Music is a universal language. This means that every human on earth can understand and appreciate the emotions expressed through music. But when it comes to music terms, every language has its own set of words and phrases.
So, that’s why today we will take a look at Slovenian music related vocab, everything from instruments, songs, genres, and music theory. By the end you’ll be able to chat to local musicians and understand all of the basic musical terms. Let’s get grooving!
Table of Contents
Slovenian Music Related Vocab
It’s always nice to meet a fellow music enthusiast. Sharing the same passion is a very easy way to make new friends! But what if those friends are from a foreign country and you don’t know anything they’re saying? I’m here to help you have easier chats on your favorite topic.
Musical Instruments Vocabulary
In my opinion it takes extraordinary talent to be able to play any or the musical instruments well. Here’s how we call them in Slovenia:
| English | Slovenian |
|---|---|
| Guitar | Kitara |
| Piano | Klavir |
| Violin | Violina |
| Drums | Bobni |
| Flute | Flavta |
| Saxophone | Saksofon |
| Trumpet | Trobenta |
| Harp | Harfa |
| Accordion | Harmonika |
| Cello | Violončelo |
| Clarinet | Klarinet |
| Double Bass | Kontrabas |
| Trombone | Pozavna |
| Oboe | Oboa |
| Banjo | Bendžo |
| Ukulele | Ukulela |
| Mandolin | Mandolina |
| Synthesizer | Sintisajzer / Sintetizator/ Sinti |
| Bass Guitar | Bas kitara |
| Electric Guitar | Električna kitara |
Music Theory Vocabulary
I used to study music theory, and I found the subject to be absolutely fascinating! It really helped me to understand and appreciate the music I was creating even more. Not to mention, studying the works of famous composers really opened my eyes to the genius behind their compositions. Here’s the terms that we used in music theory class:
| English | Slovenian |
|---|---|
| Note | Nota |
| Scale | Lestvica |
| Chord | Akord |
| Interval | Interval |
| Melody | Melodija |
| Harmony | Harmonija |
| Rhythm | Ritem |
| Tempo | Tempo |
| Dynamics | Dinamika |
| Key | Tonaliteta |
| Clef | Ključ |
| Staff | Notno črtovje |
| Measure/Bar | Takt |
| Beat | Utrip |
| Rest | Pavza |
| Accidental | Alteracija |
| Sharp (#) | Višaj |
| Flat (♭) | Nižaj |
| Natural (♮) | Naravni znak |
| Modulation | Modulacija |
| Cadence | Kadenca |
| Motif | Motiv |
| Counterpoint | Kontrapunkt |
| Triad | Trizvok |
| Tonality | Tonalnost |
| Atonality | Atonalnost |
| Consonance | Konsonanca |
| Dissonance | Dissonanca |
Musical Genres Vocabulary
When it comes to music genres, Slovenian simply use English terms for most. However, there are some that use Slovenian words. Here’s a table to see the difference:
| English | Slovenian |
|---|---|
| Classical | Klasična glasba |
| Jazz | Jazz |
| Rock | Rock / Rók |
| Pop | Pop |
| Hip Hop | Hip Hop |
| Blues | Blues |
| Country | Country |
| Reggae | Reggae |
| Electronic | Elektronska glasba |
| Metal | Metal |
| R&B | R&B |
| Folk | Folk |
| Soul | Soul |
| Punk | Punk |
| Disco | Disco |
| Funk | Funk |
| Gospel | Gospel |
| Opera | Opera |
| Latin | Latino glasba |
| Indie | Indie |
| Alternative | Alternativa |
| Dance | Plesna glasba |
| House | House |
| Techno | Techno |
| Trance | Trance |
| Ska | Ska |
| World | Svetovna glasba |
| Ambient | Ambientalna glasba |
Slovenian Musicians And Artists
Since you’re here, you might also be interested to learn about some famous Slovenian music. Listening to the song lyrics is a great way to learn the language as well! That’s because it’s easier to memorize something when you associate it with melody and rhythm, making the language more memorable and enjoyable to learn. Plus, hearing how words are pronounced in songs helps you get a better grasp of how they’re used and their pronunciation.
So here’s some artists that I think you should check out. You can find more on this in the Slovenian songs blog.
- Siddharta
- Vlado Kreslin
- Adi Smolar
- Magnifico
- Čuki
- Nina Pušlar
- Tabu
A big part of Slovenian culture, is the traditional folk music, or narodnozabavna glasba. This genre of music is played with instruments such as the Styrian harmonica, fiddle, clarinet, zithers, and flute. A key figure in this genre is Slavko Avsenik, famous for the song Na Golici, which is the most played instrumental tune of all time! This kind of music is a common at any local party, or veselica.
How Do You Say Music In Slovenian?
The Slovenian word for music is glasba.
That word is pronounced as “glahz-bah”. The ‘s’ in the middle is pronounced like the ‘z’ in “zero” in this case.
More Useful Vocab!
Here’s the rest of the Slovenian music related vocabulary, including sentences that you can use in conversations with your musical friends. Download and use the Ling app for practice and to learn many other Slovenian topics!
| English | Slovenian |
|---|---|
| Song | Pesem |
| Album | Album |
| Female singer | Pevka |
| Male singer | Pevec |
| Instrument | Inštrument |
| Keyboard | Klaviatura |
| Orchestra | Orkester |
| Concert | Koncert |
| Choir | Zbor |
| Lyrics | Besedilo |
| Composer | Skladatelj |
| Producer | Producent |
| Genre | Žanr |
| Beautiful song | Lepa pesem |
| I love music | Rad/a imam glasbo. |
| This song is very beautiful | Ta pesem je zelo lepa |
| Do you play any instrument? | Ali igraš kakšen inštrument? |
| I play the guitar | Igram kitaro |
| I play the piano | Igram klavir |
| Where is the concert? | Kje je koncert? |
| I like your album | Tvoj album mi je všeč |
| The female singer had a wonderful performance | Pevka je imela čudovit nastop |
| What genres do you listen to? | Katere žanre poslušaš? |
| Wanna go to a concert? | Bi šel/šla z mano na koncert? |
| This melody is very pleasant | Ta melodija je zelo prijetna |
| My favorite artist is… | Moj najljubši izvajalec/najljubša izvajalka je… |
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Traditional Instrument Of Slovenia?
The traditional instrument of Slovenia is the Styrian harmonica, which is the oldest type of accordion. It’s used in traditional Slovenian folk music and plays a big role in preserving Slovenian cultural traditions.
What Kind Of Music Do Slovenians Listen To?
Besides popular folk music, which attracts the largest crowds, Slovenians enjoy all types of genres, including pop, rock, and metal. Techno and electronic music are becoming increasingly famous among young people. Slovenians also like to listen to ex-Yugoslavian rock bands from the 80s.
What Is The Most Streamed Song In The Slovenian Language?
The most streamed Slovenian song is ”Carpe Diem” by Joker Out. They’re the band that represented Slovenia in Eurovision’s song contest in 2023. On Spotify, the song has over 10 million streams.
Tune Into Slovenian Music
Now that you’ve got the lowdown on Slovenian music vocabulary, you’re all set to dive into conversations with other music lovers. You’ll quickly see Music is considered to be one of the most beloved hobbies for many Slovenians . So explore the Slovenian music scene, and let the melodies guide your way to a better understanding of the Slovenian language. Happy listening!
