Official confirmation that a document was signed by this specific person.

Nostrifikácia — official recognition of a foreign diploma or certificate.

Official recognition of a foreign school or university diploma so that it is valid for work or study in Slovakia.

Úradný preklad

Official (sworn) translation of documents

Official translation by a sworn translator, without which institutions do not accept documents.

Overená kópia

Notarized copy of the document

Copy certified as true to the original; the institution keeps it instead of the original.

Notár (notary)

Notár (Notary) — certifies copies and signatures, drafts contracts, and handles inheritance cases.

Marriage certificate

Official marriage certificate — needed for family reunification and many payments.

Potvrdenie o pobyte

Certificate of Residence (Registration)

A written confirmation of your registered address, often required by banks, schools, and employers.

A dictionary of Slovak terms for foreigners

Moving to Slovakia means dozens of new words: in your documents, at appointments in government offices, in letters from the state and from your employer. The KOMPAS dictionary collects the key Slovak terms and explains them in plain English — from temporary protection status and nostrifikácia (recognition of a foreign diploma) to taxes, renting a home and visits to the doctor.

Every term has its own page with an explanation, a translation, an example of how it is used and links to related sections of the portal — education, work, legal status, housing and money. This is reference information to help you find your way, not legal advice: on important questions, always check the official source.

Frequently asked questions about the dictionary

What is the KOMPAS dictionary of terms?+

It is a guide to the Slovak words and terms you meet in documents, in government offices and in daily life: legal status, education, work, housing, healthcare and money. Each term is explained in plain English, with the original Slovak spelling.

Why do I need it?+

Slovak terms in official letters and on government websites are often hard to understand without context, and reading them wrong costs time and money. The dictionary gives a short, accurate explanation, so you know what is meant and what your next step is.

How do I use the dictionary?+

Search for a word or choose a category. Every term has its own page with an explanation, a translation, an example of how the word is used and links to related terms and sections of the portal.

Where do the terms come from, and are they accurate?+

The terms and explanations are based on official Slovak sources (ministries and government offices) and on the experience of the KOMPAS editorial team. This is reference information, not legal advice — in unclear cases, check the original source or ask a specialist.

Can I hear how a word is pronounced?+

Yes. Many terms have audio of the Slovak pronunciation — tap the sound icon on the term page to hear how the word should sound.