Basic Words and Phrases in Slovenian
Reinier van der Windt
About Slovenian
Slovenian is a South Slavic language primarily spoken in Slovenia, a country located in Central Europe. It is also spoken by Slovenian communities in neighboring countries and emigrant communities worldwide. Slovenian is closely related to other South Slavic languages, such as Serbian and Croatian. It has its own unique grammar system, featuring noun declension, verb conjugation, and grammatical cases. Slovenian uses the Latin-based alphabet with diacritical marks. It has preserved many archaic features of the Proto-Slavic language and has developed its own vocabulary. Slovenian plays an essential role in Slovenian culture, literature, and national identity.
Basic Words and Phrases
Learning a foreign language opens up a world of opportunities, allowing you to connect with people from different cultures and expand your horizons. Whether you're planning a trip or simply curious about a new language, mastering some basic words and phrases is a great place to start.
| Yes | Ja |
|---|---|
| No | Ne |
| Please | Prosim |
| Yes, please | Da, prosim |
| No, thank you | Ne, hvala |
| Thanks | Hvala |
| Thank you | Hvala |
| Thank you very much | Najlepša hvala |
| You're welcome | Ni za kaj |
| No problem | Ni problema |
| Excuse me | Oprostite |
| I’m sorry | Oprostite |
| Sorry | Oprosti |
| Cheers! | Na zdravje! |
| Okay | V redu |
Greetings
Greetings are an essential part of any language. Saying "hello" and "goodbye" can create an instant connection with native speakers. In many languages, "hello" is a universal term, but learning the specific greeting for the language you're interested in can show respect and appreciation. Similarly, learning how to say "goodbye" will help you leave a positive impression.
| Hi | Živjo |
|---|---|
| Hello | Zdravo |
| Good day | Dober dan |
| Good morning | Dobro jutro |
| Good afternoon | Dober dan |
| Good evening | Dober večer |
| Good night | Lahko noč |
| Goodbye | Nasvidenje |
| See you later! | Se vidimo kasneje! |
| Have a nice day! | Imej lep dan! |
| Bye | Adijo |
Conversations
Next, let's explore basic conversation starters. Asking "how are you?" or "what's your name?" in another language is a friendly way to engage with others. These simple phrases can pave the way for more meaningful conversations and help you build rapport.
| How are you? | Kako si? |
|---|---|
| I'm fine | V redu |
| Good, thank you! | Dobro, hvala! |
| And you? | Pa ti? |
| Nice to meet you! | Lepo te je bilo srečati! |
| Pleased to meet you! | Me veseli, da sva se spoznala! |
| What is your name? | Kako vam je ime? |
| My name is … | Ime mi je … |
| Where are you from? | Kje si iz? |
| I am from … | Jaz sem iz ... |
| I don't speak Slovenian | Ne govorim slovensko |
| Do you speak English? | Govorite angleško? |
| I understand | Razumem |
| I do not understand | Ne razumem |
| I like it | Všeč mi je |
| I don't like it | Ni mi všeč |
| How is the weather today? | Kakšno je danes vreme? |
| Can you recommend any local attractions? | Lahko priporočate kake lokalne zanimivosti? |
Hotel
When staying at a hotel in a foreign country, it's helpful to be familiar with some phrases that can assist you during your stay. Here are a few key phrases you can use in a hotel.
| Hotel | Hotel |
|---|---|
| Reception | Sprejem |
| Reservation | Rezervacija |
| Hotel room | Hotelska soba |
| Key | Ključ |
| Breakfast | Zajtrk |
| I have a reservation | Imam rezervacijo |
| I would like to book a room | Rad bi rezerviral sobo |
| Do you have any rooms available? | Imate prosta soba? |
Restaurant
When dining at restaurants in a foreign country, it's helpful to know phrases that can assist you during your meal. Being able to request a table, order food and drinks, and ask for the bill are important for a pleasant dining experience.
| Restaurant | Restavracija |
|---|---|
| Menu | Meni |
| A table for one, please | Miza za eno osebo, prosim |
| A table for two, please | Miza za dve osebi, prosim |
| I would like a coffee, please | Rad bi kavo, prosim (m) Rada bi kavo, prosim (f) |
| Enjoy your meal! | Dober tek! |
| Can I have the bill, please? | Lahko dobim račun, prosim? |
| Can you bring me the bill, please? | Mi lahko prineseš račun, prosim? |
| I would like to pay, please | Rad/Rada bi plačal, prosim (m) Rad/Rada bi plačala, prosim (f) |
| The bill, please | Račun, prosim |
| Can I pay with cash? | Ali lahko plačam z gotovino? |
| Can I pay with card? | Ali lahko plačam s kartico? |
| Can I pay with credit card? | Ali lahko plačam s kreditno kartico? |
| Could you suggest something for me? | Bi mi lahko kaj predlagali? |
| Can I have a glass of water, please? | Ali lahko dobim kozarec vode, prosim? |
| Do you have any local specialties? | Imate kakšne lokalne posebnosti? |
Food and drinks
Being able to order food and drinks, ask for recommendations, and express preferences or dietary restrictions will enhance your dining experience and allow you to explore the local cuisine.
| Breakfast | Zajtrk |
|---|---|
| Lunch | Kosilo |
| Dinner | Večerja |
| Food | Hrana |
| Drinks | Pijače |
| Bread | Kruh |
| Sandwich | Sendvič |
| Cheese | Sir |
| Meat | Meso |
| Fish | Ribe |
| Vegetables | Zelenjava |
| Fruit | Sadje |
| Vegetarian | Vegetarijanski |
| I am a vegetarian | Sem vegetarijanec |
| Coffee | Kava |
| Tea | Čaj |
| Beer | Pivo |
| Wine | Vino |
| Juice | Sok |
| Water | Voda |
| Milk | Mleko |
| Dessert | Sladica |
| Salad | Solata |
| Soup | Juha |
Places and Services
Just like how saying hello helps you connect with others, exploring phrases related to locations and services can greatly enhance your travel experience. Whether you're looking for important places like banks or post offices, these expressions can open up doors to immersing yourself in the local culture.
| ATM | Bankomat |
|---|---|
| Bank | Banka |
| Beach | Plaža |
| Library | Knjižnica |
| Museum | Muzej |
| Park | Park |
| Pharmacy | Lekarna |
| Post Office | Pošta |
| School | Šola |
| Tourist Information | Turistične informacije |
Shopping
Knowing how to ask for the price, request a different size or color, or simply say "I'm just looking" can be useful when shopping in local markets or stores.
| Store | Trgovina |
|---|---|
| Supermarket | Supermarket |
| Grocery store | Trgovina z živili |
| Market | Trg |
| Bakery | Pekarna |
| Bookstore | Knjigarna |
| How much does this cost? | Koliko to stane? |
| Can I get a receipt? | Ali lahko dobim račun? |
| I'm just looking | Samo gledam |
| Sunglasses | Sončna očala |
| Umbrella | Dežnik |
Directions
Learning phrases related to asking for directions, understanding common landmarks, and getting around the city will help you navigate unfamiliar places with ease.
| Where is the toilet? | Kje je stranišče? |
|---|---|
| Where is the beach? | Kje je plaža? |
| How do I get to the airport? | Kako pridem do letališča? |
| Left | Levo |
| Right | Desno |
| Straight ahead | Naravnost |
| Is it far from here? | Je to daleč od tu? |
| Can you show it on the map? | Ali lahko pokažete na zemljevidu? |
| How long does it take to walk there? | Koliko časa traja hoja tja? |
Transport
Familiarizing yourself with phrases for using public transportation, such as asking for a ticket, stating your destination, or inquiring about schedules, will make your travel experience smoother and more efficient.
| Airport | Letališče |
|---|---|
| Plane | Letalo |
| Train station | Železniška postaja |
| Train | Vlak |
| Bus station | Avtobusna postaja |
| Bus | Avtobus |
| Taxi | Taksi |
| Ticket | Vovosnica |
| Can I get a ticket to Ljubljana? | Ali lahko dobim vozovnico za Ljubljano? |
| I would like a ticket to Ljubljana | Rad vozovnico za Ljubljano (m) Rada vozovnico za Ljubljano (f) |
| I need a ticket to Ljubljana | Potrebujem vozovnico za Ljubljano |
| A ticket to Ljubljana, please | Prosim, vozovnica za Ljubljano |
| What time is the next train to Ljubljana? | Koliko je naslednji vlak za Ljubljano? |
| When is the next train to Ljubljana? | Kdaj je naslednji vlak za Ljubljano? |
| When does the next train to Ljubljana leave? | Kdaj odpelje naslednji vlak za Ljubljano? |
Emergencies
When you're in a different country, it's really important to be aware of emergency phrases such as 'help,' 'hospital,' and 'police.' Using expressions like 'emergency' and 'I need help' can help you overcome language barriers and make sure you're ready for any unexpected situations that might occur. Having a good grasp of these phrases will help keep you safe and give you peace of mind while traveling.
| Help! | Pomoč! |
|---|---|
| Help me! | Pomoč! |
| I need help | Potrebujem pomoč |
| I need assistance | Potrebujem pomoč |
| I need a doctor | Potrebujem zdravnika |
| Police | Policija |
| Police Station | Policijska postaja |
| Hospital | Bolnišnica |
| Ambulance | Reševalno vozilo |
| Doctor | Zdravnik |
| Fire department | Gasilska brigada |
| Fire! | Ogenj! |
Time
Effortlessly asking and telling the time enhances your travel experience, from coordinating schedules to catching transportation, adding a valuable layer to your linguistic toolkit for effective communication during your stay.
| What time is it? | Koliko je ura? |
|---|---|
| It is one o'clock | Je ena ura |
| It is half past two | Je pol dveh |
| Morning | Jutro |
| Afternoon | Popoldne |
| Evening | Večer |
| Night | Noč |
| Today | Danes |
| Tomorrow | Jutri |
| Yesterday | Včeraj |
Numbers
Learning numbers is essential for tasks like counting, ordering quantities, or understanding prices.
| Zero | Nic |
|---|---|
| One | Ena |
| Two | Dva |
| Three | Tri |
| Four | Štiri |
| Five | Pet |
| Six | Šest |
| Seven | Sedem |
| Eight | Osem |
| Nine | Devet |
| Ten | Deset |
| Eleven | Enajst |
| Twelve | Dvanajst |
| Thirteen | Trinajst |
| Fourteen | Štirinajst |
| Fifteen | Petnajst |
| Sixteen | Šestnajst |
| Seventeen | Sedemnajst |
| Eighteen | Osemnajst |
| Nineteen | Devetnajst |
| Twenty | Dvajset |
| Twenty-one | Enaindvajset |
| Twenty-two | Dvaindvajset |
| Twenty-three | Triindvajset |
| Twenty-four | Štiriindvajset |
| Twenty-five | Petindvajset |
| Twenty-six | Šestindvajset |
| Twenty-seven | Sedemindvajset |
| Twenty-eight | Osemindvajset |
| Twenty-nine | Devetindvajset |
| Thirty | Trideset |
| Forty | Štirideset |
| Fifty | Petdeset |
| Sixty | Šestdeset |
| Seventy | Sedemdeset |
| Eighty | Osemdeset |
| Ninety | Devetdeset |
| Hundred | Sto |
| Two hundred | Dvesto |
| One thousand | Tisoč |
| Two thousand | Dva tisoč |
| Three thousand | Tri tisoč |
| Hundred thousand | Sto tisoč |
| Million | Milijon |
Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers play a crucial role in conveying sequence and order. Whether you're navigating travel itineraries, selecting seats, or exploring historical sites, understanding expressions like 'first,' 'second,' and so on is essential.
| First | Prvi |
|---|---|
| Second | Drugi |
| Third | Tretji |
| Fourth | Četrti |
| Fifth | Peti |
| Sixth | Šesti |
| Seventh | Sedmi |
| Eighth | Osmi |
| Ninth | Deveti |
| Tenth | Deseti |
| Eleventh | Enajsti |
| Twelfth | Dvanajsti |
| Thirteenth | Trinajsti |
| Fourteenth | Štirinajsti |
| Fifteenth | Petnajsti |
| Sixteenth | Šestnajsti |
| Seventeenth | Sedemnajsti |
| Eighteenth | Osemnajsti |
| Nineteenth | Devetnajsti |
| Twentieth | Dvajseti |
Days of the week
Knowing the names of the days of the week will help you schedule activities, make appointments, or plan your itinerary.
| Monday | Ponedeljek |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Torek |
| Wednesday | Sreda |
| Thursday | Četrtek |
| Friday | Petek |
| Saturday | Sobota |
| Sunday | Nedelja |
Months
Being familiar with the names of the months will allow you to discuss dates, make reservations, or talk about specific time frames.
| January | Januar |
|---|---|
| February | Februar |
| March | Marec |
| April | April |
| May | Maj |
| June | Junij |
| July | Julij |
| August | Avgust |
| September | September |
| Oktober | Oktober |
| November | November |
| December | December |
Question Words
Understanding basic question words like who, what, where, when, why, and how will enable you to ask for information or clarification in various situations.
| What? | Kaj? |
|---|---|
| What is that? | Kaj je to? |
| What do you need? | Kaj potrebujete? |
| What do you like? | Kaj ti je všeč? |
| Where? | Kje? |
| Where is the toilet? | Kje je stranišče? |
| When? | Kdaj? |
| When is the next train? | Kdaj je naslednji vlak? |
| When can we meet? | Kdaj se lahko srečamo? |
| Why? | Zakaj? |
| Why is it expensive? | Zakaj je to drago? |
| How? | Kako? |
| How are you doing? | Kako se počutite? |
| How would you like to pay? | Kako bi želite plačati? |
| How far is this? | Kako daleč je to? |
| Which? | Katera? (f) Kateri? (m) |
| Which book belongs to your sister? | Katera knjiga pripada tvoji sestri? (f) |
| Which car is yours? | Kateri avto je tvoj? |
| Which museum did you visit? | Kateri muzej si obiskal? |
| Which museums did you visit? | Katere muzeje si obiskal? |
| Which sandwich is yours? | Kateri sendvič je tvoj? |
| Who? | Kdo? |
| Who is that? | Kdo je to? |
| Who is your travel companion? | Kdo je tvoj sopotnik pri potovanju? |
| Whose? | Čigav? |
| Whose keys are these? | Čigavi so ti ključi? |
| Whose phone is ringing? | Čigav telefon zvoni? |
| Whose bag is this? | Čigava torba je to? |
| How many? | Koliko? |
| How many people were at the concert? | Koliko ljudi je bilo na koncertu? |
| How much? | Koliko? |
| How much does this cost? | Koliko to stane? |
Hey there! I'm Rainier and I'm the person behind Roaming with Rainier. I've always been really into traveling and photography. I've been fortunate enough to visit incredible destinations and there are still so many more on my bucket list. My plan is to explore breathtaking places around the world and share my experiences through articles and reviews.
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