The dual
In addition to singular and plural forms, Slovenian has a distinct grammatical dual.
South Slavic language
Have Slovenian translated
slovenščina
Slovenian documents are needed for civil-status matters, education, employment and cross-border legal transactions.
Slovenian is spoken by approximately 2.5 million people in Slovenia and neighbouring regions.
Geographical distribution of Slovenian
- Main areas of use
- Other regional use
- Selected diaspora communities
Slovenia
Italy
Austria
Croatia
Hungary
Germany
A schematic selection of the main areas where the language is used. Language use does not always follow national borders, and the map does not show complete population statistics.
Language profile
Slovenian at a glance
- Native name
- slovenščina
- Language family
- South Slavic language
- Script
- Latin alphabet
- Language code
- sl
Documents and areas of use
Common uses for this language combination
It is not just about the language. ABBA-Sprachendienste also takes into account the document type, recipient, subject area, certification requirements and the language combination you need.
Have your document checked- Birth and marriage certificates
- Certificates and diplomas
- Employment and social-security documents
- Contracts and powers of attorney
- Court and public-authority records
Origin and development
How the language developed
Slovenian is a South Slavic language. The Freising Manuscripts, which contain early Slovenian forms, are among the oldest surviving Slavic texts written in the Latin script.
In the 16th century, the Reformation and Primož Trubar's books laid important foundations for a standard language. Regional dialects remain exceptionally diverse today.
Good to know
What makes this language distinctive
Dialect diversity
Spoken language varies considerably by region, but official documents use the standard language.
Special characters
Č, š and ž are distinct letters and must be preserved correctly in names and place names.
A glimpse of the language
Three phrases to start with
The transliteration is only a rough guide. Pronunciation and regional forms may differ.
| Original | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Dober dan | — | Good day |
| Hvala | — | Thank you |
| Prosim | — | Please |
Sources and classification
Further information
Speaker numbers are rounded guide figures and may vary depending on the definition, the year of the survey and whether second-language speakers are included.
- Slovenian language
Wikipedia · language-specific overview
- Codes for the Representation of Names of Languages
Library of Congress / ISO 639-2 Registration Authority · Language codes and standardised language names
- Language and Locale Names
Unicode Common Locale Data Repository · Language, script and territory names and variants
- Glottolog 5.3
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology · Language families, classification and linguistic literature
Editorial sources as of 14 July 2026. The information will be cross-checked by subject experts before the website goes live.
Other related service languages
Slovenian FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Slovenian
Can I have Slovenian translated into German and German into Slovenian?
You can request either direction. We give a binding commitment once we have checked the document type, subject area, certification, appointment and intended use.
Which documents are commonly relevant for Slovenian?
Birth and marriage certificates, certificates and diplomas, employment and social-security documents, and contracts and powers of attorney are typical examples. Other types of document can also be assessed using a clear photograph or PDF.
What does ABBA-Sprachendienste check for Slovenian?
We check the language combination, document type, script (Latin alphabet), names, stamps, subject area, intended use and whether certification may be needed.
Do I need a certified translation of my Slovenian document?
That is decided by the authority, court or notary receiving the document, or by whichever other office has requested it. Tell ABBA-Sprachendienste where the document will be submitted, so that your requirements can be assessed properly.
Is a photo enough for the initial check?
Yes. A complete, sharp and clearly legible photo or PDF is usually enough for us to check your request and prepare a quote. Depending on the job, the original may also be needed later, when the work is carried out.
Ask us to review your Slovenian ↔ German requirements
Send a clear photo or PDF. ABBA-Sprachendienste will personally check the language combination, document, intended use and whether certification is needed.
