About Slovenia's language - not essential to your holiday, but nice to know
Slovenian Language
Slovenian is reckoned to be one of the most difficult languages to master... but you're on holiday and you're not actually required to speak the language before you arrive, let alone master it.
Of course, as with travel to any foreign land, it is always polite to at least show willing, while you may well find that the goodwill you receive for even attempting to speak Slovenian will far outweight the effort of learning at least the pronunciation (unless you're a football pundit/commentator, in which case you're not supposed to be arsed). And honestly, with just the teansiest bit of concentration, it's really quite easy.
| Letter | Pronunciation |
| A | A short as in hut |
| E | E short as in vet |
| I | I short as in him |
| O | O short as in hot |
| U | OO but short as in foot |
| C | TS as in bats |
| Č | CH as in chose |
| H | Always aspirated |
| J | Y as in yabba dabba doo |
| R | R slightly rolled |
| Š | SH as in shop |
| V | Usually W as in water, sometimes V as in vat |
| Ž | ZH as in pleasure |
| English | Slovenian | Pronunciation |
| Entrance | Vhod | oohod |
| Open | Odprto | odprto |
| Police | Policija | politsia |
| Toilet | Stranišče, WC | stranishche |
| Carpark | Parkirna Hiša | parkirna hisha |
| Hospital | Bolnišnica | bolnishnitsa |
| Castle | Grad | grad |
| Church | Cerkev | tserkew |
| Valley | Dolina | dolina |
| Hill | Hrib | hrib |
| River | Reka | reka |
| Bridge | Most | most |
| English | Slovenian | Pronunciation |
| Water | Voda | voda |
| Wine (white, red) | Vino (belo, rdeče) | veeno (belo, rdetche) |
| Salad | Solata | solata |
| Fish | Riba | riba |
| Trout | Postrv | postrew |
| Octopus | Hobotnica | hobotnitsa |
| Prawns | Rakci | raktsi |
| Beef | Govedina | govedeena |
| Turkey | Puran | pooran |
| Goulash | Golaš | golash |
| Duck | Raca | ratsa |
| Potato | Krompir | krompeer |
| Sauteed potatoes with onions | Pražen Krompir | prazhen krompeer |
| Rice | Riž | rizh |
| Tomato | Paradižnik | paradizhnik |
| Mushrooms | Goge | gob_e |
| Strawberry | Jagoda | yagoda |
| Cherry | Češnja | cheshnya |
| Pancakes | Palačinke | palachink_e |
| Walnut Cake (although can have other fillings, depending on the region) | Potica | poteetsa |
| Soup | Juha | yooha |
| Sea bass | Brancin | brantsin |
| Squid | Lignji | lignyee |
| Sole | Morski list | morski list |
| Mussels | Školjke | shkolkye |
| Lamb | Jagnje | yagnye |
| Chicken | Piščanec | pishchanets |
| Sheftali | Čevapčiči | chevapchichi |
| Pork | Svinjina | svinyina |
| Chips | Pomfri | pomfree |
| Onion | Čebula | chebula |
| Pasta | Testenine | testenin_e |
| Garlic | Česen | chesen |
| Apple | Jabolko | yabooko |
| Raspberry | Malina | malina |
| Strudel | Zavitek | zaveetek |
| Apple, poppyseed and cottage cheese cake | Gibanica | gibaneetsa |
| English | Slovenian | Pronunciation |
| Beer | Pivo | peevo |
| Juice | Sok | sok |
| Brut (sparkling wines) | Zelo juho | zelo yooho |
| Dry | Suho | sooho |
| Medium Dry | Polsuho | polsooho |
| Medium Sweet | Polsladko | polsladko |
| Sweet | Sladko | sladko |
English |
Slovenian |
Pronunciation |
I have coeliac disease |
Imam celiakijo |
Imam tseliakiyo |
I have a gluten allergy |
Alergičen/alergična sem na gluten |
Alergichen/alergichna sem na gluten |
I must not eat wheat, barley or rye |
Ne smem jesti pšenice, ječmena ali rži |
Ne smem yesti pshenitse, yechmena ali rzhi |
Alternatively, you can download this as a Word document, or a PDF, so that you can print it out to take with you.
Swearing
Slovenes are an interesting bunch of people: comparatively happy with their lot, but always ready to apply the phrase,
“I hope my neighbour’s cow dies”.
Historically, they have invariably preferred to talk and trade, rather than resort to violence. Indeed, when a Slovene wants to vent their spleen, the strongest insults they have to hand are a bit dippy:
- “Tristo kosmatih medvedov” - Three hundred furry bears
- “Naj te koklja brcne” - May you be kicked by a chicken
- “Krščen Matiček” - Holy Matthew
So Slovenes swear in Serbian: much more satisfying.
