jedlo

Jedlo is the Slovak noun meaning food or a meal. It refers to edible substances in general, as well as to prepared dishes that are eaten during a meal. In everyday use, the word covers both groceries and meals and can denote a single dish or a broader category of foods depending on context. The term is widely used in everyday speech, culinary writing, and education about nutrition.

Etymology and cognates: Jedlo is derived from the verb jesť, to eat, with the suffix -lo forming a noun meaning “the thing to eat” or simply “food.” The Czech cognate jídlo carries the same meaning, and related terms exist in other Slavic languages.

Usage and nuance: Plural jedlá refers to dishes or varieties of food, as in traditional jedlá or modern hot jedlá. The word potraviny is more often used for groceries or foodstuffs rather than the final prepared dish. In Slovak cuisine, meals are typically organized into raňajky (breakfast), obed (lunch), and večera (dinner), and jedlá can range from everyday staples to ceremonial dishes.