Don't be a stranger in a strange land! In Slovenia,
most (especially younger) people speak at least one foreign language
(English and/or German). If you try using Slovenian words in everyday
conversation, your efforts will be welcomed with sympathy.
In the following section, you can find some of the most common
words and expressions that may help you to establish the communication.
A polite way of asking for something is saying PROSIM (please), and to show your gratitude and appreciation you say HVALA (thank you). Your sweet mornings dreams are going to be interupted by DOBRO JUTRO (good morning), while coming home early after having a great ZABAVA (party) you will usually say LAHKO NOC (good night) to each other. A customary way of greeting a friend is ZIVJO (hi, hello), and you say ADIJO (bye) when you are leaving.
To Slovenia you will either come by VLAK (train) or LETALO (plane), and your everyday trips around Ljubljana will be made easier by AVTOBUS (BUS).
While spending your nights in a DISKO (discotheque) where the sound might be SLAB (bad) but the opposite sex could be DOBER (good), you might also be compelled to say LJUBIM TE (I love you), asking KAJ DELAS NOCOJ (what are you doing tonight), or saying LEPA SI (you look beautiful) to a girl.
All those wild parties will probably make you ZEJEN (thirsty) and even LACEN (hungry). A variety of food can be used to remedy, such as KRUH (bread), SIR (cheese) or POTICA (nut and raisin cake). You will learn to fight thirst with VELIKO MRZLO PIVO (large cold beer) or VINO (wine). Some other time you might want to order CAJ (tea) or KAVA (coffee) with SLADKOR (sugar), MLEKO (milk) or SMETANA (cream).
For more in-depth understanding and examples, see
Slovene for Travelers,
an on-line version of a booklet with sound samples.
