Date: 3. September 2025
Time to read: 1 min
Slovene is spoken by approximately 2.5 million people, most of whom live in Slovenia. While people in Slovenia mostly speak various foreign languages very well, Slovene is the best way to get to know the country and its inhabitants.
Interesting facts about Slovene:
- Slovene is the only language in the EU with the dual grammatical number. Slovenes use dual when referring to two people or things. For example, two people say "midva greva" to say "we are going". If more than two people are involved, they say "mi gremo".
- Despite having only a small number of speakers, there are many digital tools available for Slovene, such as translators, recognisers and dictionaries, which facilitate its use in the digital world. A large language model for Slovene is also being built.
- Although Slovenia is a small country, its language is very diverse. There are about 50 Slovene dialects, but all Slovene speakers are connected through the standard Slovene, understood by all.
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Knowing Slovene is important if you want to integrate into the local community, as it helps you connect with people, understand the culture, and feel more at home. Photo: Andrej Tarfila/Slovenia.info
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In the series Say it in Slovene you’ll get a taste of our language, pick up handy words and phrases, and discover practical tips for learning Slovene. Photo: Depositphotos
Slovene is not merely a communication tool, it is also a key to understanding a nation that for centuries has defied governments and influences and always maintained its language as the core of its identity. Thus, a Slovene word will open the doors not only to the hearts of Slovenians but also to their way of life and thinking.
Would you like to learn how to greet people, ask for directions, order food or ask someone on a date? Together with the Centre for Slovene as a Second and Foreign Language, we are preparing a series of short videos presenting the basics of Slovene in a simple and fun way. You can watch them on Instagram@slovenia.
Slovene without borders
The Centre for Slovene as a Second and Foreign Language is the world's leading institution in teaching, studying and promoting Slovene as a second and foreign language. It operates within the Department of Slovene Studies at the University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Arts. Since 1965, it has been connecting teachers, students and experts from all over the world who use Slovene as a second or foreign language or engage with it professionally or in other ways.
The centre develops modern methods of teaching Slovene, provides training for teachers, prepares teaching materials, organises seminars, cultural events and international projects and ensures that Slovene remains an accessible language for all – be it children, teens or adults – who encounter it in or outside Slovenia.
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A glimpse of Slovene Language Summer School. Photo: The Centre for Slovene as a Second and Foreign Language
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The Slovene Language Youth Summer School has been organised since 2006. It is aimed at teenagers aged between 13 and 17. Photo: The Centre for Slovene as a Second and Foreign Language
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In the mornings participants of Youth Summer School of Slovene learn Slovene while in the afternoons and evenings they enjoy an event-filled program, which includes activities that allow them to become acquainted with Slovenia, Slovene culture, history and nature or take part in creative, sports or recreational activities. Photo: The Centre for Slovene as a Second and Foreign Language
The centre provides Slovene courses for adults, teens and children at all levels of language knowledge. For over 40 years, it has been holding the Slovene Language Summer School. It supports and coordinates Slovene lectureships and studies at more than 60 foreign universities. In collaboration with universities and teachers, it provides high-quality Slovene language programmes around the world.
The centre makes it possible for people to get to know the Slovene language and culture up close and connects people from all over the world in a common experience of learning Slovene.
Slovene learning online
You can also learn Slovene online. The Centre for Slovene as a Second and Foreign Language developed an online Slovene course available free of charge.
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The online course has four to five thousand users per month, who are learning Slovene on their own, anywhere and anytime. Photo: The Centre for Slovene as a Second and Foreign Language
It is intended for all who want to learn Slovene on their own in a simple, playful and effective way. Users learn Slovene through translations into seven languages (English, French, Croatian, Italian, German, Russian and Spanish), supported by pictures and audio recordings, as well as various interactive exercises.
