Dôrazom

Dôrazom is a term from Slovak grammar and rhetoric meaning “with emphasis” or “by emphasis.” It is the instrumental singular form of the noun dôraz and is used to mark the means or focal point through which something is emphasized. In phrases like dôrazom na bezpečnosť, it indicates that safety is the focus or priority of the statement.

In linguistic and stylistic descriptions, dôrazom describes how emphasis is conveyed: in spoken language through prosody, including changes in pitch, volume, and duration, and in written language through typographic and punctuation devices. The instrumental form itself does not specify the medium; the context determines whether the emphasis is expressed orally or in writing.

Related terms include zdôraznenie (the act of emphasizing) and the verb zdôrazniť (to emphasize). Dôrazom is typically used in constructions that specify the element given emphasis, often after prepositions or as part of a larger phrase detailing the point of emphasis.

Usage of dôrazom is common in formal writing, journalism, and academic or argumentative discourse, where it helps readers or listeners identify the main point or a key aspect of a discussion. While the concept is a standard part of Slovak linguistic description, in everyday speech speakers usually achieve emphasis through prosody or more straightforward phrasing rather than the formal instrumental construction alone.