svätý

svätý is a Slovak adjective derived from the Proto‑Slavic root *svętъ, meaning “holy” or “sacred”. The term is cognate with the Czech svatý, the Polish święty, and the Russian святой (svyatoy). In Slovak it is inflected for gender, number and case, agreeing with the noun it modifies: svätý kniha (holy book), svätá radka (holy sentence), svätí knižné (holy ones).

The word is used both literally and figuratively. In religious contexts it denotes objects or persons devoted to or sanctified by the Church, for example svätý Pán (Holy Lord) or svätý Jaromír (Saint Jaromír). It also appears in place names, such as svätý Martin or svätý Peter, where the adjective indicates the town’s patron saint or historical association with a saintly figure. In everyday speech svätý can describe something that is revered or highly respected, as in svätý diel (a masterly work) or svätý pohnutie (a holy movement).

In written Slovak orthography the acute accent over the 'e' marks the circumflex originally derived from a nasal vowel. The adjective forms a stable part of the Slovak lexicon and is taught early in secondary language education. It frequently occurs in idiomatic expressions such as sväté slovo (the Sacred Word), underscoring its theological import.