SLOVENIAN FOR BEGINNERS 2

Part Two: Expressing quantities and special wishes

Worst Case Scenario Nr. Two: You have just discovered somewhere how easy it really is to get drinks in Slovenia. So you actually find yourself in a real Slovenian pub, having already decided to risk ordering a beer in Slovenian.

Here we go: A waitress appears and says “Prosim?” or “Izvolite?” and you know this is your cue. You say “Pivo, prosim” (pee-vo) and steal a quick glance at her, awaiting her positive reaction because you have been told before that it would follow immediately.

a) She says “Laško, Union, Tuborg … ?”

b) She says “Točeno?”

c) She says “a big von or a litel von?”*

As if by thunder and lightning, you become aware that life is complicated. Possibly even more complicated than an average tax return.

Let me tell you: It’s not that bad.

So, how do you really order your drinks in Slovenian? Let’s go:

1. BEER

a) First of all, you will have to guess which brand might suit your wishes best. As to Slovenian brands, there are two that are important and the choice between them has political implications, too. They are Laško and Union. Pronunciation: Lush-ko. And: Oo-ni-on. Pronounce the foreign brands as suits you best, at least at this point.

b) “Točeno” means “draught/draft beer” and this word should be written on your beverage list as an option with some beers. Pronunciation: Say to-che-no or make a corresponding hand movement.

c) So she wants to know if you … want a big one or a little one (*the question above is actually a courtesy/bad experience of a friend). If you want a little beer (0,3 litre/liter), say “Malo, prosim” (Mah-lo). For the big one (0,5 l), say “Veliko, prosim” (Ve-lee-ko). For the big effect, use your favourite quantity information right at the beginning:

W: Želite, prosim?

You: Veliko Laško pivo, prosim. / You: Malo Union pivo, prosim.

2. COFFEE:

So someone told you you can just walk into a Slovenian pub and say “Kavo, prosim” and you will get a cup of delicious coffee?

Time for a reality check: You won’t. You will be first asked complicated things like:

W: Z mlekom? S smetano?

You see, “Kavo, prosim” means you want a cup of coffee with sugar. To make sure you don’t want, say, milk or cream with it, they will ask you all these questions. Yes, sometimes life’s all work.

So if you do want some milk with it, just say it: Z mlekom.

Pronunciation: Say Z-, make a short pause, and then say mle-com: Z_ mle-com.

If you wish some cream instead, you will again have to do some work: S smetano. (S_sme-tah-no).

W: Želite, prosim?

You: Kavo z mlekom, prosim. / Kavo s smetano, prosim.

Of course you can avoid any trouble by simply ordering a cappuccino or an espresso. Latte macchiato will do, too.

3. WINE

Red or white?

Red: rdeče (r_de-che)

White: belo

W: Želite, prosim?

You: Rdeče vino, prosim. / Belo vino, prosim.

Needless to say you should get a glass of wine. And I am not going to tell you how to order a bottle of wine, I don’t support binge drinking.

4. OTHER BEVERAGES

Just order from the list (if relevant, make the necessary change from -a to -o) and say “prosim” at the end. In most cases, this should be enough.

5. ENJOY YOURSELF. YOU’VE DONE IT AGAIN.

6. ADMITTEDLY, you might get hungry soon, what with all this drinking. Use your hands at this point. Or use words like: sandwich, tiramisu, pizza, spaghetti. They will be happy to serve you and I might tell you more about the food some other time.