LingoflyTwo keeps changing: naju, nama, dvema
Dva kovčka and midva sva are the starting shape. But two is a full number here, and it has as many shapes of the word as three or more do. For example: “Prišla sva z dvema kovčkoma” — The two of us arrived with two suitcases. A rule from the Slovenian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
Dva kovčka and midva sva are the starting shape. But two is a full number here, and it has as many shapes of the word as three or more do.
There are fewer of them than you fear. 'Of what' and 'where at' copy the plural: dveh sob, v dveh sobah. 'To whom' and 'with what' take their own ending -ma: z dvema kovčkoma, obema prijateljema. Hear -ma and it is about two.
The pronouns have their own set. Naju, nama — us two, to us two. Vaju, vama — you two. Njiju, njima — those two, or for short ju, jima. Daj nama ključ — give the two of us the key. Pokliči naju — call the two of us.
The trap sits in the verb: sva, bova, greva are all about two. Young Ljubljana speech sometimes lets that slide, but in writing gremo about two is not forgiven.
Table
| case | two (soba) | many (soba) |
|---|---|---|
| plain form | dve sobi | tri sobe |
| of what | dveh sob | treh sob |
| to whom | dvema sobama | trem sobam |
| object | dve sobi | tri sobe |
| where at | v dveh sobah | v treh sobah |
| with what | z dvema sobama | s tremi sobami |
By example
- Prišla sva z dvema kovčkomaThe two of us arrived with two suitcases
- Daj nama ključ sobe, prosimGive the two of us the room key, please
- Between the two towns there is an hour of driving
- Prosim, počakaj naju pred hotelomPlease wait for the two of us in front of the hotel
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
Slovenian dual pronouns?
The pronouns have their own set. Naju, nama — us two, to us two. Vaju, vama — you two. Njiju, njima — those two, or for short ju, jima. Daj nama ključ — give the two of us the key. Pokliči naju — call the two of us.
How the Slovenian dual changes shape?
Dva kovčka and midva sva are the starting shape. But two is a full number here, and it has as many shapes of the word as three or more do.
What the Slovenian ending -ma means?
There are fewer of them than you fear. 'Of what' and 'where at' copy the plural: dveh sob, v dveh sobah. 'To whom' and 'with what' take their own ending -ma: z dvema kovčkoma, obema prijateljema. Hear -ma and it is about two.
Nama, vaju, njima: the Slovenian dual pronouns?
The pronouns have their own set. Naju, nama — us two, to us two. Vaju, vama — you two. Njiju, njima — those two, or for short ju, jima. Daj nama ključ — give the two of us the key. Pokliči naju — call the two of us.
What does it look like in a Slovenian example sentence?
“Prišla sva z dvema kovčkoma” — The two of us arrived with two suitcases. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.