Language
When you move to a new country, learning the local language is key to integrating. It helps you find work, feel at home and build meaningful connections. It takes time and effort, but even if you don’t need Slovene for work or you are staying short-term, it’s worth learning. It helps you navigate daily life, understand cultural nuances and humour, and truly experience your new home, both beneath the surface and beyond the obvious.
About Slovene language
people speak Slovene worldwide
official language of Slovenia and of the European Union
Slavic language family, western subgroup
Slovene belongs to the South Slavic group of languages, together with Croatian, Bosnian, Macedonian, Serbian and Bulgarian. Within that group, Slovene belongs to the western subgroup.
It is the official language of the Republic of Slovenia and one of the official languages of the European Union. Slovene is considered one of the hardest European languages to learn, due to its complex grammar and rich vocabulary. In border areas where the Hungarian and Italian minorities live, Hungarian and Italian are also official languages.
A short history
International Kindergartens
The first written records of Slovene were found in the manuscript known as Brižinski spomeniki.
Heiligenkreuz Codex
A more recent important finding of early Slovene, discovered in Austria.
First grammar book
The first grammar of the Slovene language was published in Latin by Adam Bohorič.
Language schools
Classroom courses are offered across the country. Some are free, depending on your nationality and status, so check the eligibility before you pay.
Ljubljana
Centre for Slovene as a Second and Foreign Language
Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
Courses are organised at all levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced. Before each course, participants take a placement test and are placed in the right group based on their results.
Levels: All levels
Cost: Paid
Cene Štupar (CILJ)
Ljubljana Public Education Centre
One of the biggest adult education organisations in Slovenia, offering formal and non-formal programmes for all generations for more than 50 years. Free courses are available for expat parents (EU and third country nationals), third country nationals and EU citizens looking for a job.
Levels: Various
Cost: Free or paid, based on status
Didaktum Language Institute
Ljubljana
Slovene courses and proficiency tests at survival level. Free of charge for holders of the Certificate of fulfilment of conditions for the Slovene language learning programme, including a free first proficiency test.
Levels: Survival level
Cost: Free with certificate, or €269.70 per A1.1 (36 hours)
Maribor
Andragoški zavod Maribor
Maribor Adult Education Centre
A public institution established by the Municipality of Maribor in 1922. They organise free language courses for third country nationals moving to Slovenia, and once a year a Basics of Competences course open to all nationalities.
Levels: Third country nationals
Cost: Free
Cene Štupar (CILJ)
Youth Cultural Centre Maribor
In 2025 the centre organised a unique course for foreigners to learn Slovene through culture and arts. Besides the language, the course includes a theatre performance and getting to know the culture and city of Maribor.
Levels: Culture & arts based
Koper
Free Slovene language courses
Third country nationals
Initial Integration of Immigrants (ZIP) & Slovene for Survival
Informal, government funded language courses with an integrated approach, organised by municipalities across Slovenia. The aim is to help third country nationals communicate in Slovene at the most basic level.
Enrol with a provider in Ljubljana, Maribor or Koper (see section 02)
Follow the 180 hour programme, with an optional additional 60 hours
Expat parents in Ljubljana
Free course for parents
Funded by the City of Ljubljana and organised by Cene Štupar. Open to any expat, regardless of nationality, who is a parent of a kindergarten child or primary school pupil in Ljubljana and struggles with Slovene in everyday life.
Active job seekers
Free course for foreign job seekers
For expats living in Slovenia who are actively looking for work. Enrolment goes through the Employment Service of Slovenia (ZRSZ) or the EURES network. You complete the course and receive a certificate at the end.
Online courses & platforms
Free interactive courses and modules to learn Slovene at your own pace and on your own time.
Slovene Learning Online
An online course for foreigners developed by the Centre for Slovene as a Second and Foreign Language (University of Ljubljana) with DigiEd.
All levels
Slovene e-classroom
Different e-learning modules, from basic expressions to grammar explanations.
Beginner+
Slo na Dlani
Interactive website to learn, improve and test your Slovene. Instructions are in Slovene only, so it suits learners who already know the basics.
Basic Slovene needed
Grammar portal
Learn and test Slovene grammar with online help and tools.
A1 required
Amebis language quiz
Test your Slovene with real-life examples, supported by the Amebis Besana teaching tool and the free Termania dictionary.
Test yourself
Quick learning: YouTube & Instagram
Social media is a quick and fun first step into a new language. Below are free, interactive options created by expats and Slovene teachers. For the next level, some of them also offer private lessons and online group courses. Have a look and srečno!
That Slovenian Teacher
Nina, a Slovene teacher, creates materials, quizzes and exercises about Slovene language and culture. Private lessons available.
Bilingual Disorder
Online English and Slovene courses by Nina, with clear explanations and affordable prices. Contact: bilingual.disorder@gmail.com
Beseda na dan
Anja teaches one Slovene word a day for free. You can also order her excellent physical word cards with explanations.
Be Slovenian
Free Slovene content by Sara Planinšek, who also runs online courses for foreigners with a practical and efficient approach.
Anna in Slovenia
Grammar, pronunciation, basic phrases and everyday expressions, explained by Anna, a Canadian-born expat married to a Slovenian.
YouTube
Learn Slovene with Sandra
Interactive videos on Slovene basics for English speakers, made by expat Sandra.
YouTube
Moja sLOVEnščina
Grammar, pronunciation, basic phrases and everyday expressions, explained in Slovene in a friendly, interactive way.
YouTube
Other useful tools
Lahkonočnice
Short audio stories in Slovene and other languages for children and adults, read by writers, illustrators and artists. Each story ends with a short exercise to practise everyday words and phrases.
Audio & app
News in Simple Slovene
News written in easy-to-read Slovene by RTV Slovenija, the national public broadcaster.
Reading
Slovenščina od A do Z
A structured textbook for English speakers, a good companion to any course.
Did you know?
Alphabet
The Slovene alphabet is Latin, called Gajica, and has 25 letters. Three of them stand out:
Dialects matter
Slovene has more than 40 dialects and sub-dialects. For example, there are at least 8 words for a party:
- zabava
- žur
- žurka
- fešta
- gavda
- čaga
- šagra
- veselica
We may be small in population and size, but dialect and regional belonging matter.
Dual form & more
Besides singular and plural, Slovene has a dual form for exactly two of something. Watch how the word changes:
ena riba = one fish
dve ribi = two fish
tri ribe = three fish
štiri ribe = four fish
pet rib = five fish
The dual is used in most of Slovenia, but in the south-west it is mostly dropped.
Get in touch
Expat Support
consultancy, Urška Celner Gabrielse s.p.
Ljubljana, Slovenia
+386 51 673 373
info@liveinslovenia.si