One of the first things you’ll notice when learning Slovenian is that there are two ways of addressing people: formal and informal. There are situations when you have to be more polite and others when you should keep it casual.
We’ll break it down step by step, making sure you understand why these two forms exist, how they affect verbs, and when it’s best to use one over the other. Let’s jump in and get you more familiar with formal vs. informal Slovenian!
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Formal Vs Informal Slovenian: What’s The Difference?
Slovenian uses two forms of addressing people: tikanje (informal) and vikanje (formal). They come from the pronouns used in each case: When speaking formally, you use vi (you), and when speaking informally, you use ti (you).
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When To Use Formal Or Informal Language
You should use informal language when you’re talking to:
- Friends
- Family members (siblings, cousins, parents)
- Peers (people your age or younger)
- People you know well and you agreed to keep it casual (co-workers)
You should use formal language when you’re talking to:
- Older people (especially if you don’t know them)
- Teachers, professors, and bosses
- Anyone you don’t know, like shop assistants, waiters, or officials
- People in professional or official settings (emails, work meetings)
Why is this important? The way you address someone in Slovenia shows your relationship with them and the level of respect you want to show. Getting it wrong can make you sound too distant, too familiar, or even rude.
Imagine you’re meeting your partner’s parents for the first time. To show respect, you absolutely should start off with formal language. But most Slovenians are laid-back and will tell you to switch to informal quite quickly. They may jokingly say formal language makes them feel old. That’s because there are still older generations who will insist on keeping it more traditional.
Pronouns And Verb Forms
Slovenian uses different pronouns and verb forms depending on formality.
Slovenian pronouns that you have to remember are vi and ti. Both mean ”you”. Ti is the informal one and is only used for one-on-one conversations. Vi can be used in two ways: when you’re speaking formally to one person or when you’re speaking to multiple people.
An easy way to think about it is that when you’re using formal language, just imagine you’re speaking to more people, even though it’s just one person. Below is the conjugation of the verb ”to see”-videti. Notice that ”you plural” and ”you formal” are the same!
| English | Slovenian |
|---|---|
| I see | Jaz vidim |
| You see (singular) | Ti vidiš |
| He/She/It sees | On/Ona/Ono vidi |
| We see | Mi vidimo |
| You see (plural) | Vi vidite |
| They see | Oni vidijo |
| You see (formal) | Vi vidite |
Examples Of Formal And Informal Sentences
Let’s look at some real-life examples of how you would address someone formally or informally.
Asking ”How Are You?”
There are two ways to ask ”How are you in Slovenian‘.’ It matters how you’re going to say it, depending on the relationship with the person you’re talking to.
| English | Slovenian |
|---|---|
| How are you? (informal) | Kako si? |
| How are you? (formal) | Kako ste? |
If you’re talking to a friend or family member, you’d say kako si? If you’re in a professional setting, and talking to a teacher, or a doctor, you’d say kako ste?
You can also use kako ste? when talking to multiple people. A teacher can say it to a classroom full of students to address them all at once, for example.
So, what do vi and ti have to do with this? Just imagine them at the end of these sentences, but there’s no need to say it out loud! For example, Kako ste vi?, and Kako si ti? Both are the ”you” in ”how are you?” but in Slovenian, it’s built right into the verb form, so you don’t have to say it separately.
Hello And Goodbye
There are also two types of greetings in Slovenian: formal and informal.
We use informal ways to say hello and goodbye when talking to friends, family, and peers:
| English | Slovenian |
|---|---|
| Hi! | Zdravo! |
| Hey! | Hej! |
| Hey! | Oj! |
| Bye! | Adijo! |
| Ciao! | Čau! |
| See you! | Se vidimo! |
We use formal greetings with strangers, older people, and in professional settings:
| English | Slovenian |
|---|---|
| Good afternoon | Dober dan |
| Good morning | Dobro jutro |
| Good evening | Dober večer |
| Goodbye | Nasvidenje |
| Have a nice day | Lepo se imejte |
| Thank you and goodbye | Hvala in nasvidenje |
Asking For Someone’s Name And Introducing Yourself
When you’re meeting new people, there are two ways to ask their names. If you’re making new friends in Ljubljana, go with the informal, but at business meetings or fancy dinners, opt for the formal!
| English | Slovenian |
|---|---|
| What’s your name? (informal) | Kako ti je ime? |
| What’s your name? (formal) | Kako vam je ime? |
Then, to introduce yourself in Slovenian, you can say one of the following. Both are appropriate in any situation.
| English | Slovenian |
|---|---|
| My name is Ana, nice to meet you | Ime mi je Ana, me veseli |
| I am Ana, nice to meet you | Jaz sem Ana, me veseli |
Possessive Pronouns
In Slovenian, possessive pronouns (your) also change depending on whether you’re speaking formally or informally.
If you’re using tikanje, you’ll say tvoj/tvoja/tvoje
If you’re using vikanje, you’ll say vaš/vaša/vaše
There are different endings because pronouns agree with the gender of the noun. For example, the word car (avto) is masculine:
| English | Slovenian |
|---|---|
| Your car is nice | Tvoj avto je lep (informal) |
| Your car is nice | Vaš avto je lep (formal) |
Useful Tips For Using Formal Or Informal Language
- When meeting someone new, always use vikanje first unless they suggest otherwise.
- It’s common for younger generations, especially when people are a similar age, to use tikanje right away.
- Tikanje between two people starts to happen when you know someone for a while, and it’s usually suggested by the older person or the higher-ranking one.
- Tikanje should be mutual! It’s rude if someone from a higher position automatically uses informal language with colleagues but expects formal in return.
- If someone suggests tikanje, it doesn’t mean you should stop respecting them!
- Some workplaces agree that everyone should use tikanje, but this doesn’t always work for all employees.
- You can still build warm and friendly relationships even if you continue with vikanje. It doesn’t mean you have to be distant!
- Slovenians have a funny tradition: if you’re over 1000 meters, everyone should use informal or tikanje, no matter who you’re talking to.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Are ”Tikanje” And ”Vikanje”?
The words tikanje and vikanje are verbal nouns for formal and informal language that only exist in Slovenian. They’re used in sentences when Slovenians want to make sure which level of formality to use. These sentences are hard to translate, because these words don’t exist in English.
For example, when two Slovenians are talking, you might hear them say: Se lahko tikava? This sentence means: ”Can we speak casually?” but if we were to translate it literally, it means: ”Can we ‘tikava‘ each other?”
2. Is It Rude To Use Informal Language With Strangers?
If you’re talking to someone you don’t know, like a waiter, cashier, or random people on the street, then using informal language might come across as rude.
But if you’re trying to make new friends and speak to people your age, then you don’t have to worry about it! In fact, you may seem a bit distant if you use formal language in those situations.
3. What’s The Easiest Way To Tell If A Sentence Is Formal Or Informal?
The easiest way to tell if a sentence is formal or informal is to see which pronoun was used: ti or vi? Other than that, notice the changes in verbs. The informal verbs end in -š, while the formal ones end in –te:
- You see – Ti vidiš (informal)
- You see – Vi vidite (formal)
Use the Ling app to go through tons of examples that let you study the patterns and notice the situations when formal or informal is used!
Choosing The Right ”You”
When you’re figuring out what tone to use, just remember: Use informal language with friends, family, and your peers. Use formal language in professional settings, with older people and complete strangers.
And it’s not just about saying the right ”you”. There are also verbs, greetings, and even possessive pronouns that change depending on the situation.
Find Your Flow With Slovenian Formalities
Not sure when to use formal vs. informal Slovenian in a certain situation? A good rule of thumb is to start with formal and switch to informal once invited. Even as a native speaker, there are times when I’m unsure which one to use, so don’t sweat it!
With practice, recognizing when to use each form will become second nature. Keep listening to native speakers, paying attention to their phrasing, and use the best Slovenian language app to reinforce your learning. Ling offers practical, hands-on experience to master the nuances of formal and informal language. Start today and learn Slovenian the smart way!
