4 Ways To Introduce Yourself In Slovenian

Introduce yourself in Slovenian

Making a lasting first impression is all about confidently introducing yourself, especially when speaking a new language. Knowing the right phrases and greetings can make all the difference.

In this post, we’ll cover all the essential phrases, vocabulary, and greetings you’ll need so you can introduce yourself in Slovenian and start chatting with confidence in no time. Let’s get you ready to make a great first impression!

How To Introduce Yourself In Slovenian

Let’s start with the basics of how you’d present yourself to someone new. First we’ll have a look at some informal introductions, and then explain in what situations you’d need to use a higher level of formality.

Your Name

When you’re at a bar or hanging out at a friend’s place and want to introduce yourself, a simple Zdravo or Kako si? is a great informal way to start. These phrases are like saying “Hi!” or “How’s it going?” in English.

Once you’ve said hello, you have a few options for telling people your name.

My Name Is – Moje Ime Je

This one is straightforward, with a direct translation between English and Slovenian. Here’s an example:

  • Hi! My name is Matej. – Zdravo! Moje ime je Matej.

My Name Is – Ime Mi Je

This is another way to say your name, which is common and easy to use.

  • Hi! My name is Ana. – Zdravo! Ime mi je Ana.

I Am – Jaz Sem

This is the most casual way to introduce yourself. It’s just like saying “I’m” in English, using the Slovenian verb biti (to be).

  • Hi! I’m Marko – Zdravo! Jaz sem Marko.

Your Last Name

Once you’ve introduced your first name, you might want to share your last name as well. In Slovenia, it’s common to share your last name in more formal situations, like at work or during official introductions.

Last name in Slovenian is priimek. You could say moj priimek je (my last name is), but a more common way to say it is pišem se (last name).

  • My last name is Novak. – Pišem se Novak.

How To Ask Someone Their Name

When you want to ask someone for their name, the level of formality matters. Here’s how you can ask in different situations:

What’s Your Name? – Kako Ti Je Ime?

This is the informal way to ask someone’s name, perfect for casual situations like meeting someone your age or chatting at a party.

  • Hi! What’s your name? – Zdravo! Kako ti je ime?

What’s Your Name? (Formal) – Kako Vam Je Ime?

Use this version when you’re in a formal setting or speaking to someone older or in a position of authority to show respect.

  • Good afternoon! What’s your name? – Dober dan! Kako vam je ime?

What’s Your Last Name? (Informal) – Kako Se Pišeš?

This is how you’d ask for someone’s last name in an informal setting.

  • Can I ask what’s your last name? – Lahko vprašam kako se pišeš?

What’s You Last Name? (Formal) – Kako Se Pišete?

For a more formal or respectful way to ask, use this phrase.

  • Excuse me, what’s your last name? – Oprostite, kako se pišete?
People introducing themselves to each other

Your Age

When it comes to sharing your age in Slovenian, there are a couple of ways to do it, and the form you use can depend on whether you’re a guy or a girl.

The phrase I am X years old in Slovenian, is star sem X let for a guy and stara sem X let for a girl.

  • I am twenty years old. – Star sem dvajset let.
  • I am twenty-five years old. – Stara sem petindvajset let.

I Have X Years – Imam X let

This is another way to tell someone how old you are. The gender here isn’t important.

  • I have thirty years. – Imam trideset let.
  • I have eighteen years- Imam osemnajst let.

These phrases also give you a good chance to practice using numbers in Slovenian!

To ask someone their age you would say the following phrases:

  • How old are you? (to a man) – Koliko si star?
  • How old are you (to a woman) – Koliko si stara?

You might also hear the phrase Koliko let imaš? This translates to ”How many years do you have?”

Where You’re From

When introducing yourself in Slovenian, it’s helpful to know how to share where you’re from. Here are some simple phrases to get you started.

I’m From – Prihajam Iz

This is a slightly formal way to say where you’re from in Slovenian. It’s great for introducing yourself in a new environment.

  • I’m from Slovenia. – Prihajam iz Slovenije.

I’m From – Sem Iz

This is a more casual way to say where you’re from. It’s quick and commonly used.

  • I’m from Ljubljana. – Sem iz Ljubljane.

I Live In – Živim V

If you want to tell someone where you currently live, this is the phrase to use.

  • I live in Maribor. – Živim v Mariboru.

Your Profession

When talking about your profession in Slovenian, these simple phrases can help you share what you do, whether you’re working or still studying.

By Profession, I am – Po Poklicu Sem

This is a formal way to tell someone what you do for a living.

  • By profession, I am a teacher (male). – Po poklicu sem učitelj.
  • By profession, I am a teacher (female). – Po poklicu sem učiteljica.

I Am A Student – Sem Študent/ka

If you’re a student, you can use these phrases to say so.

  • I am a student (male). – Sem študent.
  • I am a student (female). – Sem študentka.

How Do You Say You Introduce Yourself In Slovenian?

The verb predstaviti se means “to introduce oneself.” We use it when talking about the act of introducing yourself to others. For example:

  • I would like to introduce myself. – Rad/a bi se predstavil/a.
  • He wants to introduce himself. – On se želi predstaviti.

Useful Vocabulary For Conversations

When meeting someone in Slovenia, there’s extra phrases you might hear in a conversation. Here’s a list of useful, easy-to-remember phrases to keep in mind:

EnglishSlovenian
Nice to meet youMe veseli
Where are you from?Iz kje si?
How do you do?Kako si?
Do you speak English?Govoriš angleško?
Can you help me?Mi lahko pomagaš?
I don’t understandNe razumem
Could you pleaes repeat that?Lahko prosim ponoviš?
Excuse meOprostite
Have a nice dayLep dan želim

To get better at Slovenian and really master these phrases, check out the Ling app. It’s a great tool to help you practice and get comfortable with speaking and chatting in Slovenian.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Greet Someone In Slovenian?

Some casual greetings in Slovenian are hej, zdravo, živjo and, oj.

In a formal setting you can use dobro jutro (good morning), dober dan (good afternoon), and dober večer (good evening).

How Do Slovenians Say Thank You?

To say thank you in Slovenian, you can use the word hvala. To express more gratitude you can use hvala lepa, or najlepša hvala.

What Language Is Slovenian Most Like?

Slovenian is a part of the South Slavic language group. This means it’s most similar to languages like Croatian, Serbian, and Bosnian.

Your Slovenian Icebreaker Guide

Knowing how to introduce yourself is a sure-fire way to break the ice. Knowing the basic words and phrases in Slovenian for saying hello, sharing your name, asking for theirs, talking about your age, where you’re from, and what you do makes starting conversations much easier. Just practice these phrases and use them when you meet new people in Slovenia!

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