Slovenia language phrases: the essential traveller's phrasebook
Do you need to speak Slovenian to travel in Slovenia?
No — English is widely spoken in all tourist areas and most of the country. But a handful of Slovenian words goes a long way: the language is unfamiliar to most visitors and locals visibly appreciate any attempt. Hvala (thank you) and dober dan (good day) are the minimum; they reliably improve service and interactions everywhere.
A note on Slovenian
Slovenian (Slovenščina) is a South Slavic language with its own grammar and vocabulary distinct from its closest relatives, Serbian, Croatian, and Macedonian. For English speakers, Slovenian is not intuitive — the word order and declension system are different enough to require real study if you want fluency. But that is not what this guide is about.
Travellers need a small set of phrases that demonstrate respect and enable basic communication. That set is small, learnable in an afternoon, and disproportionately rewarded. Slovenians are quietly proud of their language — it is a small language (only two million speakers worldwide) with a remarkable literary tradition, and the fact that a foreign visitor has made any effort is noted and appreciated.
Pronunciation guide
Slovenian phonetics are logical once you learn the rules. The key points:
Vowels:
- a — as in “father” (not as in “cat”)
- e — as in “bed”
- i — as in “machine” (long ‘ee’)
- o — as in “more”
- u — as in “moon”
Special consonants:
- č — as in “church”
- š — as in “shoe”
- ž — as in “measure” or the French “j” in “je”
- c — always “ts” as in “bits” (never “k” or “s”)
- j — always “y” as in “yes”
- r — slightly rolled, like a soft Spanish ‘r’
Stress: Generally falls on the first syllable, though exceptions exist. For the phrases below, approximate stress is shown in CAPITALS.
Greetings and basic courtesy
| Slovenian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Dober dan | DO-ber dan | Good day (formal, all-purpose greeting) |
| Dobro jutro | DO-bro YOO-tro | Good morning |
| Dober večer | DO-ber VEH-cher | Good evening |
| Nasvidenje | nas-vi-DEN-ye | Goodbye (formal) |
| Adijo | AH-dee-yo | Bye (informal) |
| Hvala | HVAH-la | Thank you |
| Hvala lepa | HVAH-la LEH-pa | Thank you very much |
| Prosim | PRO-sim | Please / You’re welcome / Excuse me |
| Oprostite | o-pro-STEE-te | Excuse me (formal; getting attention) |
| Ja | ya | Yes |
| Ne | neh | No |
| Razumem | ra-ZOO-mem | I understand |
| Ne razumem | neh ra-ZOO-mem | I don’t understand |
| Govorite angleško? | go-vor-EE-te ang-LESH-ko | Do you speak English? |
| Malo govorim slovensko | MA-lo go-VOR-im slo-VEN-sko | I speak a little Slovenian |
Restaurants and food
| Slovenian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Miza za eno / dve osebi, prosim | MEE-za za EH-no / dveh o-SEH-bi | A table for one / two, please |
| Jedilnik, prosim | ye-DEEL-nik, PRO-sim | The menu, please |
| Dnevni meni | DNEV-ni MEH-ni | The daily set menu |
| Kaj priporočate? | kai pri-por-o-CHA-te | What do you recommend? |
| Jaz bom vzel/vzela… | yaz bom VZEL / VZEH-la | I will have… (m/f) |
| Brez mesa, prosim | brez MEH-sa, PRO-sim | Without meat, please |
| Vegetarijansko | ve-ge-ta-ri-YAN-sko | Vegetarian |
| Vegansko | ve-GAN-sko | Vegan |
| Alergija na… | a-ler-GI-ya na | Allergy to… |
| Račun, prosim | RA-chun, PRO-sim | The bill, please |
| Je to vključeno? | ye to vklyu-CHEN-o | Is this included? |
| Zelo je okusno | ZEH-lo ye o-KOOS-no | This is very tasty |
Useful food words:
- kruh (krukh) — bread
- voda (VO-da) — water
- vino (VEE-no) — wine
- pivo (PEE-vo) — beer
- kava (KA-va) — coffee
- čaj (chai) — tea
- meso (MEH-so) — meat
- ribe (REE-be) — fish
- zelenjava (ze-len-YA-va) — vegetables
- sir (seer) — cheese
- jajca (YAI-tsa) — eggs
Ordering drinks:
- En / dve pivi, prosim (en / dveh PEE-vi) — one / two beers, please
- Eno vino, prosim — one wine, please
- Rdeče / belo vino — red / white wine
- Kozarec vode, prosim — a glass of water, please
Accommodation
| Slovenian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Rezervacija | re-zer-VA-tsi-ya | Reservation |
| Imam rezervacijo | EE-mam re-zer-VA-tsi-yo | I have a reservation |
| Soba | SO-ba | Room |
| Enoposteljna soba | e-no-po-STEL-nya SO-ba | Single room |
| Dvoposteljna soba | dvo-po-STEL-nya SO-ba | Double room |
| Do kdaj moram zapustiti sobo? | do kdai MO-ram za-poos-TEE-ti SO-bo | What time is checkout? |
| Ključ | klyuch | Key |
| Kopalnica | ko-PAL-ni-tsa | Bathroom |
| Wi-Fi geslo | Wi-Fi password | |
| Zajtrek | ZAIT-rek | Breakfast |
Getting around
| Slovenian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Kje je…? | kyeh ye | Where is…? |
| Postajališče avtobusa | pos-ta-ya-LEESH-che av-TO-boo-sa | Bus stop |
| Železniška postaja | zhe-lez-NEESH-ka pos-TAI-ya | Train station |
| Letališče | le-ta-LEESH-che | Airport |
| Levo | LEH-vo | Left |
| Desno | DES-no | Right |
| Naravnost | na-RAV-nost | Straight ahead |
| Tukaj | TOO-kai | Here |
| Tam | tam | There |
| Koliko je ura? | ko-LEE-ko ye OO-ra | What time is it? |
| Kdaj gre naslednji avtobus? | kdai greh nas-LED-nyi av-TO-boos | When does the next bus leave? |
| Eno karto za…, prosim | EH-no KAR-to za… | One ticket to…, please |
| Koliko stane? | ko-LEE-ko STAH-ne | How much does it cost? |
| Vinjeta | vin-YEH-ta | Motorway vignette (always needed on motorways) |
Shopping
| Slovenian | English |
|---|---|
| Odprto | Open |
| Zaprto | Closed |
| Koliko stane to? | How much does this cost? |
| Ali imate…? | Do you have…? |
| Predrago | Too expensive |
| Blagajna | Cash desk / checkout |
| Račun | Receipt / bill |
Emergencies and health
| Slovenian | English |
|---|---|
| Pomoč! | Help! |
| Pokličite policijo! | Call the police! |
| Pokličite rešilca! | Call an ambulance! |
| Gasilci | Fire brigade |
| Bolnišnica | Hospital |
| Lekarna | Pharmacy |
| Zdravnik | Doctor |
| Boli me… | My … hurts |
| Alergičen/alergična sem na… | I am allergic to… (m/f) |
| Potrebujem pomoč | I need help |
| Izgubil/izgubila sem… | I have lost… (m/f) |
Emergency numbers:
- 112 — all emergencies (police, ambulance, fire, mountain rescue)
- 113 — police (direct line)
- 1987 — mountain rescue (Gorska reševalna služba)
Numbers
| Slovenian | Number |
|---|---|
| Ena | 1 |
| Dve | 2 |
| Tri | 3 |
| Štiri | 4 |
| Pet | 5 |
| Šest | 6 |
| Sedem | 7 |
| Osem | 8 |
| Devet | 9 |
| Deset | 10 |
| Dvajset | 20 |
| Petdeset | 50 |
| Sto | 100 |
Days and months
Days: ponedeljek (Monday), torek (Tuesday), sreda (Wednesday), četrtek (Thursday), petek (Friday), sobota (Saturday), nedelja (Sunday)
Months: januar, februar, marec, april, maj, junij, julij, avgust, september, oktober, november, december
Slovenian signs you will see
- Vhod — entrance
- Izhod — exit
- WC / Stranišče — toilets
- Moški — men (toilets)
- Ženske — women (toilets)
- Prepovedano — prohibited
- Nevarnost — danger
- Parkirišče — car park
- Bencinska črpalka — petrol station
- Turizem / Turistična informacija — tourist information
- Gostilna / Restavracija — inn / restaurant
A note on dialects
Slovenian has a remarkable number of dialects for such a small language — roughly 50 regional variants exist, and some are mutually unintelligible between speakers from different ends of the country. The standard literary Slovenian (knjižna slovenščina) taught in schools and used in media is understood by all speakers. In tourist areas, you will generally encounter standard Slovenian. Do not be surprised if you hear something in a rural area that sounds very different from your phrase book — you are almost certainly hearing a regional dialect.
Slovenian food terms: reading a menu
Understanding a Slovenian menu without English translation is easier once you recognise the key terms. Most gostilne list their menus in Slovenian only; larger tourist-facing restaurants provide English. The words worth knowing:
Soups (juhe):
- goveja juha — beef broth
- jota — bean, sauerkraut, and smoked meat soup/stew (a regional Karst classic)
- bučna juha — pumpkin soup
Starters (predjedi) and sides:
- kruhovi cmoki — bread dumplings
- štruklji — rolled dumplings (sweet or savoury)
- žganci — polenta-style buckwheat or corn porridge (traditional side dish)
- kisla repa — pickled turnip (served as a side with heavier meat dishes)
Main courses (glavne jedi):
- golaž — goulash (pork or beef; a staple in mountain and farm restaurants)
- kranjska klobasa — Carniolan sausage (national institution; grilled and served with mustard and horseradish)
- postrv — trout (common in mountain and river regions; Soča and Bohinj trout are renowned)
- pečena raca / piščanec — roast duck / chicken
- telečji zrezek — veal escalope
- ocvrt krap — fried carp (a freshwater fish speciality in eastern Slovenia and the thermal spa regions)
Desserts (sladice):
- kremna rezina / kremšnita — cream cake (the Bled classic; two layers of cream between puff pastry)
- potica — rolled nut/seed pastry (walnut, poppy seed, or tarragon; the national dessert, served at celebrations and in cafés)
- prekmurska gibanica — four-layer pastry with cottage cheese, walnut, poppy seed, and apple (eastern Slovenia’s signature dessert)
- palačinke — crêpes
Drinks (pijače):
- voda (mineralna) — still / fizzy mineral water
- sok — juice
- brezalkoholna pijača — soft drink / non-alcoholic drink
- kava — coffee (usually espresso; filter coffee is kavarna kava)
- domače vino — house wine
On the menu format: The dnevni meni (daily menu) is the key phrase. This is the set lunch menu, usually offered Monday to Friday from noon to 2pm. Typically two or three courses with a drink for €10–14. It is always the best value on the menu and usually the best representation of what the kitchen does well.
Useful apps for language support
Google Translate: The camera translation feature (point at text for live translation) handles Slovenian well. Useful for menus and signs. Works offline if you download the Slovenian language pack in advance.
DeepL Translate: More accurate for longer phrases than Google Translate. The mobile app works well for typed queries.
Pleco (with Slovenian dictionary): Not standard on Pleco, but a dedicated Slovenian-English dictionary app (Slovenian-English Dictionary by Almaany, or Linguee) gives reliable phrase lookups.
Arso.si: The Slovenian weather service. Mountain forecasts are far more accurate than international apps for Alpine hiking planning. The interface is in Slovenian, but the layout is intuitive — the symbols follow European meteorological conventions.
Useful phrases for outdoor activities
Hiking and mountain activities:
- Kje je začetek poti? — Where is the start of the trail?
- Koliko časa traja pot do…? — How long does the trail to… take?
- Je pot označena? — Is the trail marked?
- Pozor, nevarnost! — Attention, danger!
- Rabim pomoč — I need help
- Izgubil sem se — I am lost
- Pokličite reševalce — Call the rescue service
At the rafting/adventure operator:
- Ali je to primerno za začetnike? — Is this suitable for beginners?
- Katere so varnostne smernice? — What are the safety guidelines?
- Ali je oprema vključena? — Is equipment included?
- Moram imeti izkušnje? — Do I need experience?
Slovenian cultural etiquette through language
A few notes on how language intersects with Slovenian social norms:
Formality versus informality: Slovenian has formal (vi) and informal (ti) second-person pronouns. With strangers, service staff, and older adults, use the formal form. This is generally built into the phrases above. Younger Slovenians in casual contexts switch to the informal quickly.
Greetings matter: Saying dober dan when entering a shop and nasvidenje when leaving is standard Slovenian social behaviour, not optional politeness. Shops where tourists fail to greet the staff are mildly aware of this; shops where tourists make the effort respond immediately with warmth.
Zdravljica and the national identity: If you know that Slovenia’s national anthem is the seventh stanza of France Prešeren’s poem Zdravljica (A Toast), and that it is about peace and friendship among nations rather than military victory — the only national anthem in the world with this theme — and mention this to a Slovenian, you will have made a friend.
Responding to Slovenian: If a Slovenian starts speaking to you in Slovenian and you respond in slow, careful English with a hvala lepa, they will typically switch to English seamlessly and with appreciation for the attempt. The response ne razumem slovensko (I don’t understand Slovenian) said with a smile works universally.
Regional variations you may encounter
Ljubljana: Standard Slovenian, English widely spoken. Young people particularly comfortable in English; older shopkeepers and market vendors may not speak English but will communicate effectively with patience and gestures.
Bled and the Julian Alps: Standard Slovenian, English very widely spoken in the tourism sector. German is a useful second language, particularly with Austrian visitors and some older residents.
Soča Valley (Bovec, Kobarid): Slovenian with some Italian influence — the area was part of Italy until 1947. Some older residents speak Italian. Adventure sports operators almost universally speak English; they work with international groups daily.
Piran and the coast (Slovenian Istria): The Slovenian Istrian coast has a historically Italian-speaking minority. In Piran, Koper, and Izola, Italian is spoken natively by a portion of the population, and Italian signage often appears alongside Slovenian. Italian speakers will find themselves understood by many locals in coastal towns.
Maribor and eastern Slovenia: Standard Slovenian; German is more useful here than in Ljubljana due to proximity to Austria. English is spoken in tourism contexts but is less universal than in the northwest.
The phrasebook minimum
If you learn nothing else, these five phrases will improve your Slovenian travel experience measurably:
- Dober dan — greet anyone you interact with at the start of the exchange
- Hvala — say it at every appropriate opportunity
- Prosim — use it when requesting anything
- Oprostite — use when you need to get someone’s attention or pass through a crowd
- Nasvidenje — say when leaving any shop or restaurant
These five phrases cost nothing to learn, take 20 minutes to memorise, and produce a disproportionate improvement in how interactions go throughout the trip. Slovenians know that visitors rarely speak their language; the fact that you know even the basics is noticed and rewarded.
Related guides
- First time in Slovenia — the beginner’s overview
- Slovenia travel guide — complete planning reference
- Accessible travel in Slovenia — communication support and accessibility
Frequently asked questions about Slovenia language phrases
Is Slovenian difficult to pronounce?
Slovenian has consistent phonetic rules, which makes it more learnable than English. Once you understand that every letter is pronounced, vowels have fixed sounds (a = 'ah', e = 'eh', i = 'ee', o = 'oh', u = 'oo'), and consonants are mostly as expected, you can approximate most words reasonably well. The soft č (ch), š (sh), and ž (zh) sounds take practice but are not difficult for English speakers.Is German useful in Slovenia?
Yes, particularly in the Alpine areas near the Austrian border (Kranjska Gora, Bled, Bohinj). Many older Slovenians and those in the hospitality trade near Austria speak German fluently. In Ljubljana, English is consistently more useful than German with younger people. On the coast, Italian is spoken by many locals in Piran, Koper, and Portorož, reflecting the area's history.What language is used on menus and signs?
Slovenian is used on all official signs. Most menus in tourist-facing restaurants include English translations. Road signs, shop names, and official notices are in Slovenian only. Learning to recognise a few key words (izhod = exit, vhod = entrance, odprto = open, zaprto = closed) is useful.Are Slovenians patient with foreign language attempts?
Exceptionally so. Slovenians are accustomed to foreign visitors not speaking their language and are consistently helpful and patient. Making an attempt in Slovenian is met with genuine appreciation — not the correction and mild condescension occasionally encountered elsewhere. If your pronunciation is difficult, locals will switch seamlessly to English without making you feel uncomfortable.
