Slovenia, a small yet captivating country in Central Europe, is often overlooked by travelers. However, with its picturesque landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture, it’s a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. For those planning to explore Slovenia, learning a few essential Slovenian phrases can significantly enhance your travel experience. Not only will it help you navigate more easily, but it will also endear you to the locals, who appreciate the effort to speak their language. In this article, we’ll introduce you to some fundamental Slovenian phrases that will make your journey smoother and more enjoyable.
Basic Greetings and Polite Phrases
One of the first steps in learning any language is mastering the basic greetings and polite expressions. These phrases will help you make a positive impression and facilitate friendly interactions.
1. Hello – Živjo (ZHEE-vyoh) or Dober dan (DOH-behr dahn)
– “Živjo” is more casual, while “Dober dan” is a formal way to greet someone during the day.
2. Good morning – Dobro jutro (DOH-broh YOO-troh)
3. Good evening – Dober večer (DOH-behr VEH-chehr)
4. Goodbye – Nasvidenje (NAHS-vee-dehn-yeh)
5. Please – Prosim (PROH-seem)
6. Thank you – Hvala (HVAH-lah)
7. You’re welcome – Ni za kaj (NEE zah kai)
– Literally translates to “Not for what.”
8. Excuse me/Sorry – Oprostite (OH-proh-stee-teh)
9. Yes – Da (dah)
10. No – Ne (neh)
11. How are you? – Kako ste? (KAH-koh steh?)
– Formal. For informal, you can use “Kako si?” (KAH-koh see?)
12. I’m fine, thank you – V redu, hvala (V REH-doo, HVAH-lah)
Numbers and Counting
Understanding numbers is crucial for various aspects of travel, such as shopping, dining, and transportation. Here are the basics:
1 – Ena (EH-nah)
2 – Dva (dvah)
3 – Tri (tree)
4 – Štiri (SHTEE-ree)
5 – Pet (peht)
6 – Šest (shehst)
7 – Sedem (SEH-dehm)
8 – Osem (OH-sehm)
9 – Devet (deh-VEHT)
10 – Deset (deh-SEHT)
20 – Dvajset (DVAH-ee-seht)
30 – Trideset (TREE-deh-seht)
100 – Sto (stoh)
1000 – Tisoč (TEE-sohts)
Directions and Transportation
Navigating a new place can be challenging, so knowing some basic directional phrases is incredibly useful.
1. Where is…? – Kje je…? (kyeh yeh…?)
2. Left – Levo (LEH-voh)
3. Right – Desno (DEHS-noh)
4. Straight ahead – Naravnost (nah-RAHV-nohst)
5. Near – Blizu (BLEE-zoo)
6. Far – Daleč (DAH-lehtsh)
7. Bus – Avtobus (OW-toh-boos)
8. Train – Vlak (vlahk)
9. Taxi – Taksi (TAHK-see)
10. Airport – Letališče (leh-tah-LEESH-cheh)
11. Train station – Železniška postaja (zheh-LEHZ-neesh-kah poh-STAH-yah)
12. Ticket – Vozovnica (voh-ZOHV-nee-tsah)
Dining and Food
Slovenian cuisine is delicious, and knowing some basic phrases will help you enjoy it to the fullest.
1. Menu – Jedilni list (yeh-DEEL-nee leest)
2. Water – Voda (VOH-dah)
3. Beer – Pivo (PEE-voh)
4. Wine – Vino (VEE-noh)
5. Breakfast – Zajtrk (ZAHY-trk)
6. Lunch – Kosilo (koh-SEE-loh)
7. Dinner – Večerja (veh-CHEH-ryah)
8. I am a vegetarian – Sem vegetarijanec (male) / Sem vegetarijanka (female) (sehm veh-geh-tah-REE-yah-nehts / veh-geh-tah-REE-yahn-kah)
9. The bill, please – Račun, prosim (rah-CHOON, PROH-seem)
10. Delicious – Okusno (oh-KOOS-noh)
11. Cheers! – Na zdravje! (nah ZDRAH-vyeh!)
Shopping
Whether you’re buying souvenirs or daily essentials, these phrases will come in handy.
1. How much does this cost? – Koliko stane? (KOH-lee-koh STAH-neh?)
2. Expensive – Drago (DRAH-goh)
3. Cheap – Poceni (POH-tseh-nee)
4. I would like to buy… – Rad bi kupil… (male) / Rada bi kupila… (female) (rahd bee KOO-peel / RAH-dah bee KOO-pee-lah)
5. Do you accept credit cards? – Ali sprejemate kreditne kartice? (AH-lee spre-YEH-mah-teh kre-DEET-neh KAR-tee-tseh?)
6. Receipt – Račun (rah-CHOON)
Emergency Phrases
While we hope you never need them, it’s always good to know some emergency phrases just in case.
1. Help! – Pomoč! (poh-MOHTSH!)
2. Call the police! – Pokličite policijo! (poh-KLEE-chee-teh poh-lee-TSEE-yoh!)
3. I need a doctor – Potrebujem zdravnika (poh-TREH-boo-yehm zdrahv-NEE-kah)
4. I’m lost – Izgubil sem se (male) / Izgubila sem se (female) (eez-GOO-beel sehm seh / eez-GOO-bee-lah sehm seh)
5. My phone number is… – Moja telefonska številka je… (MOH-yah TEH-leh-fons-kah shteh-VEEL-kah yeh…)
Accommodations
Whether you’re checking into a hotel or booking a room, these phrases will be useful.
1. I have a reservation – Imam rezervacijo (ee-MAHM reh-zehr-VAH-tsee-yoh)
2. Do you have any available rooms? – Imate proste sobe? (ee-MAH-teh PROH-steh SOH-beh?)
3. How much is a room per night? – Koliko stane soba na noč? (KOH-lee-koh STAH-neh SOH-bah nah nohch?)
4. Can I see the room? – Lahko vidim sobo? (LAH-koh VEE-deem SOH-boh?)
5. I need a single/double room – Potrebujem enoposteljno/dvoposteljno sobo (poh-TREH-boo-yehm EH-noh-poh-stehl-noh / DVOH-poh-stehl-noh SOH-boh)
Miscellaneous Phrases
Here are some additional phrases that might prove useful during your travels.
1. I don’t understand – Ne razumem (neh rah-ZOO-mehm)
2. Do you speak English? – Ali govorite angleško? (AH-lee goh-voh-REE-teh ahn-GLEHSH-koh?)
3. I speak a little Slovenian – Govorim malo slovensko (goh-voh-REEM MAH-loh sloh-VEHN-skoh)
4. What time is it? – Koliko je ura? (KOH-lee-koh yeh OO-rah?)
5. Can you help me? – Mi lahko pomagate? (mee LAH-koh poh-MAH-gah-teh?)
6. Where is the bathroom? – Kje je stranišče? (kyeh yeh strah-NEESH-cheh?)
Traveling to Slovenia and immersing yourself in its culture can be a profoundly enriching experience. By learning these essential phrases, you’ll not only make your trip more enjoyable but also show respect and appreciation for the local culture. Remember, even if your pronunciation isn’t perfect, the effort you make to speak Slovenian will be warmly received by the locals. Safe travels and srečno potovanje (happy travels)!