The Slovenian language is part of the group of South Slavic languages, has a number of features characteristic of West Slavic languages, and is one of the rare Indo-European languages.
The Slovenian language is unique in its own way, as it has retained the dual number. What is a dual number? We use it when we talk about two objects, people, animals, and so on, and the plural begins with three. Nowadays, the dual number is in Arabic and Hebrew, it was also in the ancient Russian language, but over time the dual number was replaced by the plural. Although You can still find traces of the dual number in modern Russian (eyes, sleeves, ears, shoulders, glasses).
We invite you to Slovenia!!!
Pride (ponos) of a Slovenian
Slovenians are very proud of their dual number. And if you decide to learn the Slovenian language, you will have to master the dual number too. It’s not that difficult, but you will have to strain your memory. The Slovenian language is similar to Russian, you might think. And Yes And No, I will answer you. There are many common words, common verbs, a lot for us, the so-called Old Slavonic (mouth, eyes, forehead, eye-father). It will help you if you are well familiar with religious texts and Old Slavic literature. However, this similarity will often be disturb you.
Slovenian alphabet
So where do we start? Slovenian alphabet (alphabet, primer), whatever you want to call it Slovenska Abeceda. 25 letters and 29 sounds, 5 vowels (8 vowel sounds), 20 consonants (21 sounds).
narrow (mleko) and the so-called “polglasnik” (pes-dog)
There is still sound dž(džezva)-j.
Don't Akayte
What is wide, narrow, etc.?
Brief information: strešica (^)– long and wide sound - okno, osa, sestra, oče, sejem;
ostrivec(´)– long and narrow - vitez, mati, repa, orožje;
krativec(`)– short and wide sound - študent, pes, miš. All these designations are indicated in the dictionary of the Slovenian language, link below. Regarding the wide, narrow, long and short sound of vowels, if you don’t know how to pronounce, pronounce narrow. Never transform Slovenian O V A. ABOUT Always O gotovina (gOTOvina) cash. In Russian we often write O, and we talk A: put, cow, I guess, firewood, dog, and so on. There are many examples, this akanye will give you away.
Peculiarities of pronunciation of the Slovenian language.
Pronunciation features: V-pronounced like short U, at the beginning of the word (vprašanje-uprashanye-question), before consonants (davčеn-dauchen-tax), at the end of the word igriv, also applies to prepositions- v redu (at redu-in order).
Consonant l pronounced short U at the end of the word (imel-imeu) and before the consonant jabolko-yabouko-apple.
Consonants at the end of the word are deafened Primož-Primosh, but ni Primoža (no Primoz).
There are words that do not have a single vowel prst-finger, krst-Kerst-baptism, vrt-vert-garden, prt-pert-tablecloth, vrv-verv-rope, cord, that is, we pronounce it as short E before R and emphasis on this E.
Accent in Slovenian
As for stress, there is no fixed stress, it can be on any syllable, you have to look it up in the dictionary, it often doesn’t match with Russian. Until you figure it out, you do something like this, I’d like to put it like this: post e lja, but speak differently p O stelja.
Refer to the Slovenian dictionary often
If you want to find some Slovenian word and learn as much as possible about it, I recommend using SSKJ Dictionary of the Slovenian book language Checking declension by cases
Slovenian fairy tales.
I recommend listening fairy tales in Slovenian they are told by both professional artists and ordinary grandparents, everyone’s diction is different, but in ordinary life you will meet not only announcers from central television.
Self-teaching textbook of the Slovenian language
As a self-teacher of the Slovenian language, I would recommend the following textbook: Slovenian language. Self-instruction manual. Shatko E.V. Publishing house “Live Sound”. Self-instruction manual of the Slovenian language for beginners. The most detailed book in Russian. In the tutorial you will find a lot of useful information, after each lesson, exercises for consolidation, at the end of the textbook the correct answers.
We invite you to Slovenia!!!
We are ready to rent apartments in Ljubljana for the duration of your trip. You can see the photo. Send applications by email: [email protected]
When ordering an apartment for 10 days or more, instructions and advice on obtaining a residence permit as a gift.
How to learn Slovenian? Ways to study
Is it possible to learn Slovenian from scratch on your own? I think it’s possible if you are a very motivated and disciplined person. For others (not so strong-willed), there is training in the Slovenian language via Skype, if you live, for example, in Moscow. And if you have already moved to Slovenia, you can study individually. Or you can sign up, as I wrote in my article. Slovenian language courses take place in
To learn or not to learn Slovenian, of course, is a purely personal matter. As well as considering or not considering your ignorance of the national language as disrespect for the population of the country in which you plan to live long-term. In general, if you are not annoyed by the lack of English proficiency of junior medical staff, auto mechanics and your neighbor downstairs, and you are not interested in what the people next to you in cafes, shops or a gym are always chattering about, then you don’t have to teach - it’s your right. Or you can teach, for free or for money - that’s also your right :)
If your option is to teach, gremo naprej, that is, go ahead.
How can you start learning the language before moving to Slovenia?
1.Listen to Slovenian radio and watch Slovenian television online. You don’t have to strain too hard and try to catch the essence, just listen to normal Slovenian speech in the background, thus training your ear, accustoming yourself to the Slovenian language.
2. Listen to audio lessons, you can download it. They won’t teach you how to speak correctly, but they will help you upon arrival to better navigate the speech of Slovenians by ear, isolating familiar words and phrases.
3. For clarity study from textbooks(and you can also get a dictionary and/or phrasebook), which you can buy in Slovenia or ask your acquaintances and friends to bring or send them to you.
4. Rummage on online resources, learning grammar and new words, for example, here or here. Since Slovenian is not one of the ten most popular languages in the world, such resources are usually not for everyone.
Opportunities for learning Slovenian in Slovenia:
1. Let's continue watch TV, since we still pay 12 euros a month for it, it can be either news, where the announcers use literary Slovenian, or films in English and with subtitles (it is important that the films are already familiar to you), or dubbed in Slovenian (and simply Slovenian) cartoons (for example, "Fixies").
2. Listening to the radio(since we also pay the same 12 euros per month for it), and not Rock Radio, but SLO 1. The slang that your children will soon start bringing from school is not for you, learn the language in its classical form.
3. Connecting YouTube, if you want to dig around there, where you can watch cartoons in Slovenian and learn some words and idioms with cheerful Slovenian students.
4. Don’t forget that we have the opportunity to pass language courses for immigrants. In the first year, business immigrants are entitled to 60 hours, after a year another 120 (if they missed the first year, they will immediately give 180). And upon reunification, family members are simply given 180 hours after two years. And it may also happen that at the school where your children study, there will be organized language courses for parents:)
Language courses from the state are free; you only need to pay for educational materials, which will be very useful to you in the future. No matter what they tell you, this opportunity should not be ignored. Free courses do not mean bad, low-quality, we just need to get used to the fact that the Slovenian state is very polite and also cares about immigrants. Registration for these courses is carried out here.
5. Language courses, paid(by the way, a spouse can go to the same free reunions together with his other half, but for money). Here you just need to Google “jezikovna šola” or “tečaj slovenščine” (plus the city).
6. Lessons with a teacher. You can study live, or via Skype. It is very desirable that it is still a native speaker of the language, using its literary version. Well, the method of presenting the material is also important. Therefore, when choosing a teacher, as well as paid Slovenian language courses, it is recommended to rely on the experience of people who already have a good command of the language and are able to give an adequate assessment.
Communicate as much as possible with Slovenians in Slovenian, with neighbors in the building, other parents on the playground, salespeople in a store, waiters in a cafe, etc.;
- try to combine individual lessons with a teacher (or independent study of grammar and words) with group lessons, where you can practice speech;
- feel free to try to speak the language;
- don’t be embarrassed to ask for corrections;
- you are more in the language environment;
- study the meanings of frequently repeated words and phrases and use them;
- make Slovenian friends who are ready to endure your mooing and slowly repeat the same phrase for you ten times;
- find a Slovenian who wants to learn Russian (there are actually a lot of them here) and in return is ready to teach you Slovenian.
And II express my gratitude to Anastasia Markina for the information provided (email for contact [email protected]) and companies
Slovenian is the official language of Slovenia (a republic that was formerly part of Yugoslavia). It is also common among the rural population of the surrounding mountains in Austria (Carinthia and Styria) and Italy. There are also small Slovenian diasporas in Hungary, Croatia, Germany, the USA, Canada, Argentina, Australia and South Africa. The total number of carriers is slightly more than 2 million people.The earliest known example of a distinctly Slovenian dialect in writing is the so-called Brizhinsky (Freisingen) excerpts(Brižinski spomeniki). They were written between 972 and 1093 (probably towards the end of this period) in the Möll River valley in Carinthia. This religious text, the oldest written monument of the Slovenian language, written in Latin (Carolingian minuscule), is one of the oldest surviving Slavic manuscripts in general.
The first text in the Slovenian language proper - the Tselovetsky manuscript - dates back to the 14th century, and grammar and literature were formed from the end of the 16th century. Protestant priest Primoz Trubar. In terms of dialectology and stylistics, Slovenian is one of the most heterogeneous languages in the world. It has more than 40 dialects, which are divided into 8 groups: Koroš (Carinthian), Primorska, Rovtarska, Gorenjska (Upper Ukrainian), Dolenjska (Lower Ukrainian), Steyer (Styrian), Pannonian and Kočevska (a new mixed group in the city of Kočevje and the surrounding area, which were previously inhabited by Germans). The basis of the Slovenian literary language is the dialect of the inhabitants of Ljubljana.
The Slovenian language, unlike Serbian, is characterized by strong vowel reduction. In most dialects, in addition to expiratory, there are tonal stresses of the same types as in Serbo-Croatian dialects.
Slovenian is the only Slavic language that has preserved the dual number of noun and verb, for example prijatelja "two friends", prijatelji "friends". There are six cases, three genders (the word dekle “girl” also falls into the neuter gender). In a number of dialects the neuter gender is lost.
Verbs refer to the perfect or imperfect forms, and the perfect form can also be used in the present tense to denote a repeated action, the opportunity to do something (this is occasionally found in Russian, for example, in the expressions “he will come home and work”, although usually such forms in Russian are forms of the future tense).
The past tense is formed using an auxiliary verb, as in Proto-Slavic. There is a plusquaperfect (long-past tense) and an attainative mood.
Pronouns are divided into interrogative (kto, kada) and relative (ktor, kadar) forms. Numerals have a special form to denote types: dvoji ucenci "two kinds of students."
In the dialects, especially Carinthian and Styrian, there are many borrowings from German, but the literary language retains Slavic roots (however, borrowings are also found here, including from the Turkish language through Serbian).
Slovenian writing is based on the Latin alphabet, although in some eras attempts were made to use the Glagolitic and Cyrillic alphabet. The disadvantage of the Latin alphabet is the lack of letters for the sounds [ʒ], [ʃ] and . At different times this problem was solved in different ways. From the Reformation to the 1850s. the so-called Bohoricica(named after Adam Bohoric, who lived in the 16th century) - a system using two forms of the Latin letter S in different sound meanings and designating sibilants with letter combinations (s [s], ſ [ts], z [z], sh [sh], ſh [h], zh [zh]). The disadvantage of this system is the non-distinction between [з]/[с], [ж]/[ш] at the beginning of a word, if it is written with a capital letter. In the first half of the 18th century, systems were used Dainčica(named after Peter Dainko, 1787-1873) and broom(named after Franz Metelko, 1779-1860) - both borrowing characters for [ʃ] and [ʒ] from the Cyrillic alphabet. From the mid-19th century to the present day, a modified (shortened by two letters, Ć and Đ) Croatian alphabet of Ljudevit Gaj ( Gaitsa).
The modern Slovenian alphabet contains 25 letters proper (Latin without Q, W, X, Y, but with added Č, Š, Ž) and 3 digraphs equated to the letters: DŽ, LJ, NJ.
Interestingly, the city of Vienna is called Dunaj in Slovenian, and the Danube River is called Donava.
All necessary materials for learning the Slovenian language - encyclopedic reference, reading rules, dictionaries, phrase books, textbooks, tutorials, grammar reference books, texts - are presented
In contact with
Classmates
So, last time we ended with the fact that the Slovenian language is simple and easy to learn :) It is sometimes so easy that it became a problem for me, at a certain stage I was not sure whether I knew the word or made it up. For example:
- airplane - flew (letalo),
- vehicle - carried (vozilo),
- west - sunset (sunset:)
- my favorite thing is, of course, the pensioner:) the deceased (upokojenec).
A year and a half has already passed, I’m quite talking to myself and have stopped noticing many funny things, but still, when the Spar supermarket declares Thursday as pensioners’ day, promising them a discount on the entire purchase the next day, my rich imagination paints a picture of people storming the grocery shelves, eager to save money ghouls.
And in Slovenian, a sufficient number of Old Church Slavonic words have been preserved, and sometimes you start muttering like a careless “boyar” in “Ivan Vasilich changes his profession”:
- window - window (window)
- fish - riba
- ass - even in Slovenia it’s an ass (zadnica), although the word is quite bookish and official
- fire - fire (ogon)
- leg - leg (noga)
What, do you think you will learn a hundred words a day? But here everything is not so simple. As a rule, the stress in the Slovenian language is not at all where we would like to place it: rOka, noga, and so on :) and in the beginning, when you still don’t remember it, put it where you DON’T want.
But there are also homonyms :)
- eyelash - true
- table (stol) - chair
- Rita (rita) - butt
- time (vreme) - weather
- place (place) - city
- asshole (sraka) - magpie
- diarrhea (ponos) - pride...
All Slovenian students studying Russian tell the story that their teachers tell them about this: that at a major event in Moscow, a representative of the Slovenian pharmaceutical company KRKA, in a mixed Russian-Slovenian speech, said in a congratulatory speech how enormous diarrhea he had from opening in Russia is a new division of their company. Well, such a responsibility... 
Did you laugh? Not good. Be careful, and also at some Slovenian-Russian event, standing at the scarlet ribbon, do not ask for scissors at a mixed event... Because “scissors” means two vaginas in Slovenian. In fact, this is the vagina in the second number, which I already mentioned (I just found out today from a friend).
Word formation in Slovenian follows simple and understandable rules,
For example:
Localization, binding to a place in Slovenian is in most cases indicated by the suffix ending “šč” - for example, playground - merrymaking (rough transliteration, more precisely “šsche” something like that, but I will not complicate the visual perception). In the Russian language it remains, for example, in the word “cemetery” (Slovenian - burial place). What does this very “shche” have to do with it, automatically noting the scope of the event in Russian-speaking minds, making the perception of the most philistine things like a parking lot (parkerishche) or a toilet (page) more joyful. Moreover, in the last example, beginners who learn a language tend to ignore the “t”.
Well, are you ready to plunge into this entertaining language that awakens philological passion?
The website of the Language Center of Slovenia lists tutorials for beginners and more, however, the teachers themselves who conduct courses for foreigners recommend mainly only the first 2 of them: this is the Slovenian conversation “V Zhivo a,b,c” (these are 3 levels from the very beginning) and “Gremo a,b,c”. If anyone remembers the wonderful English textbooks “Happy English”, then these manuals are built on this principle and are really convenient and effective. 
A little over a year ago they could only be bought at the Faculty of Philology, then they began to appear on a local used classifieds website. The price for a new set is about 30 euros.
But no one has canceled free online resources:
Translator. I recommend pons.eu The difficulty is that there is no Russian-Slovenian language, but the Slovenian-English language is more than adequate.
Amebis besana is online spelling and grammar checker, elementary, but that’s not the main thing. This is a golden place for those starting to learn the language, on the pregibanje tab, to which I am giving you a link. There you can enter any Slovenian word in any of its states, they will find the source for you and decline it in all possible ways according to cases.
Dictionary. Dictionary of the book Slovenian language http://bos.zrc-sazu.si/sskj.html is an online explanatory dictionary and it will be useful to those who are able to read at least a little.
But this link http://www.siol.net/planet-tv/arhiv.aspx was given to me by my friends who haven’t even moved yet: this video archive of some Slovenian talk shows, in particular the Slovenian variation of a bachelor: love, so to speak, on a farm. 
I must say that watching this show can give a lot of initial insight into the Slovenian type of women, the state of Slovenian show business and something about Slovenia itself :) There are also Slovenian programs online.
In contact with
Classmates
Well, I peeked into the neighboring Parmesan vegetable garden, and really, why not talk about the language that you will have to learn?
Slovenschina (Slovenščina), that is, Slovenian speech, a language like Russian, comes from the group of Slavic languages, so a person, even with limited learning abilities, will begin to speak and understand after 16-20 hours of individual lessons with a teacher. An hour of private lessons with a Slovenian teacher costs approximately 15 euros per hour, if the tutor works unofficially. For commercial courses, an individual hour will cost 30-35 euros.
So, the language is very easy for a Russian speaker to learn: the most difficult thing about it for foreigners is the cases. But for the Russians this is not a problem, since there are also 6 of them and they absolutely coincide with ours. The second difficulty is the modal verb “biti”, an analogue of the English to be, the principle of which we are also very familiar with.
I remember the first lessons, the phrase “jaz sem tsar” could not leave my head, since in modern Slovenian it sounds “jaz sem tsar” (jaz sem car), where sem is one of the forms of the verb biti (“to be”, yeah? ).
A single Slavic root appears in the dictionary.
For example, a father is an eye (oče), a child is a youth (otrok), a dog is a dog (pes), and even the eyelash, which has a trepalnica, understands where the legs grow from.
Of course, such associative and direct matches are far from the basis of language. For example, a garden is vrt, and in grammar, in addition to singular and plural numbers, it seems that the only thing in the world is a double number with its own forms and endings.
To integrate emigrants, Slovenia has organized free language courses for foreigners, which you can attend if it is documented that you are/will live here. For example, 60 hours can be obtained with a valid residence permit status for a period of at least 1 year, and an additional 120 hours or 180 hours can be obtained with a valid residence permit status for a period of at least 2 years. At the courses we often meet seemingly fluent “locals” - these are emigrated Bosnians and Serbs. Having lived in Slovenia for 10 years, they apply for citizenship, but having learned the language “by ear”, they speak cheerfully, but with a huge number of mistakes, and ultimately fail the mandatory language proficiency exam.
As for children, the adaptation period is, in principle, easy for them, although there will be a couple of unpleasant periods with tears (a la delusions of grandeur “Mom, everyone is discussing me, laughing at me, taking advantage of the fact that I don’t understand!”). Don’t forget that moving to a new school is no less stressful than an unfamiliar language environment, so divide everything by two.
After about six months, the children are calmly chatting, learning, and soon you will be asking them to translate this or that. This is a merit not only of immersion in the environment; the teacher additionally teaches Slovenian language to the child for an hour or two a week. There is a practice that for children whose language adaptation is more difficult, Russian-speaking volunteers are invited who can work with the child in both languages. The only thing I can advise, if you have doubts and think - I’ll raise my child, even if he goes to a Russian school for at least three years, it’s in vain. The younger the language environment into which you immerse your child, the simpler the methods of communication, games, emotions, complexes tend to zero. When active games are more important than intellectual communication, when children are open, the vocabulary is simpler - the baby’s adaptation will be much easier, and not only in terms of language.
My eldest daughter started going to kindergarten at 2.8 with her peers. A late-speaking child, she chatted only so-so in Russian. Now, 8 months later, she automatically switches between two languages without confusing words, sometimes replacing them if she doesn’t know exactly. She doesn't quote Hamlet in Slovenian because we generally prefer other bedtime stories, and she doesn't speak it fluently, her vocabulary is very limited. But he is limited only because he is like that in the younger group of kindergarten. With the language development of her classmates, my Dasha will automatically raise her level to meet the language needs of her age.
If you have a little patience, my readers, then in the next article I will give incidental intersections of Slovenian and Russian (mind you, no comments a la “bayan!”), I will give a list of textbooks recommended by tutors for learning the language and useful, golden links to grammar mines Slovenian language.
lahko noč (good night) everyone! Adijo! (Bye).
