ktorému

ktorému is the dative singular masculine/neuter form of the Slovak relative pronoun ktorý. It is used to introduce a relative clause describing an antecedent that is masculine or neuter and when the clause requires the dative case within the relative phrase. In Slovak, relative pronouns decline like adjectives to match the gender, number, and case of the antecedent and the function of the verb in the clause.

Usage examples help illustrate its function. For instance: Muž, ktorému som pomohol, odišiel. This means “The man to whom I helped has left.” Here the antecedent is masculine singular (muž), and within the relative clause the dative form “ktorému” marks the indirect object of the verb pomohol. Another example: Mesto, ktorému sa zlepšilo povesť, sa stalo populárnym. In this neuter singular antecedent, the same form “ktorému” appears in the dative.

Morphology and related forms: ktorý declines for gender, number, and case, with ktorému occupying the dative singular masculine/neuter slot. Other forms include ktorý (nom sg masc/neut), ktorého (gen/acc sg), ktorú (acc sg fem), ktoré (nom/acc/pl), and so on. In relative clauses, the choice of form depends on the gender and case of the antecedent noun and on the grammatical role inside the clause.

Etymology and context: ktorý derives from Proto-Slavic and is cognate with similar relative pronouns in other Slavic languages. The form ktorému is a standard, neutral option in formal and written Slovak, used whenever a masculine or neuter antecedent requires a dative relative clause. See also: ktorý, relative pronouns in Slovak.