Welcome to Slovenia! This is a beautiful country in the Balkans which comprises splendid scenery like azure waters and towering mountains. Cherry on the top? Its stunning folk architecture! If you were on the fence about visiting Slovenia before you read that sentence and are thankful that I convinced you to visit it, then prosim!
In this post, I will tell you the ways that you can say you are welcome in Slovenian – a phrase that you will surely use if you plan on learning Slovenian. With this knowledge, you’ll handle any situation with mindful manners. Read on if you want to know more ways to utilize this helpful phrase in your everyday Slovenian conversations!
Table Of Contents
First Way Of Saying You Are Welcome In Slovenian: Prosim
It’s quite interesting when languages have words that hold double meanings. Slovenian homonyms exist as well! Prosim (proh seem) is one easy way to say you’re welcome and please. The translations change, so context makes all the difference when using these double-meaning words. Sounds a little confusing? Let’s see this word in action in a conversation in Slovenian.
For example, if you misheard or didn’t quite understand what someone just told you, you can say “Lahko ponovite prosim?” which means, “Can you repeat that, please?” After the other person repeats what they said, you can say thank you with a “Hvala” (hvah lah) and you might hear the other person say the word you just said: “Prosim!”
It would be a wise idea to remember this Slovenian word because it means two things so you get an easy two-for-one! How handy is that?
Second Way Of Saying You Are Welcome In Slovenian: Ni Za Kaj
In Slovenian, ni za kaj (nee zah kyai) is the another way in which you will hear local Slovenes say you’re welcome. It basically translates to ”it’s for nothing”.
Both prosim and ni za kaj are good ways to say you’re welcome when speaking in casual settings, or with people you aren’t familiar with, or with elders to establish respect.
For example, let’s say you’re in a café and ask the waiter “When is the closing time?” which in Slovenian is said as, “Kdaj zapirate?” (kdai zah-peer-ah-teh) In this situation you are having a meal and speaking to a person you don’t personally know, but it would be appropriate to either say ni za kaj or prosim after the waiter replies with the answer to maintain a respectful courtesy with them.
Speaking Slovenian can be a little tricky, but don’t get discouraged! With plenty of practice and repetition, you can learn to speak Slovenian like a native, too. Think about implementing the Ling app into your daily routine, as it is the perfect tool for learning hard languages like Slovenian, making it fun and easy.
How Do You Say Appreciation in Slovenian?
The word for appreciation in Slovenian is hvaležnost. If you want to say ”I appreciate it” you can also say cenim to.
Slovenians appreciate manners and being polite, so they will also show gratitude if you act accordingly.
More Manner Words And Vocabulary In The Slovenian Language
It’s wonderful to know manner words besides “you’re welcome” that convey a respectful nature. Manners are important no matter where you are in the world! Look at the table below to add the following manner-focused words to your Slovenian phrasebook.
English | Slovenian | Pronunciation |
Have a nice day! | Lepo se imej! | Leh-poh seh ee-mejh |
How are you? | Kako si/ste? | Kah-koh see/steh? |
Good day! | Lep dan! | Lehp dahn |
Nice to meet you. | Me veseli. | Meh veh-sehlee |
Cheers/Bless you! | Na zdravje! | Nah zee-drahv-yeh |
The bill, please. | Račun prosim. | Rah-choon, proh-seem |
No, thanks | Ne, hvala | Neh ha-vahla |
Yes, please | Ja, prosim. | Yah, proh-seem |
Unfortunately not | Žal ne | Zhahl neh |
Protip: Whenever traveling to a new country whose culture is absolutely different than those, please make an effort to learn the basic words and phrases. Using a sentence here and there of the native language in between your English is a sure way to endear yourself to the locals.
Frequently Asked Questions About Learning Slovenian
How Do You Say Goodbye In Slovenian?
To say goodbye in Slovenian, you can use the formal nasvidenje (goodbye) or the informal adijo (bye).
What Are Common Phrases In Slovenian?
When you want to say thank you in Slovenian, you can use hvala or hvala lepa.
When you want to ask how are you in Slovenian, you can say kako si? And to respond, you can say dobro (good) or super (great).
If you want to ask someone’s name in Slovenian, you can say kako ti je ime? To answer, you can say ime mi je and then say your name.
All of these phrases are common and used in everyday conversations.
How Do Slovenians Greet Eachother?
Common Slovenian greetings are formal ones for dober dan (good day), dober večer (good evening), and the informal živjo, or zdravo (hi).
Learning About Slovenian Charm
Whether it’s prosim or ni za kaj, if you’ve made it to the end of this post, then you’re well-equipped with Slovenian translations to say you are welcome!
It speaks volumes to the locals, showing them how interested you are in their culture to go beyond the typical Slovene words and expand into the more “localized” way to speak. Though a popular language spoken in Slovenia is English, Slovenian is great to know if you’re going to be in this country. Native Slovenes will be impressed with your language skills and especially about your politeness!