SLOVENIAN LANGUAGE

SLOVENIA CAR RENTALS

Cheap car rentals!

>know more

a girl on a bike tour on a sunny day

LJUBLJANA BY BIKETOUR

From 35 € only!

>know more

SLOVENIAN LANGUAGE

In Slovenia, the official language is Slovenian language (or Slovene). It is similar to other Slavic languages, particularly close to Serbian and Croatian, and uses the Latin alphabet.

 

Many Slovenes speak English very well, and some speak German and Italian as a foreign language. This means you do not need to learn Slovene before visiting. However, a few basic Slovenian words and phrases can enhance your experience and impress the locals!

Frising Manuscripts - a manuscript in old Slovene from the 10th century

Freising Manuscripts

Language of Slovenes

The first written example of the Slovenian language (and the first among Slavic languages) is the Freising manuscripts (Brizinski spomeniki), which date back to around 1000 AD.  This makes Slovene the oldest recorded Slavic language.

The Catechism, published in 1550, is the oldest preserved printed book in the Slovenian language. The Protestant priest Primoz Trubar played a key role in codifying the language.

Today, Slovenian language is spoken by about 2,5 million speakers and is one of the official languages of the European Union.

SLOVENIAN LANGUAGE AND WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE

Slovenian is the official language of Slovenia and is present in all aspects of public life—government, schools, offices, and media. It is most closely related to Croatian and Serbian, but it also shares similarities with other Slavic languages such as Czech, Slovak, Polish, and Russian. However, Slovenian has unique characteristics that make it distinct and set it apart from other Slavic languages.

 

Why is Slovenian unique? Let’s look at the reasons:

  1. Due to its proximity to Italy and Austria, the language contains Germanic and Romance elements.
  2. It is one of the rare languages in the world that, in addition to singular and plural, also has a dual form (used for exactly two people or objects).
  3. Each letter corresponds to a single sound, making it a phonetic language.
  4. It has 40 dialects, making it one of the most dialect-rich Slavic languages.
  5. Slovenian is one of the oldest recorded Slavic languages.
    6. Slovene was the 12th language in the world with Bible translation!
    7. I
    t has 25 letters, and some unique ones—č, ž, and š—but does not include x or y. (To find out how to pronounce Č, Ž and Š, click HERE.)
    8.
    It is spoken by 2.5 million people, not only in Slovenia but also in eastern Italy, southern Austria, western Hungary and Croatia
    9. The largest Slovenian-speaking community outside of Europe is in the USA, particularly in Cleveland, Ohio. Many Slovenians also live in Chicago, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

SLOVENIAN LANGUAGE BASICS & PHRASES

Find below some phrases and words in Slovenian language you may need while travelling around Slovenia and Ljubljana.

Greetings & polite expressions

Introductions & common questions

What is your name?

Kako ti je ime? (informal)
Kako vam je ime? (formal)

How are you?
Do you speak English?

Govorite angleško? (formal)
Govoriš angleško? (informal)

Directions & assistance

Dining & food

I am a vegetarian...

Sem vegetarijanec (male)
Sem vegetarijanka (female)

Shopping & services

Do you accept credit cards?
Where is the nearest ATM?
I would like to buy this

Rad bi to kupil (male)
Rada bi to kupila (female)

Where can I exchange money?
Can I pay with a card?

Emergencies

Transportation & directions

Where is the train station?
Where is the bus stop?
Which bus goes to... (Ljubljana)?
How do I get to ...(Bled)?
How long does it take to get there?
A ticket to (Maribor), please...
Does this bus go to (Piran)?

Accommodation & hotels

I have a reservation under the name...
Can I get the WiFi password?
What time is check-out?
Do you have a room available?
How much is a room per night?

Attractions & sightseeing

What are the best places to visit?
Where can I rent a bicycle?
Is there an entrance fee?
What time does it open?
What time does it close?

More useful phrases

Do you speak English?

Govorite angleško? (formal)
Govoriš angleško? (informal)

Can you speak slower, please?
I would like…

“Ljubljana” pronunciation

 

How to pronounce Ljubljana and what does the name of Slovenia`s capital mean?

More useful information when visiting Ljubljana

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • What is the main language spoken in Slovenia?
    The main language spoken in Slovenia is Slovenian language.
  • How many languages do Slovenians speak?
    Slovenians speak at least two to three different languages if not more. Slovene is our mother language. Most Slovenes speak Serbian and Croatian or at least understand it very well. English is widely spoken and understood while many would also know some German or Italian. 
  • What is the closest language to Slovenian?
    The closest language to Slovenian is Croatian and Serbian.
  • What language family is Slovenian?
    Slovenian belongs to Southern Slavic language family.
  • Is Slovenian the same as Serbian?
    No.
  • How hard is it to learn Slovenian?
    It all depends on what languages you already speak. But in general, Slovenian is pretty difficult language to learn if you are not a Slav. Namely, It has 6 cases, lots of exceptions and the dual. Slovene is one of the rare languages in the world that has the grammatical number dual – it is used specifically for two objects or persons. 
  • Can Slovenians understand Russian?
    We can understand some words in Russian which have the same or similar meaning than in Slovenian but generally, we can get lost in translation pretty easily. However, a Russian and a Slovenian will not be able to communicate effectively without an interpreter.   
  • What is Slovenian language code?
    Slovenian language code is sl-Sl. 
  • Do they speak English in Ljubljana. 
    Yes, most people do, as their second or third language. 
  • How many people speak Slovenian?

    Slovenian language is spoken by about 2.5 million speakers worldwide, the majority of whom live in Slovenia, where it is one of the three official languages.

  • Is Slovakia language same as Slovenian language?
    No. Slovenia and Slovakia are two different countries with two different languages.
  • Where can I buy Slovenian language books for Slovenian language course?
    In certain bookshops.

More resources: