Are you looking to make connections and impress the locals in Slovenia? Or perhaps you want to sprinkle some proverbs into your conversations to show off your cultural understanding? Whatever the case may be, you’ve come to the right place!
Exploring a country’s proverbs and sayings is one of the best ways to get to know its culture and community. It’s like a gateway to understanding the values, humor, and wisdom of the people. So, let’s explore Slovenian proverbs and the treasures that they hold!
Table of Contents
Most Common Slovenian Proverbs
Slovenian proverbs are short, smart statements that usually have a hidden meaning and advice for living. You’ll always hear older generations telling them to youngsters, when there’s a learning opportunity in something that has happened to them. Here’s some of the most common ones along with English translations and in what context they can be used.
| English Translation Of The Proverb | Slovenian Proverb | Context of Use |
|---|---|---|
| Whoever digs a hole for someone else eventually falls into it himself. | Kdor drugemu jamo koplje, sam vanjo pade. | When someone is planning to harm others, they will most likely end up facing the consequences themselves. |
| A kind word finds a nice place. | Lepa beseda lepo mesto najde. | Politeness and kind words can have positive results and are always well-received. |
| A barking dog does not bite. | Pes, ki laja, ne grize | Trying to reassure someone that those who make threats are unlikely to follow through. |
| Only a fool makes the same mistake twice. | Osel gre samo enkrat na led. | When advising someone to learn from their mistakes and avoid repeating them. |
| A turning stone gathers no moss. | Kamna, ki se obrača, se ne prime mah. | A person who changes jobs, locations, or plans often will not manage to get wealth or establish a stable life. |
| Slowly, one gets far. | Počasi se daleč pride. | Success comes from consistent effort rather than rushing or taking shortcuts. Kind of like saying “slow and steady wins the race”. |
| A lie has short legs. | Laž ima kratke noge. | The truth will eventually come out and lies will be exposed. |
| No soup is eaten as hot as when it is cooked. | Nobena juha se ne poje tako vroča, kot se skuha. | Things usually seem worse at the beginning than they really are. As time passes, the problems get easier to handle. |
| When the iron is hot, strike. | Kuj železo, dokler je vroče. | Encouraging someone to take advantage of a good opportunity as soon as it arises. |
| There is no smoke without fire. | Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. | If there are signs or rumors of a problem, there’s usually some truth behind them. |
| There is sunshine after every rain. | Za vsakim dežjem posije sonce. | After difficult times, good times will come again. Even when things seem bad, they will get better eventually. |
Slovenian Expressions In Daily Life
Have you ever heard your Slovenian friends saying some weird things to you? Like, for example, when Slovenians are hungover they’ll say that they have a cat (imam mačka). Or instead of vomiting, they’ll say that they are calling reindeers (klicati jelene), because of the sound you make when you vomit.
Better get used to it, as Slovenians have many colloquial expressions like that. They’re not considered formal Slovenian proverbs, but they will be useful to know nonetheless.
Below is a list of some Slovenian expressions along with their meanings for you to obtain some understanding of Slovenian idioms and perspectives.
| English Translation Of The Saying | Slovenian Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Three hundred hairy bears | Tristo kosmatih medvedov | Surprise or frustration, similar to “oh my goodness!” |
| Let the mother hen kick you | Naj te koklja brcne | A swear word to use when you’re angry at someone. |
| To get put on the shoe | Dali so ga na čevelj | Someone who is fired from a job. |
| No labor, no food | Ni dela, ni jela | Success requires effort. |
| Appearance cheats | Videz vara | Things are not always as they seem. |
| Hat’s off | Kapo dol | A way to say you really respect and admire someone for something they’ve done. |
| To make an elephant out of a fly | Delati iz muhe slona | To exaggerate something greatly. |
How Do You Say Proverb In Slovenian?
The word for proverb in Slovenian is pregovor.
Useful Slovenian Vocab
Proverbs were made to share wisdom and experience, teaching important lessons in a simple, memorable way that lasts for generations. Here are some words that Slovenian proverbs are trying to pass on:
| English | Slovenian |
|---|---|
| Wisdom | Modrost |
| Patience | Potrpljenje |
| Fortune | Sreča |
| Experience | Izkušnje |
| Courage | Pogum |
| Honesty | Poštenje |
| Trust | Zaupanje |
| Diligence | Prizadevnost |
| Perseverance | Vztrajnost |
| Friendship | Prijateljstvo |
| Hard work | Trdo delo |
| Knowledge | Znanje |
| Hope | Upanje |
| Determination | Odločnost |
| Generosity | Dobrota |
| Gratitude | Zahvalnost |
| Love | Ljubezen |
| Understanding | Razumevanje |
| Integrity | Integriteta |
| Compassion | Sočutje |
Check out the Ling app for more topics and fun lessons to become fluent in Slovenian basic words and phrases, grammar, and much more!
FAQ’s About The Slovenian Language
Is Slovenian A Rare Language?
Slovenian isn’t rare in terms of not being important. It’s actually the official language of Slovenia, a country of 2 million people. Of course, if you’re thinking on a global scale, it’s more rare than big languages like English or Spanish.
What Do Slovenian Call Themselves?
Slovenian call themselves Slovenci and Slovenke.
A man in Slovenia is called Slovenec, and a woman Slovenka.
Is It Slovene Or Slovenian?
Both terms are correct, but it seems the more common one is Slovenian. The reason for this is mainly that it sounds better to English speakers, and to avoid confusion with similar words. You’ll find the term Slovenian used more often in media and online. However, both terms are still in use.
Ready To Impart Some Wisdom?
Slovenian is full of quotes and sayings, that offer timeless wisdom wrapped in the charm of Slovenian culture. There’s plenty of witty insights, and life lessons, that you can now start using on your friends when they stumble upon a tricky situation or just need a bit of encouragement.
Slovenian proverbs show what matters to Slovenians and resonate with people everywhere, offering enlightenment that’s easy to grasp and hard to forget, which make Slovenian universally relatable!
