Slovenian Language

Articles and Word Order

Word order is a handy tool. English language uses it instead of missing cases (and their -endings). Slovenian language uses it instead of missing articles (the, a, an).

Suppose English has cases (just like its older Brother - German). Then we would say something like:

'Housen bought politician' (where Housen is a Singular Accusative case of House), or 'politician bought housen', or 'Politicianem liked house' (where Politicianem is a Singular Dative case of Politician meaning 'to a politician') which would have the same meaning no matter what word order being used. But since there are no cases in English the only way to say it correctly is:

The Politician bought a house. Or like this: There's a politician that (actually) bought the House. As you see here, using word order English language can tell you some information about 4 things:

a politician, a house, the Politician, the House.

Now that Slovenian language has no articles, how does it handle this problem? It's easy if you have cases:

Politik je kupil hišo. = The (well-known) Politician bought a house.

Hišo je kupil politik. = There was a politician that bought the (well-known) House.

When translating into Slovenian, start with well-known facts, and finish up with some new and unknown facts. Roughly, the-word goes in the beginning, a-word goes in the ending part of the sentence. Start with the-words, then insert an action verb, and finish up with an 'a-word'. This is how to handle missing articles in Slovenian language. Remember to use case endings, though!

For this is what you get when you skip case endings:

Politik je kupil hiša. = The (well-known) Politician bought a little of hiš [?].

Hiša je kupil politik. = The House bought some politiks [?].

Makes no sense at all!

NOTE: Bulgarian language lost its cases just like English, so this is why it uses articles. (Bulgarian is the only Slavic language without cases but with articles.) Although quite unexpectedly Bulgarian articles (in Romanian they do the same) go behind:

politik (a politician), politikot (the politician)!

Reading Rules

Slovenian language sounds and reads much like its neighbor - Italian language. If you know how to read Italian you're well on your way to success already. Read Italian-Slovene words - here, practice, and get the feel and touch of the language. You'll be able to catch up and finetune your pronounciation later on.

Read [j] as [y] in yellow, yet, [c] as [ts] in cats, h as [h] in German Haus, Hund, hoch.
Read [l], [v] at the word-end, or before other consonants as [w] in water, were, we.
Read [č] as [ch] in Charles, [š] as [sh] in shoeshine, she, [ž] as [zh] in jury, jazz, George ...

Kupili nismo hišo...

(We did not buy a house/the house...)

1. Včeraj sem kupila hišo - I bought a house yesterday (she says)
2. Sem tudi kupil hišo - I bought a house, too. (he says)
3. Včeraj si lahko smo kupili hišo - We could have bought a house yesterday
4. Nismo še kupili hišo - We have not yet buy a house.

Please note, that there is no difference between 'have not' and 'did not' in Slovenian. For all their Past needs Slavic people use one simple form! However, they do see a big difference between Perfective and Imperfective aspects which non-Slavic speakers just cannot see!!! I don't know why is that...

Kupil is a Past Perfective Participle form of Kupiti (to buy). All Participles in Slavic languages (except Bulgarian and, possibly, Macedonian) agree with their Noun/Pronoun in Gender and Number:

Singular M: Kupil -- Plural: Kupili
Singular F: Kupila -- Plural: Kupili
Singular N: Kupilo -- Plural: Kupili

(Past Perfective is because there is also an Imperfective Participle: Kupoval(a/i). About Perfective/Imperfective difference - later.)

Verb "be" is irregular just like it is in English:

I am: (jaz) sem -- I'm not: (jaz) nisem
We are: smo -- we aren't: nismo

Therefore:
I bought (he says) -- Sem kupil
I did not buy (she says) -- Nisem kupila ...

EXAMPLES FROM INTERNET:

Zgodba se je začela lani julija, ko smo kupili 25 odstotkov kapitalskega deleža Pivovarne ... Vsi naši politiki govorijo o vstopu v enotno evropsko hišo...

V nogomet kot posel pa nismo šli, ker je pri nas nogomet težko profitabilen. Oziroma ne more biti. ... Hišo smo zdaj kupili in bomo naredili šest dvoran...

Obisk pri Božičevih je odločil: kupili bomo kraškega ovčarja. O pasmi nismo vedeli ničesar, razen tega, kar so nam povedali Božičevi. Psa smo kupovali tako...

Vodička nam je pokazala nekaj lokacij v mestu, kjer smo si lahko kupili sendviče in ... Ogledali smo si Michailov stolp z muzejem orožja, videli smo hišo...

...iz začetka izgnanstva so posneli večinoma Nemci, kasneje pa so si kupili ... smo si pripravili hišo. Potem smo iskali, kdo je kaj odpeljal, pa nismo dobili...

Za razliko od drugih, pa je nismo kupili, ampak smo jo našli na cesti. ... ali se razpotegnila po kamniti ograji pred hišo, ampak se je z glasnim "pljask"...

Nismo niti slutili, da smo v hišo spustili mladega kriminalca. ... In sem se spomnila, kako smo I. kupili lego kocke, ko je šel prvič k zobarju...

Ohladilo se je tudi ozračje, zato smo se kmalu umaknili v hišo in še malo ... Včeraj smo privkrat kupili cel paket. In dobili še dve promocijski plenički!

Pa še to: pred leti, ko še nismo imeli svoje občine, smo pod našo hišo pod cesto opazili ležati ranjenega škotskega ovčarja. Prinesli smo mu vodo in nato še...

V letu 2004 smo kupili nedograjeno hišo v V. (peti) podaljšani gradbeni fazi, ... nepremičnin v vmesnem času - ni bilo, zato davka na dobiček nismo plačali.

Reading Texts

How to read Slovenian accented (stressed) vowels:
ó, é, á, í, ú : long closed;
è, à : short open;
ê, ô : long open.

Closed o reads somewhere between o and u sounds, closed e bzw e and i sounds, open e - between e and a, open o - between o and a...

Mója prijáteljica Irena
My friend Irena

Mója prijáteljica Irena je študèntka.
My friend Irena is a student.

Stara je dvájset lét in študira zgodovíno na univêrzi v Ljubljani.
She is twenty years old, and she studies history at the University in Ljubljana.

Irena je majhna in suha.
Irena is short and skinny.

Ima dólge rdèče lase in rjave očí.
She's got long red hair and brown eyes.

Rada ima lépe obléke, vèndar nima vêliko denárja, zató ponavadi nosi kavbojke in pulóver.
She likes pretty clothes but she doesn't have much money so she usually wears jeans and a sweater.

Drugi študènti jo imajo radi, ker je prijazna in ker z njo nikóli ni dólgčas.
Other students like her as she is friendly and it never gets boring around her.

Pogósto gremo vsi skúpaj v gostílno in tam pripóveduje zeló sméšne zgódbe.
We often go to the pub together and there she tells us very funny stories.

Njéni starši živijo v Mariboru.
Her parents live in Maribor.

Mama je učíteljica in ôče grafik.
Her mother is a teacher and her father is a graphic designer.

Ima túdi mlajšega brata, ki živi domá in hodi v šólo.
She has also a younger brother who lives at home and is still in school.

Irena in jaz skúpaj stanujeva v majhnem stanovánju v Ljubljani.
Irena and I share a small flat in Ljubljana.

Stanovánje je pozími precéj mrzlo in ni zeló sónčno, vèndar túdi ni drago.
The flat is cold in winter and not very sunny but, then, it is not very expensive either.

Irena ne mara Ljubljane in si zeló želi domóv v Maribor.
Irena doesn't like Ljubljana and very much wants to go back to Maribor.

Túdi njén fant živi in déla v Mariboru.
Her boyfriend lives and works in Maribor too.

Irena móra zdaj vêliko študirati, ker je zadnje léto na univêrzi, vèndar ima cas túdi za svóje konjíčke.
Irena has to study hard at the moment for this is her last year at the university, nevertheless, she still finds time for her hobbies.

Rada bere in gléda filme in igra ténis.
She likes to read and watch movies and play tennis.

Túdi jaz rada igram ténis, zató pogósto skúpaj igrava.
I like playing tennis too so we often play together.

Irena je zeló dóbra, zató ponavadi zmaga.
She plays very well and usually wins.

Draga Barbara!
Dear Barbara,

Zdaj sem v Avstraliji žé tri mésece.
I've been in Australia for three months now.

Polétje bo kmálu tu in postalo bo precéj vróče.
The summer will soon be here, and it will become quite hot.

Všéč mi je vrême v Avstraliji.
I like the weather in Australia.

Rédko dežuje in nikóli ni zarés mrzlo.
It rarely rains and it is never really cold.

Móji soródniki so zeló prijazni.
My relatives are very kind.

Sestríčna Tanya je študèntka.
My cousin Tanya is a student.

Študira slovénšcino.
She studies Slovenian.

Včásih ji pomagam, kàdar ne najde beséde v slovárju.
I help her sometimes when she can't find a word in her dictionary.

Pred ènim tédnom sva šli na znano plažo Bondi in prihódnji téden greva v Canberro.
We went to see the famous Bondi Beach a week ago, and next week we will travel to Canberra.

Žal pa nima vêliko čása.
Unfortunately, she doesn't have much time.

Velíko se pogovarjam s têto Elico.
I talk a lot to my aunt Elica.

Zeló je veséla, da lahkó z mano govorí slovénsko.
She is very happy she can speak Slovenian to me.

V Avstraliji je žé dvájset lét in šé zméraj misli, da je angléšcina zeló têžka.
She's been in Australia for twenty years, and she still thinks English is very difficult.

Stric Janez velíko déla in ga ne vidim velíko.
My uncle Janez works a lot, and I don't really see him much.

Pogósto grem v mésto.
I often go to the city.

Tam je velíko dóbrih trgovín.
There are many good shops there.

Ènkrat sem bila v Operi.
I've been to the Opera House once.

Bilo je čudovíto.
It was beautiful.

Sydney mi je zeló všéč.
I like Sydney a lot.

Kmàlu bom mórala nazáj domóv.
Soon, I'll have to go back home.

Velíko bom imela povédati, boš vídela!
I'll have a lot to tell, you'll see!

Lép pozdràv,
Yours,

Alenka
Alenka

PRÁVLJICA
A FAIRY STORY

Nekóč je v daljni dežêli živela grda princésa.
Once upon a time there was an ugly princess who lived in a distant land.

Bila je dóbra in prijazna, vèndar zeló žálostna; zeló si je želela, da bi bila lépa, saj se je bala, da je nobèn lép princ ne bo maral àli si jo želel za žêno.
She was kind and good, but very sad; she so wanted to be beautiful, and was afraid no handsome prince would ever love and marry her.

Nékega dne pa, ko se je sprehajala okóli paláče, je sréčala starko, ki je bila prav takó grda kòt ôna.
One day as she was walking near the palace, she met an old woman who was as ugly as she.

"Dóbro jutro, lépa mója," je rekla starka.
'Good morning, my lovely,' said the old woman.

"O ne," je vzdihnila princésa, "nisem lépa. O da bi bila!"
'Oh no,' sighed the princess, 'I am not lovely, I wish I were!'

"Draga mója, tvója dúša je lépa," je rekla starka.
'Your soul is beautiful, my dear,' said the old woman.

"Vzemi ta čarôbni pŕstan in z njim bo postal tvój obràz prav takó lép kòt tvóje srce." potém je izginila in presenécena princésa si je nataknila čarôbni pŕstan na pŕst.
'Take this magic ring, and it will make your face as lovely as your heart.' She then vanished, and the astonished princess put the ring on her finger.

Takój je postala lépa kòt sónce in števílni princi so se hoteli poročíti z njo.
She immediately became as beautiful as the day, and many princés asked her hand in marriage.

Àmpak ôna je vsé zavrnila, postala kraljíca in vladala svóji dežêli do kônca dni.
But in the end, she refused them all, became a queen after her father, and ruled the land well and happily for many years.

V kinu
In the cinema

Včéraj zvečér sem šla v kíno.
Last night I went to the cinema.

V kíno grem pogósto, ker rada glédam filme.
I often go to the cinema as I enjoy watching films.

Všéč so mi komédije, ljubézenski filmi in drame, ne maram pa kavbojskih, vôjnih in znánstveno fantastičnih filmov.
I like comedies, love stories and dramas, and I don't like westerns, war films and science fiction.

Včéraj je bil na programu angléški film Sôba z razglèdom.
Yesterday, the English film A Room with a View was on.

Film je star, àmpak ga zeló rada glédam.
The film is old, but I love to watch it.

Videla sem ga žé štirikrat.
I've already seen it four times.

To je ljubézenska zgódba v viktorijanski Angliji.
It is a love story in the Victorian England.

Mlada žénska gre s têto v Italijo.
A young woman goes to Italy with her aunt.

Tam sréča angléškega fanta.
She meets an English young man there.

Fant je zeló naráven, àmpak v viktorijanski Angliji ni bilo dôbro biti naráven.
The man is very natural but in the Victorian England it was not such a good thing to be natural.

Fant in deklè se zaljúbita.
They fall in love.

Tóda ôna ima v Angliji zaročênca.
But she has got a fiancé in England.

Njén zaročênec je vêlik snob in ni prav nič naráven.
Her fiance is a snob and not natural at all.

Ôna misli, da ima rada zaročênca, àmpak potém ugotovi, da je zaljubljena v fanta, ki ga je sréčala v Italiji.
She thinks she loves him but then she discovers she actually loves the man she met in Italy.

S tém fantom se na kôncu poročíta in gresta na poróčno potovánje nazáj v Italijo.
In the end, she marries this man and for their honeymoon they go back to Italy.

V filmu igrajo znani angléški igralci in igralke, kòt so Maggie Smith, Denholm Eliott in Helena Bonham-Carter.
Acting in the film are well-known English actors, such as Maggie Smith, Denholm Eliott and Helena Bonham-Carter.

Film je zeló lép in zabaven.
The film is very pretty and funny.

Šé posébno je zabaven, če poznáte Anglijo in Angléže.
You find it especially funny if you know England and the English.

Včéraj v kinu ni bilo vêliko ljudi.
Yesterday, there were not many people in the cinema.

Najbrž zató, ker je film žé star.
Probably because the film is quite old.

Vstópnica ni bila draga.
The ticket wasn' expensive.

Stala je dólarje.
It cost muchos dollars.

ŠTRUKLJI
ŠTRUKLJI

Testó: kg béle móke, slana vréla vôda, malo ólja
Dough: kg white flour, salted boiling water, a little oil

Nadèv: 2dag zmletih ôrehov, 2dag drobtin, žlic rozin, dag sládkorja, loncek smétane, zmlet cimet, zmlete nageljnove žbice, limonina lupina, máslo
Filling: 250 g walnuts, 250 g breadcrumbs, spoons raisins, 100 g sugar, cup double cream, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, lemon peel, butter

Poparite móko z vrélo vôdo, dodajte malo ólja in zamesite testó.
Scald the flour with salted boiling water, add a little oil, and knead the dough.

Pustite, da se ohladi, ga povaljajte v klobaso, narežite na ènake kóse in pritisnite vsak kós z dlanjo, da ga poravnate.
Leave to cool, form a roll, cut it evenly into pieces, and press each piece flat with the palm of your hand.

Na vsak kós dajte kepico nadèva in ga zložite.
Put a ball of filling on each piece and fold it.

Stisnite po róbeh.
Seal the edges.

Štruklje povrite v nekóliko slani vôdi, doklèr ne priplavajo na vrh.
Boil them in slightly salted water until they float.

Postrezite jih potrésene z drobtinami popecenimi na máslu ter kristalnim sládkorjem poméšanim z malo cimeta.
Serve them with a topping made of breadcrumbs toasted in butter and sprinkle with crystal sugar mixed with a little cinnamon.

Za nadèv zméšajte zmlete ôrehe, rozine, drobtine, sládkor po okúsu, cimet in žbice ter stépeno sládko smétano.
For the filling, mix ground walnuts, raisins, breadcrumbs, sugar to taste, cinnamon and cloves, and whipped double cream.

Naredite majhne króglice in jih položite na štruklje.
Make small balls and fold them into the štruklji.

Življênjska dôba v Slovéniji
Life Expectancy in Slovenia

Državni uràd za statistiko je nèdávno objavil Življênjske tabéle v slovénšcini in angléšcini za slovénsko prebiválstvo v obdóbjih 1930-1932, 1994-1995.
The National Statistics Office has recently published a Life Table in both Slovenian and English for the population of Slovenia for the periods 1930-1932, 1994-1995.

Gledé na tabéle lahkó ugotovimo, da se življênjska dôba v Slovéniji dviga.
According to the tables, life expectancy has been on the increase in Slovenia.

Pred šéstdesetimi léti je bila življênjska dôba môških 50 in žénsk 5 lét.
Sixty years ago, men's life expectancy was 50 years and women's was 5 years.

Dánes je 70 lét za môške in 7 za žénske.
Currently it is 70 years for men and 7 years for women.

Slovénci živijo dlje kòt Madžari, Cehi, Slovaki in Póljaki.
Slovenians live longer than Hungarians, Czechs, Slovakians, and Poles.

Slovenian Links

American Slovenian Catholic Union
Slovene National Benefit Society
Slovenian Restaurant in Cleveland OH

Reading Texts

Try to read them using text glossaries and dictionaries provided on this site. Be patient. It helps.

...These are original (non-adapted) texts written by schoolchildren from Slovenia as their course works and test papers. They are freely available for public use as online "referat" resources. Since written by younger students the language in these texts is simple and easy to understand.

English-Slovene Phrases
Part 1 - History of Slovenian, Its place in IndoEuropean language family (Reading Texts)

English-Slovene Phrases
Part 2 - Learn to Write CV, World History, Witchcraft in Slovenia (Reading Texts)

English-Slovene Phrases
Part 3

English-Slovene Phrases
Part 4

English-Slovene Phrases
Part 5

English-Slovene Phrases
Part 6

English-Slovene Phrases
Part 7

English-Slovenian, Slovene-English Dictionaries

Slovenien-English Dictionary
1000 Most Frequent Words Frequency Rated

English-Slovenian, Slovenian-English Dictionary
1000 Most Frequent Words

Natalija Verboten Besedila - Teksti Pesmi

Slovenien-English Dictionary
5000 Words of Slovenian English Dictionary

Dizionario Sloveno
Reading Slovenian is very similar to reading Italian words. If you can read Italian then you sure can read Slovenian, too. Read this dictionary words and try to pronounce Slovenian words just the way you (hopefully) pronounce familiar Italian ones ...