Going to Slovenia and thinking of learning a few essential Slovenian travel phrases phrases? Like, how do you say “Please” and “Thank you” in Slovenian?
As a Slovenian, I can confirm that locals will warmly appreciate your efforts when trying to speak our language. That is why I’ve prepared a list of common Slovenian words for tourists and a FREE downloadable pdf. Find them below.
BEST PLACES TO STAY in SLOVENIA:
• Cubo Hotel (modern and chic hotel in Ljubljana city center)
• Grand Hotel Union (only a couple of steps from Prešeren Square)
• Boutique Hotel Zlata Ladjica (unique and intimate stay in Ljubljana)
• Bled Rose Hotel (stunning stay in Alpine jewel Bled)
• Honeycomb Chalets (bee like a bee in these uniquely shaped rooms)
• Hotel Plesnik Logarska Dolina (stay in the most beautiful valley in Slovenia)
TOP EXPERIENCES in and around SLOVENIA:
• Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle (I’ve done it 13+ times)
• Lake Bled and Bled Castle (a must-do in Slovenia)
• UNESCO Škocjan Caves (AMAZING!)
• Ljubljana food and wine tour (enjoy in Slovenian cuisine)
• Piran and Lipica Stud farm (something different)
Slovenia is one of the most beautiful green tourist destinations in Europe, according to Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, and Forbes. It might not be the most popular, but a hidden gem, that only well-informed travelers choose to visit.
A lot of people of Slovenia speak English, but for traveling in Slovenia, learning basic Slovenian phrases will go a long way. You don’t need to be fluent in Slovenian to enjoy your time in Ljubljana, Lake Bled, or Piran.
In this Slovenian language guide, you will find useful Slovenian phrases with pronunciation that will help you navigate your way through Slovenia with ease (and help you to understand other Slavic languages, like Serbian and Croatian). It has a list of simple Slovenian words and phrases to use in everyday situations.
Now, learn some basic Slovenian for travel and download your Slovenian phrases cheat sheet.
FRIENDLY REMINDER
Never leave for a trip without travel insurance. Unexpected issues can arise so I suggest using insurance that covers people from all over the world, while outside their home country. You can buy this travel insurance even if you are already abroad.
Slovenian phrases for travel
KEY TAKEAWAYS
● Learn must-know Slovenian language words and simple Slovenian phrases you’ll likely need for ordering food, asking for directions, and greeting locals.
● Find Slovenian pronunciation so you don’t need to worry about saying useful words and phrases. Knowing Slovene language basics will help you understand other South Slavic languages.
● Download a basic Slovenian travel phrases pdf for when you visit Slovenia.
Where is Slovenian spoken?
Did you know that only around 2,5 million people speak Slovenian?
If you are wondering what language is spoken in Slovenia? It is Slovenian. The official language of Slovenia, can also be heard in neighboring regions and is officially recognized as a minority language in some parts of Italy and Austria.
If you wish to learn basic Slovenian phrases for tourists, you can do so by using apps like Duolingo or Rosetta Stone. If your Slovenian itinerary is longer than one week, maybe sign up for a language class, ask a local (me) for a one on one lessons or go on a language exchange. But if you don’t have time, just download Slovenian basic words pdf in this blog post.
Slovenian language basics: alphabet and pronunciation
How to learn Slovene? Before you proceed to the useful travel phrases, it is important to know the basics of Slovenian language.
This will be useful when pronouncing the words since here you will find letters that are not in the English alphabet.
The Slovenian alphabet has 25 letters and does not have the letters W, Q, X, Y. It does have three new letters, Č, Š, Ž which are basically C, S, and Z with a caron on top.
Pronunciation of Slovenian words and phrases is phonetic. This makes things easy since each letter has only one specific sound and it is pronounced in the same way all the time.
A simple guide to Slovenian alphabet and pronunciation with similar English sounds:
| a | adventure | avantura | m | month | mesec |
| b | banana | banana | n | nature | narava |
| c | pizza | pica | o | ocean | ocean |
| č | chicken | piščanec | p | plane | letalo |
| d | dad | oče | r | rainbow | mavrica |
| e | elevator | dvigalo | s | sky | nebo |
| f | face | obraz | š | shop | trgovina |
| g | globe | globus | t | table | miza |
| h | house | hiša | u | moon | luna |
| i | information | informacija | v | village | vas |
| j | yes | ja | z | zebra | zebra |
| k | calendar | koledar | ž | pleasure | užitek |
| l | lake | jezero |
Essential Slovenian travel phrases
Basic Slovenian words and phrases
Basic words in Slovenian combine expressions that showcase politeness and cultural respect, encouraging positive interactions with locals and serving as a basis for every communication.
| ENGLISH | SLOVENIAN |
|---|---|
| Hi | Živjo |
| Please | Prosim |
| Thank you | Hvala |
| Excuse me | Oprostite |
| Sorry | Se opravičujem |
| Yes / No | Ja / Ne |
| I don’t understand | Ne razumem |
| Do you speak [language]? | Ali govorite … |
| What is the WiFi password? | Kakšno je geslo za WiFi? |
| Could you take my picture? | Ali me lahko slikate? |
| Where is the bathroom? | Kje je WC/toaleta? |
Common travel phrases for greetings in Slovenian
Slovenian words and phrases for greetings lay the foundation for any interaction, allowing you to initiate conversations and make a positive first impression.
| ENGLISH | SLOVENIAN |
|---|---|
| Hello | Zdravo |
| Goodbye | Adijo |
| Good morning | Dobro jutro |
| Good day | Dober dan |
| Good evening | Dober večer |
| Good night | Lahko noč |
| Nice to meet you | Lepo vas je bilo spoznati |
| How are you? | Kako si? |
| My name is … | Ime mi je … |
| How do you say […] in [language]? | Kako se reče … v … ? |
| Speak slowly, please. | Govorite počasi, prosim. |
Essential Slovenian travel phrases for directions and getting around
Basic Slovenian phrases for asking for directions will enable you to navigate unfamiliar streets and find your way around.
| ENGLISH | SLOVENIAN |
|---|---|
| Where is … | Kje je … |
| What time is … | Kdaj je … |
| How do I get to … | Kako pridem do … |
| How far away is … | Kako daleč je … |
| Do you have a map? | Imate zemljevid? |
| When does the next … arrive? | Kdaj pride naslednji …? |
| How long does it take to get to….? | Koliko časa traja, da pridem do …? |
| here / there | tukaj / tam |
| North / South / East / West | sever / jug / vzhod / zahod |
| left / right / straight / back / up / down | levo / desno / naravnost / nazaj / gor / dol |
| car / bus / train / taxi / metro / plane | avto / avtobus / vlak / taksi / metro / letalo |
| bathroom / restaurant / hotel / bank / pharmacy / hospital | kopalnica / restavracija / hotel / banka / lekarna / bolnišnica |
Useful Slovenian phrases for traveling when ordering food and drinks
Common Slovenian phrases for ordering meals, asking for recommendations, and specifying dietary preferences ensure enjoyable dining experiences and help you explore local cuisines.
| ENGLISH | SLOVENIAN |
|---|---|
| Cheers! | Na zdravje |
| Is this … | Je to … |
| I’m allergic to … | Alergičen/a sem na … |
| The bill, please. | Račun prosim. |
| I would like to have … | Rad/a bi … |
| May I see the menu? | Lahko dobim jedilnik? |
| What do you recommend? | Kaj priporočate? |
| vegetarian / vegan / gluten free | vegetarijanec/ka /vegan/ka/ celiak |
| sweet / bitter / sour / salty / spicy | sladko / grenko / kislo / slano / pikantno |
| coffee / tea / water / juice / wine / beer | kava / čaj / voda / sok / vino / pivo |
| milk / eggs / fish / peanuts / shellfish / wheat / soybeans | mleko / jajca / ribe / arašidi / školjke / pšenica / soja |
Practical Slovenian travel terms for shopping
Essential Slovenian phrases for inquiring about prices, negotiating, and asking for sizes or colors are handy when exploring markets and boutiques.
| ENGLISH | SLOVENIAN |
|---|---|
| How much? | Koliko? |
| May I try this on? | Lahko poskusim to? |
| Do you have this in … | Ali imate to v … |
| Excuse me, I’m looking for … | Oprostite, iščem … |
| Is this on sale? | Je to na razprodaji? |
| When do you open/close? | Kadaj ste odprete/zaprete? |
| Do you accept credit cards? | Sprejemate kreditne kartice? |
| bigger / smaller | večji/manjši |
| 1 one / 2 two / 3 three / 4 four / 5 five / 6 six / 7 seven / 8 eight / 9 nine / 10 ten | 1 ena / 2 dve / 3 tri / 4 štiri / 5 pet / 6 šest / 7 sedem / 8 osem / 9 devet / 10 deset |
| 50 fifty / 100 hundred / 1000 thousand | 50 petdeset / 100 sto / 1000 tisoč |
| white / yellow / orange/ red / blue / green / pink / purple / grey / brown / black | bela / rumena / oranžna / rdeča / modra / zelena / roza / vijolična / siva / rjava / črna |
Useful phrases in Slovenian for traveling when checking in a hotel
Phrases in Slovenian language you will need when checking in a hotel, asking for towels, fixing air conditioning, enquiring what time is breakfast, and what is included in your room rate.
| ENGLISH | SLOVENIAN |
|---|---|
| What time is … | Kdaj je … |
| … is not working. | … ne dela. |
| Do you have WiFi? | Imate WiFi? |
| Can I drink the tap water? | Lahko pijem vodo iz pipe? |
| breakfast / lunch / dinner | zajtrk / kosilo / večerja |
| toilet paper / key / towel | WC papir / ključ / brisača |
| air conditioning / fan / heater / hairdryer | klima / ventilator / radiator / fen |
Helpful Slovenian travel terms in case of emergencies
Here you will find helpful Slovenian travel terms in case of emergencies, natural disasters, or if you will be needing assistance in difficult or dangerous situations.
| ENGLISH | SLOVENIAN |
|---|---|
| Help | Na pomoč |
| I am lost | Izgubljen/a sem. |
| There is a … | Tam je … |
| Please call the … | Prosim pokličite …… |
| I lost my passport | Izgubil/a sem potni list |
| My money was stolen | Moj denar je bil ukraden |
| fire / flood / earthquake | požar / poplava / potres |
| police / firemen / ambulance | policija / gasilci / reševalci |
Slovenian travel phrases to compliment someone
If you’re like me and really love learning a few phrases in new languages, expand your study beyond the essential travel phrases. I always learn how to say please and thank you, never visit without knowing the local word for “coffee” and never leave without knowing how to say;
| ENGLISH | SLOVENIAN |
|---|---|
| Love | Ljubezen |
| Friend | Prijatelj |
| You have beautiful eyes | Imaš lepe oči |
| You have a beautiful smile | Imaš lep nasmeh |
Best language App for traveling abroad
Learning a language is a long process. If you think you won’t have time to learn Slovenian language basics, or if the situations come your way when above mentioned Slovenian words and phrases won’t be enough, use Google Translate. This is my favorite language app, that I use on (almost) every trip.
Google Translate
Price: Free
Language: 200+ languages
Download: iOS | Android | Website
Google Translate is the most popular language travel app that can be used everywhere. I personally use it on all my travels, when going to Tanzania to learn what some Swahili words mean, when in Mexico to help with my not-the-best Spanish, when in Italy, in Japan and other places.
I’m sure you are familiar with the language app already. The most obvious feature is it will help you translate the destination language into your own one. But the absolute best feature is that it can translate the text using ‘camera translation’.
All you have to do is open the app, point your camera toward the text in a foreign language and Google Translate will do the rest. Perfect for menus! It also translates text from the photos on your camera roll. And it also works offline, when you download the language pair on your phone.
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➤ Read more Slovenia travel guides
Did you enjoy this guide with common Slovene words, common Slovenian phrases for tourists and basic Slovenian phrases with pronunciation.
Don’t forget you can download basic words in Slovenian language cheat sheet.
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