Slovene for Walkers
It is fortunate for foreign visitors that the Slovenians are excellent linguists. You will find that most young people speak at least some English while the older generation will understand German. Their language bears few similarities to English and the grammar is complex, but do try to use some words – your efforts will be much appreciated. Below we have listed basic words and phrases that should help in an emergency, and others that you will frequently come across while you are walking and touring. We have also included on another page a simple guide to Slovene pronunciation.
A few useful phrases and words.
| Hello, Good morning | Dober Dan |
| Good evening | Dober večer |
| Goodbye | Na svidenje |
| Please/you’re welcome/can I help you? | Prosim |
| Thank you | Hvala |
| Yes, No | Ja, Ne |
| Do you speak English? | Ali govorite angleško? |
| Help! | Na Pomoč! |
| I’m lost | Izgubil/Izgubila sem se (m/f) |
| How do I get to…? | Kako pridem do…? |
| Where is…? | Kje je…? |
| Straight ahead | Naravnost naprej |
| Turn left/right at the… | Zavijte na levo/desno pri… |
| Up/down | Zgoraj/spodaj |
| To go up/down | gor/dol |
| North, east, south, west | Sever, vzhod, jug, zahod |
| Entrance, exit | Vhod, izhod |
| Open, closed, diversion | Odprto, zaprto, obvoz |
| Hotel | Hotel |
| Inn, inn with accommodation | Gostilna, gostišče |
| Room | Soba |
| Toilets – men, women | Stranišče – Moški, ženske |
Below are some other useful words encountered on the maps and in our text in the book, as well as on Slovenia-Walking
| Slovene | English | English | Slovene | |
| Bivak | Bivouac/hut | Alpine pasture | Planina | |
| Cerkev | Church | At/by/near | Pri | |
| Cesta | Road | Bivouac/hut | Bivak | |
| Dolina | Valley | Bridge | Most | |
| Dom | Mountain hut/hostel | Castle | Grad | |
| Gora | Mountain | Cave | Jama | |
| Gozd | Forest | Church | Cerkev | |
| Grad | Castle | Corner | Kot | |
| Hrib | Hill | Forest | Gozd | |
| Jama | Cave | Gorge | Soteska | |
| Jezero | Lake | Great | V. (Veliki) | |
| Koča | Mountain hut | Hill | Hrib | |
| Korito | Ravine | Hut (mountain) | Koča | |
| Kot | Corner | Hostel (mountain hut) | Dom | |
| M. (Mali) | Little | Lake | Jezero | |
| Most | Bridge | Little | M. (Mali) | |
| Naravni most | Rock bridge | Lower | Sp. (Spodnji) | |
| Planina | Alpine pasture | Middle | Sr. (Srednja) | |
| Po | On/upon/by | Mountain | Gora | |
| Pod | Under/below | On/upon/by | Po | |
| Pot | Path/trail | Pass/saddle/col | Sedlo | |
| Potok | Stream | Path/trail | Pot | |
| Pri | At/by/near | Ravine | Korito | |
| Razglednik | Viewpoint | River | Reka | |
| Reka | River | Road | Cesta | |
| Sedlo | Pass/saddle/col | Rock bridge | Naravni most | |
| Slap | Waterfall | Stream | Potok | |
| Soteska | Gorge | Street | Ulica | |
| Sp. (Spodnji) | Lower | Summit | Vrh | |
| Sr. (Srednja) | Middle | Under/below | Pod | |
| Ulica | Street | Upper | Zg. (Zgornji) | |
| Vrh | Summit | Valley | Dolina | |
| V. (Veliki) | Great | Viewpoint | Razglednik | |
| Zg. (Zgornji) | Upper | Waterfall | Slap |
Please, if you think we should add some other words to these lists (or spot a mistake) please leave a comment below or contact us.
Thanks to Bojan Kralj who kindly spotted and reported a few typos and suggested another entry.