Rada Lečič

BASIC
GRAMMAR OF
THE SLOVENE
LANGUAGE
LANGUAGE MANUAL
PHONOLOGY
GLASOSLOVJE

11 PREFACE

T
his manual provides a concise ing rules, the final chapter provides
and schematic presentation of some background information on spell-
1

the basics of Slovene grammar
WORDS in terms of its phonology, lexicon, mor-
BESEDOSLOVJE
phology and syntax; at the end there is
also a short section on the main princi-
ples of spelling.
17
ing, especially with regard to the use of
capital letters and punctuation marks.
This grammar book is meant for learn-
ers of Slovene who have as their mother
tongues different languages, not neces-

The chapter on phonology

deals with the sounds of Slov-
ene and stress. Since in Slov- A little treasure trove: a compact
ene stress is not determined grammar of the Slovene language.
7

7
by set rules, its position has to This original and userfriendly language
be remembered on a word by manual will be indispensable to
word basis together with in- language students and language lovers
MORPHOLOGY
OBLIKOSLOVJE dividual words’ declension. alike.
Although the use of written
accents is not obligatory in Slovene, in
sarily English, and to all those who are
the examples given in this book they
19

interested in acquiring the basic princi-

are marked to help the learner. Accents
ples of Slovene grammar (students of
are used to indicate the stressed syllable
Slovene, translators, participants of lan-
and vowel length (short or long).
guage courses, candidates for language
After the section on phonology, there is proficiency exams, etc.).
10

a short chapter on the Slovene lexicon.

It is hoped that the book may be a basic
The central part of the book focuses on reference point and a source of sugges-
SYNTAX morphology, with both open class and tions for studying Slovene in greater
SKLADNJA

closed class parts of speech are present- depth for those who are only just begin-
ed. To facilitate the understanding and ning to learn it as well as to those who
learning of Slovene morphology, in would like to brush up or strengthen
99

particular by readers who are not na- their knowledge of the language.
tive speakers, the inflection of nouns,
The Slovene-speaking area is immense-
adjectives and verbs is schematically
ly varied, and much more so if one con-
presented in tables and by means of
siders the rather limited extension of its
several examples.
125

territory. Part of the cultural and natural

Each part of speech has a specific syn- heritage of Slovenia has been captured
APPENDIX tactic role in clauses and in sentences. in photographs which accompany the
DODATEK
Accordingly, in the chapter on syntax, text. Their purpose is not merely deco-
the various component parts of the rative; they are meant to enable the read-
sentence elements, as well as mood and ers, especially foreign ones, to catch a
121 word order are presented, as well as the glimpse of the natural and cultural envi-
principal features of reported speech. ronment in which Slovene has been de-
Since every language has its own spell- veloping over time.

155
 63, 64 65 MORPHOLOGY

NUMERALS – ŠTEVNIK ATTENTION!

a) Cardinal numerals èn and dvá agree with the noun in gender, case and
Numerals can be classified into the following categories:
number:
• cardinal numerals – they denote quantity by specifying the number of
èn učítelj – êna študêntka – êno deklè
people, things or other units:
dvá prijátelja – dvé slíki – dvé jájci
èn učênec, stó tríje otrôci;
• ordinal numerals – they denote the order of people, things or other units: b) The form èn (nobèn) [one (no one)] is in actual fact an adjective and al-
pŕvi, stópêti, trítísoči; ways precedes the noun; the corresponding pronoun is êden (nobêden):
• differential numerals – they denote quantity (dvóje rók, šestéro ôken) or Èn prijátelj živí v Ljubljáni, êden pa v Máriboru.
the number of different types of the specified referent (tróji žgánci: ájdovi, Nobèn prijátelj me ní obiskàl. Nobêden me ní obiskàl.
krompírjevi, korúzni);
c) Cardinal numerals trí and štíri have the form tríje and štírje when refer-
• multiplicative numerals – they denote multiplication (dvójno gorjé, trój-
ring to a masculine noun:
na stêkla, štírikratna céna), quantity of different kinds/types (dvójna
morála) or an increase of the dimensions of a referent (dvójni podbrá- tríje prijátelji – trí híše – trí stanovánja
54 dek); d) After cardinal numerals from five (pét) on in the nominative and the 55
• indefinite numerals – these are not numerals in a strict sense, but words accusative the noun to which they refer is in the genitive plural; the verb
with a quantitative meaning. They refer to an approximate, imprecise is singular and participles (where they occur) take the neuter gender:
quantity. They always precede the noun and are not inflected (vèč/málo/
Na mízi je (bilò) pét zrélih banán. – Pojédla sem pét banán.
nékaj/dôsti/velíko ljudí).
e) Numerals from 1 to 99 and round hundreds are written as one word,
whereas for numerals greater than 100, the hundreds and the numbers
Cardinal numerals – Glavni števniki
from 1 to 99 are separated by a space:
1 2 3 4 5 6 šéstintrídeset (36) učêncev, stó pétindvájset (125) sadík, v dvésto dvájsetih
èn, êno ênega ênemu èn/ênega, êno (o) ênem (z) ênim (220) krájih
êna êne êni êno (o) êni (z) êno
f) Thousands, millions, billions… are written separately one after the other:
dvá, dvé, dvé dvéh dvéma dvá, dvé, dvé (o) dvéh (z) dvéma
tísoč dvésto dváinpétdeset (1252), dvá tísoč (2000),
tríje, trí, trí tréh trém trí (o) tréh (s) trémi
pét milijónov (5.000.000)
BASIC GRAMMAR OF THE SLOVENE LANGUAGE

BASIC GRAMMAR OF THE SLOVENE LANGUAGE

štírje, štíri, štíri štírih štírim štíri (o) štírih (s) štírimi
pét pêtih pêtim pét (o) pêtih (s) pêtimi g) Milijón is inflected like a masculine noun (milijón milijóna), and milijár-
da is inflected like a feminine noun (milijárda milijárde).
The interrogative used to inquire about cardinal numerals is kóliko (how
many?). Cardinal numerals are represented either by numbers (3, 34, 786) h) The cardinal numeral tísoč (1000) has a zero inflectional ending, remai-
or are written out (trí, štíriintrídeset, sédemsto šéstinósemdeset). ning invariable in all the cases, just like round hundreds usually do.
Govóril je pred tísoč ljudmí. – Sréčali smo se s stó študênti.

72 73 MORPHOLOGY

QUALIFYING OF KIND POSSESSIVE QUANTITATIVE Pronouns of kind – Vrstni zaimki

TOTALIZING vsákršen -šna -o vsák -a -o (od) vsákogar vès, vsà, vsè
Also the pronouns which are derived from the adjectives of kind katéri,
(celostni/ vsákogaršnji -a -e obá -é -é
totalni) néki, màrsikatéri, katérikóli, vsák, nobèn, drúg, ísti, tísti, óni follow the
Na trávniku so Vsáka stvár Zanímajo nas Vsì článi so se
rásle vsákršne imá svôjo céno. vsákogaršnje izpisáli. – adjectival declension:
róže. težáve.* Obá soséda sta I katéri katérega katéremu katéri/katérega (o) katérem (s) katérim
prijázna.
INDEFINITE nikákršen -šna -o nobèn -êna -o (od) nikógar nìč
NEGATIVE nikógaršnji -a -e
(nikalni) Tó ní bilò Nobêna obléka Tá máčka ní Nìč hráne nísi
nikákršno znánje. mi ní pràv. nikógaršnja.* prinésel.
ATTENTION!
DEMONSTRA- drugáčen -čna -o drúg -a -o (od) drúgega vèč, mànj
TIVE DIVERSI-
The difference between relative pronouns ki/katéri
Postávili so Ráje smo šlì v Tá vŕt je od Ustávil se je pred
FYING mu drugáčno drúgo gostílno. drúgih, ne nàš. vèč hotéli. Ki does not decline and is accompanied by unstressed personal pronouns (ki
(drugostni) vprašánje. ga, ki ji, ki jih, ki jim...).
DEMONSTRA- enák -a -o ísti -a -o (od) ístega enáko
60 Otròk, ki se igrá na vŕtu, je mój sín. 61
TIVE IDENTI- Za rôjstni dán Vôdo so Od ístega Enáko rác pláva v
FYING Otròk, ki ga vídiš, je mój sín.
sem dobíl enáki zajémali iz slikárja slíke so vôdi kot včéraj.*
(istostni) slíki. ístega vodnjáka. zeló raznolíke. Drevésa, ki jih sékajo, so še mláda.
DEMONSTRA- ták(šen) tá, tá, tó (od) téga, té tóliko The pronoun katéri is used:
TIVE -(šn)a -(šn)o tísti -a -o (od) tístega, tíste tólik(šen)
(kazalni) óni -a -o (od) ónega, óne -(šn)a -(šn)o
• with prepositions
Zakáj si táka Šlì bomo v tá Kúpil sem od Tóliko ljudém je že Otròk, s katérim se pogovárjaš, je mój sín.
mévža? bár. – Poznám ónega poséstvo. pomágal. – Vŕt, na katérem stojíš, je sosédov.
tísto gospó. – Tólikšno híšo si je
Izgúbil sem óno zgrádil. • to avoid semantic ambiguites
písmo. Ôče je lepó pozdrávil učítelja, ki ga zeló spoštúje. ≠
* The use of these pronouns is stylistically marked.
Ôče je lepó pozdrávil učítelja, katérega zeló spoštúje.
BASIC GRAMMAR OF THE SLOVENE LANGUAGE

BASIC GRAMMAR OF THE SLOVENE LANGUAGE

Qualifying pronouns – Kakovostni zaimki Demonstrative pronouns – Kazalni zaimki (tá, tá, tó; tísti -a -o; óni -a -o)

The pronouns derived from qualifying adjectives kákšen, kàkršen, nekàk(šen),
kàk(šen), màrsikàk(šen), kàkršenkóli, vsákršen, nikákršen, drugáčen, enák,
ták(šen) decline like adjectives:
I kàkršen kàkršnega kàkršnemu kàkršen/kàkršnega (o) kàkršnem
(s) kàkršnim
Tá (this) denotes a referent that is close to the speaker, tísti (that) denotes a
referent which is more remote from the speaker (but may be close to the
hearer), and óni indicates a referent that is more remote from both the spe-
aker and the hearer.
Tá pès je nàš, tísti tàm je sosédov, óni tàm pa od nékega gospóda.
 173, 174
Comma – Vejica (,)*
The comma is used:
• between elements of equal syntactic status in a simple or complex senten-
ce; it serves to indicate enumeration, description or coordination:
Oglédali smo si Rím, Paríz, Lóndon. – Rók je bíl zeló sposóben, odlíčen
učênec. – Mésta si nísmo oglédali, kájti mudílo se nam je. – Vídel nas je, pa
nas ni pozdrávil.
• before or after an apposition:
Francè Prešéren, slovénski pésnik, se je rodíl v Vŕbi na Gorénjskem.
• between the main clause and a dependent clause or between two depen-
dent clauses (NB: unlike in English, in Slovene the comma serves an es-
sential syntactic function and is obligatory in the great majority of con-
128 texts):
Vém, da bo dánes vróče. – Vprášaj jo, ali imá čàs. – Ko bom iméla dopúst,
bom šlà na mórje. – Míha ni šèl v šólo, ker je zbôlel. – Narêdi, kàkor hóčeš! –
Vzêmi, kàr potrebúješ! – Oséba, ki jo vídiš, je môja sêstra.
• between a non finite dependent clause and the rest of the sentence:
Priplúla je ládja, pôlna tovóra. – Stojéč na êni nôgi, se je oprijéla ográje.
• to isolate a right- or left-dislocated phrase which is independent from the
main clause:
Hčérka, z njó bodo težáve! – Prišlì so ob ôsmih zvečér, prepôzno.
• after an adverbial or an interjection which constitute clause-like elements
that are only loosely tied to the main clause:
BASIC GRAMMAR OF THE SLOVENE LANGUAGE
Skrátka, potovánje je bilò čudovíto. – Sevéda, pésem smo ználi na pámet. –
Hêj, prídi sèm!
* See also: Use of the comma before conjunctions (p. 94).
Part of the cultural and natural heritage of Slovenia has been captured in photographs
which accompany the text. Their purpose is not merely decorative; they are meant to
enable the readers, especially foreign ones, to catch a glimpse of the natural and cultu-
ral environment in which Slovene has been developing over time.
Rada Lečič:
BASIC GRAMMAR OF THE SLOVENE LANGUAGE – language manual
Manuscript reviewers: doc. dr. Andreja Žele in dr. Nataša Jakop
Translated by: Oliver Currie in Martina Ožbot
Published by:
ZALOŽBA GAYA | Gaya d.o.o. | Močnikova 1 | 5282 Cerkno | Slovenija
T: +386 (0)5 372 30 60 | F: +386 (0)5 372 30 61 | E: intermedija@siol.net
175 APPENDIX
Colon – Dvopičje (:)
The function of the colon is to introduce an explanation, description or
specification of what has been stated previously. It is often used with lists.
Prišlì so vsì soródniki: stríci, tête, sestríčne, bratránci in nečáki.
In direct speech, the colon appears before the quoted elements, at the be-
ginning of which a capital letter is used.
Sêstra me je vprašála: »Kdáj odpotúješ?«
Semi-colon – Podpičje (;)
The semi-colon indicates a stronger break than the comma, but not as
strong as the full stop. Its use is relatively limited. It is used instead of a full
stop when grammatically autonomous phrases are logically interconnected,
for which reason it would not be appropriate to neatly separate them. 129
V hlévu so bilì kônji in kráve; tudi kokóši so bilè med njími.
The semi-colon also serves to highlight a group of elements of equal syntac-
tic status which form a list.
Lástna iména so osébna, zemljepísna in stvárna: Bárbara, Múri; Ljubljána,
Švíca; Petról, Vôjna in mír.
It is also used after items in ordered lists (letters, numerals, bullet points,
etc.), especially when such items are of some length.
Pretêklik izráža:
a) dovršêna dejánja, dogódke v pretêklosti (Pojédel sem kosílo.);
b) sedánje stánje (Têta je prišlà.);
c) trájanje v pretêklosti (Potovàl sem štíri úre.);
BASIC GRAMMAR OF THE SLOVENE LANGUAGE
d) ponávljanje (Vsák dán je kúhala in posprávljala.).
Hyphen – Vezaj (-)
Conjunction hyphen (without spaces) is used:
• as a link between elements which form a unit, but are not part of a com-
pound word (strokôvno-téhnični); sometimes the two elements could also
be linked by the conjunction in (póljsko-rúski slovár, čŕno-béla fotografíja,
slovénsko-italijánska mêja, gospodársko-polítične razmére);