Dovolenkou

Dovolenkou is the instrumental singular form of the noun that means vacation or annual leave in Slavic languages, most commonly encountered in Slovak grammar. In Slovak, the base noun is dovolenka, whose instrumental form is dovolenkou. In Czech, the corresponding instrumental form of dovolená is dovolenou. Because of these language differences, dovolenkou appears mainly in Slovak texts as a standard grammatical form, while the Czech equivalent is dovolenou. The spelling dovolenkou without the final -kou is typically seen as a nonstandard or dialectal variant and is not the normative Slovak form.

Etymology and meaning: The word derives from Slavic roots related to permission or leave. In both Slovakia and the Czech Republic, dovolenka/dovolená denotes a period away from work for rest, travel, or personal matters. The instrumental form is used to mark the grammatical function of the noun in sentences that require the instrumental case, and its usage is guided by standard declension rules of the respective language.

Usage and context: Dovolenka/dovolená refers to a period of paid or unpaid leave, commonly taken yearly for rest or personal activities. In everyday language, phrases like “go on vacation” or “take vacation” are common. In formal or legal contexts, the term is part of discussions about entitlements and conditions of annual leave, which are regulated by labor law in both Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The instrumental form (dovolenkou in Slovak contexts or dovolenou in Czech) appears in grammatically appropriate sentences that require the instrumental case.

Related terms: dovolenka (Slovak), dovolená (Czech), dovolenka/dovolená as a concept of paid annual leave or holiday. See also: paid leave, annual leave, vacation.