Slovenian slang can feel like a whole new language, but it’s also a whole lot of fun. Today, we’ll be breaking down some of the quirkiest, funniest, and most useful Slovenian slang words.
By the end of this blog, you’ll be able to impress your friends, charm the locals and maybe even score a free drink next time you’re in a Slovenian bar.
Table of Contents
Most Common Slovenian Slang Words
First off all, what is slang? It is an informal language, that people use in every day conversations. It’s usually used among young people and can change very quickly and a lot over time. You might not find these words in dictionaries, or they may have different meanings written there. But all in all, these words are fun to use, because they’re more casual and relaxed, and especially useful if you’re trying to learn about the culture of the language!
Understanding Slovenian slang is important for blending in with locals and feeling more connected to the culture. It helps you communicate more naturally and authentically. While it’s not always advisable due to cultural sensitivities, knowing some basic slang can be beneficial, especially for tourists. Below, we’ve prepared a list of most common Slovenian slang words that you can easily incorporate into your conversations.
Itak
Let’s start with the most used one. The slang word itak is kind of like saying ”duh!” in English. It can also have similar meaning to ”of course” or ”obviously”. It’s often used in everyday conversations to confirm or point out that something is obvious. Here are some examples of how to use it:
| English | Slovenian |
|---|---|
| – Are you coming to the party tonight? – Of course! | – Prideš danes na zabavo? – Itak! |
| – Do you like ice cream? – Duh! | – Imaš rad sladoled? – Ja, itak! |
| – Shall we watch the game later? – Obviously. | – Bomo potem gledali tekmo? – Itak. |
Stari
Stari is a Slovenian slang word that’s usually used to refer to a friend, buddy, or mate, similar to “dude” or “bro” in English. It literally translates to “old one” but in slang, it has nothing to do with someone’s age. Instead, it can be used as a Slovenian term of endearment among friends.
| English | Slovenian |
|---|---|
| Hey, buddy, how are you? | Hej, stari, kako gre? |
| What’s up, dude? | Kaj dogaja, stari? |
| Thanks for the help, man! | Hvala za pomoč, stari! |
| See you later, bro. | Se vidimo, stari. |
| Don’t worry about it, dude. | Ne skrbi, stari. |
Kul
Slovenians like to borrow words from other languages, especially English, and use it in Slovenian sentences. So this one will be quite easy to understand – it’s the English equivalent of ”cool”. Take a look at how it can be used in a sentence:
| English | Slovenian |
|---|---|
| You’ve got a cool hat. | Imaš kul kapo. |
| The party last night was awesome. | Včerajšnja zabava je bila res kul. |
| She’s such a cool person. | Ona je tako kul oseba. |
| Wow, that’s a cool car! | Vau, kakšen kul avto! |
Ful
When you say ful in Slovenian, it can only be used as a slang word, meaning ”very” or ”a lot”. People use it to emphasize something, like saying “really” or “super” in English
Here are some examples of how ful might be used:
| English | Slovenian |
|---|---|
| This movie is really good. | Ta film je ful dober. |
| I’m super tired. | Sem ful utrujen. |
| She’s very smart. | Ona je ful pametna. |
| That was a lot of fun. | To je bilo ful zabavno. |
Faca
You would call someone a faca, when you think they’re cool, cute, or smart. It’s like giving them a thumbs-up for being awesome and making things fun or interesting. So, if you’re a faca you’re kind of a big deal among your friends. Here are some examples:
Certainly! “Faca” in Slovenian slang typically refers to a person’s face, but it can also mean someone who is cool, admirable, or respected. It’s often used to describe someone who is popular or well-liked. Here’s a breakdown and examples:
| English | Slovenian |
|---|---|
| She’s such a cool person. | Ona je res faca. |
| That guy is awesome! | Ta tip je faca! |
| You’re a legend! | Ti si faca! |
How Do You Say Slang In Slovenian?
The word for slang in Slovenian is sleng. It is simply derived from the English term ”slang”, meaning informal language, used in a casual conversation. It’s not uncommon for the Slovenian language to borrow terms from English.
Other Slovenian Slang Words And Their Meaning
We’ve covered the most common slang words, that you’ll most likely hear in every day conversation among Slovenians. But for those interested in more, I’ve prepared a list of some other slang words, that can also be heard often in Slovenia. By the way, have you heard of the Ling app? It’s one of the rare apps that teaches Slovenian, and could be a great resource for those learning the language.
| English Meaning | Slovenian Slang Word |
|---|---|
| Of course | Valda |
| Sorry | Sori |
| Money | Keš |
| People | Folk |
| Computer | Komp |
| Flat, apartment | Flet |
| Time | Cajt |
Common Questions About Slovenian Slang And Language
How Do Slovenians Greet Each Other?
When Slovenian say hello to each other they may use words like zdravo, or živjo. Other options are used in different regions and include oj, čau, hej, and ojla. These are all informal. The formal way to say hello is dober dan.
What Is The Closest Language To Slovenian?
Slovenian is quite similar to the languages of the nearby countries – Croatian, Serbian and Bosnian. All of these language belong in the group of the South Slavic languages, and share many similarities, like vocabulary and grammar. Some of Slovenian slang and swear words are taken from these languages.
Is Slovenian Hard To Learn?
It depends! If you’re already proficient in another Slavic language, learning Slovenian may not pose a huge challenge for you. However, if you are not familiar with the language, then Slovenian grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation will be the things you struggle most with.
Slovenian Slang: An Insight Into Local Culture
Learning slang is not just about picking up new vocabulary. It can help you better understand the Slovenian culture and local secrets that will allow you to be part of the community. Try using them next time you’re traveling in Slovenia and I promise, the locals will be super impressed with you.
