Common Phrases 1

Back to List

Learn common phrases to greet people and and answer simple questions: živjo (hi), adijo (goodbye), ja (yes), ne (no), dobro jutro (good morning), dober dan (good day), dober večer (good evening), jaz sem (I am)

Živjo (Hi/Hello)

Živjo is used as conversational hello or hi. You can follow up the initial greeting by introducing yourself e.g. "Živjo, jaz sem John." (Hi, I'm John.)
You can also greet a specific person e.g. "Živjo John" (Hi John)


Pozdravljen is more formal way of saying hello. Use pozdravljen for males, pozdravljena for females and pozdravljeni for groups of people.
Pozdravljena is also used when greeting two people, either male or female.
You can greet a specific person e.g. "Pozdravljen John" (Hi John) or a group of friends "Pozdravljeni prijatelji" (Hi friends) or for two people "Pozdravljena mama in oče" (Hi mother and father)
Dobro jutro (Good morning) Can be used in formal and informal situations
Dober dan (Good day) Can be used in formal and informal situations
Dober večer (Good evening) Can be used in formal and informal situations
Prosim (please) Universal word for saying please. Commonly used as "Yes, please"
Hvala (thank you) Can be used to express gratitude or to politely decline: Ne, hvala (No, thank you)

Ja (Yes)


Both forms can be used to say "yes"

Ne (No)

Used to decline an offer or negate. Can also be used in phrases:

Ne, hvala (No, thanks)

Prosim ne. (Please no.)

Kako si? (How are you?)

Ask a single person (singular) how they are e.g. how are you doing?

Kako ste? (How are you?)

Ask a group of person (plural) how they are. This form can also be used for a single person when being formal.

Kako sta? (How are you?)

Ask a pair of two people (dual) how they are. Can be used for a pair of males, females or a mixed pair.

Dobro sem. (I'm good.)

A common reply when someone asks you how you're doing.

Pa ti? (And you?)

Used to respond to a quesion on how you're doing.
Can also use a short form "Ti?" (You?)

If someone asks you "Kako ste?", respond with "Pa vi?" This is technically a plural form but is commonly used in polite formal situations for single persons (singular).

adijo (goodbye)


Both words can be used to say goodbye. Adijo is more informal. Nasvidenje is more formal and can also be losely translated as "until we meet again".