Home and things in Slovenian
196 words Slovenian words on the topic “home and things”: hiša — house, stanovanje — apartment, bivališče — residence, soba — room. 196 words can be played from recordings.
196 words on the topic
- hišahouseš is "sh", the h sounds: HEESH-ah
- stanovanjeapartmentFrom stanovati, "to reside". It opens the first line of rental ads.
- bivališčeresidencešč said in sequence: bee-VAH-lee-shcheh
- sobaroomRooms are counted the way you count rooms: dvosobno stanovanje, "a two-room apartment".
- kuhinjakitchenthe h sounds, j is "y": koo-HEE-nyah
- kopalnicabathroomc is "ts": koh-PAHL-nee-tsah
- balkonbalconyRental ads write z balkonom, "with a balcony".
- nadstropjefloor (storey)j is "y": NAHD-stroh-pyeh
- dvigaloelevatorFrom dvigniti, "to lift". People will understand lift, but the button says dvigalo.
- stopnicestairsc is "ts": STOHPT-nee-tseh
- mizatableHalf of the furniture trap: miza is the table. The other half is stol, and that is the chair.
- stolchairl at the end sounds like "u"
- posteljabedj is "y"
- omarawardrobeA built-in one is vgradna omara; the fridge is a completely different word, hladilnik.
- oknowindowTwo windows take the dual: dve okni, not okna.
- vratadoorv before a consonant sounds like "u"
- ključkeyč is "ch": klyooch
- svetilkalampč is "ch"
- topla vodahot waterLocals say "warm": vroča voda is already scalding.
- elektrikaelectricityThat is what the bills say. In speech, especially among the older generation, štrom — from the German.
- smetitrashAlways plural: smeti so polne. Waste is sorted seriously here, and neighbors will scold you for mixing it.
- čiščenjecleaningč is "ch", šč in sequence
- pranjelaundrynj is a soft "ny": PRAH-nyeh
- posodadishesSingular here: posoda je umazana. To do the dishes is pomivati posodo.
- brisačatowelč is "ch": bree-SAH-chah
- milosoapThe same letters name the adverb "sweetly", from mil. The colloquial pet name for soap is žajfa, from the German.
- sosedneighborfinal d devoices: SOH-set
- najemodajaleclandlordj is "y", c is "ts"
- najemrentalj is "y": NAH-yem
- pogodbacontractj is "y"
- varščinadepositšč in sequence: VAHR-shchee-nah
- položnicautility billž is the "zh" of "measure", c is "ts"
- popravilorepairA repair as a fix. A full renovation is prenova. In speech people fix things with rihtati, from the German.
- hrupnonoisythe h sounds: HROOP-noh
- ne delait does not workAbout devices: Pralni stroj ne dela. About a person the same two words mean "he is not working" — context sorts them out.
- pokvarilo se jeit brokePast tense of pokvariti se. The word order obeys the second-position rule: Dvigalo se je pokvarilo.
- puščait leaksš is "sh", č is "ch": POOSH-cha
- pokličite mojstracall a repairmanč is "ch", j is "y"
- kdaj pridete?when will you come?j is "y"
- ne morem odpretiI cannot openne morem is cannot physically; ne smem is not allowed. Mixing them up is insulting.
- gretito heatstress the e, hard g: GREH-tee
- vrtgardenv before r sounds like "u", no vowel
- štedilnikstoveš is "sh", l before n sounds like "u"
- hladilnikfridgel before n sounds like "u"
- vtičnicasocketv before t sounds like "u", č is "ch"
- kabelcableThrough the German Kabel. The word žica exists too, but that is wire — not a cord with a plug.
- škatlabox (carton)š is "sh"
- streharoofcovers the whole roof over your head; if it leaks, streha pušča — a phrase every tenant knows
- stenawallthe inner wall of a room; the outer stone one is zid, which carries signs rather than pictures
- spalnicabedroomc = ts: SPAHL-nee-tsah
- dvoriščecourtyardšč = sh plus ch: DVOR-eesh-cheh
- stropceilingno English cousin at all; keep it paired with tla, the floor: od tal do stropa, floor to ceiling
- dvoriščna vratagatesšč = sh plus ch: DVOR-eeshchnah VRAH-tah
- ograjafencefrom ograditi, to enclose; the same word serves for stair railings and road barriers
- garažagaragež = zh as in vision: gah-RAH-zhah
- poštni nabiralnikmailboxš = sh: POHSHT-nee nah-BEE-rahl-neek
- kletcellarfeminine: v kleti; a wine cellar is a klet too, so wine labels use the word constantly
- pomivati posododo the dishesdishes get their own verb, pomivati; umivati is for yourself — hands, face; the dishwasher is pomivalni stroj
- pometatisweepfrom metati, to throw; the broom is metla, and the link is audible
- pratido the laundryonly about laundry; the present tense is perem, pereš, pere; the washing machine is pralni stroj
- likatiiron (clothes)a reversed false friend: petting a cat is božati; likati is for clothes only
- pripraviti večerjomake dinnerč = ch: pre-prah-VEE-tee veh-CHER-yo
- odnesti smetitake out the trashsmeti, trash, is plural only; bins in Slovenia are sorted: papir, embalaža, biološki odpadki
- sesalnikvacuum cleanerfrom sesati, to suck — literally a sucker; there is not a word about dust anywhere in it; the verb for vacuuming is sesati
- krtačascrub brushč = ch, no vowel between k and r: KRT-ah-chah
- vedrobucketwatch out: the adjective vedro means clear — of sky and of mood; the bucket is neuter
- likalnikiron (appliance)from likati; the ironing board is likalna deska — three words on one root
- pomagatilend a handhelp takes the dative: pomagam mami; the present tense is pomagam, pomagaš, pomaga
- zapri vrataclose the doorimperative of zapreti; politer is zaprite vrata, prosim; vrata is always plural, like English doors
- odpri oknoopen the windowimperative of odpreti, the partner of zapri; to air out is prezračiti — the word on dormitory rules
- podaj mipass methe clitic mi comes right after the verb: podaj mi sol; politely: podajte mi, prosim
- tišje, prosimquiet, pleaseš = sh: TEESH-yeh PROH-seem
- najeti stanovanjerent a flatnj = ny: NAH-yeh-tee stah-noh-VAH-nyeh
- oddajati stanovanjelet a flatfrom oddati, to hand over — the same verb submits a paper and sends a letter; ads read oddam stanovanje, I am letting a flat, or oddaja se
- najemna pogodbarental agreementthe familiar pogodba with an adjective from najem; the parties are najemodajalec, the landlord, and najemnik, the tenant; you know the first, the second will serve you too
- najemninarentone word, built like pokojnina and dohodnina; usually paid by the fifth, separate from stroški, the utilities; people ask koliko je najemnina?
- trajanje najemalease termnj = ny: TRAH-yah-nyeh NAH-yeh-mah
- nepremičninski agentreal estate agentč = ch: neh-preh-meech-NEENskee AH-gent
- ogled stanovanjaflat viewingfrom ogledati si, to look over — the same root as the guided tour, vodeni ogled; arrange one with dogovoriti se za ogled; in Ljubljana a dozen people show up for one viewing
- opremljeno stanovanjefurnished flatlj soft ly: OH-prehm-lyeh-noh
- vseliti semove infrom seliti, to move house, with v-; move in on the first: vseliti se prvega; a car pulling into the yard does not vseliti — that is zapeljati
- izseliti semove outthe partner of vseliti se, with iz- meaning out; move out by the end of the month: izseliti se do konca meseca; evicting someone by force is izseliti without se — that is the court
- selitevrelocationfrom seliti se; covers moving flat and the migration of peoples; a level crossing is a different beast entirely: železniški prehod
- seliti semove housethe ongoing form, the perfective being preseliti se; selim se v Maribor, I am moving to Maribor; birds se selijo too — hence ptice selivke, migratory birds
- selitveni delavecmoverfinal c = ts: seh-LEET-veh-neh DEH-lah-vets
- zapakiratipack upthe familiar spakirati is packing for a trip; zapakirati closes the box around a thing; the prefixes tell: s- gathers, za- seals
- razpakiratiunpackraz- takes apart what za- put together — the same pair as English un-; also odpakirati; unpack a suitcase: razpakirati kovček; bubble wrap is zračna folija, tape lepilni trak
- novi naslovnew addressthe adjective stands in the definite form novi, because a particular address is meant; a change of address must be reported to the upravna enota within eight days
- prevoz stvaritransport of belongingsprevoz is transport in general — javni prevoz, public transport; the familiar stvari are your things; together: what a moving firm charges for
- urediti sesettle infrom red, order — literally put oneself in order; in speech it covers both settling into a new place and sprucing yourself up; for the flat say urediti stanovanje
- navaditi se na novo okoljeget used to the new placelj soft ly: oh-KOH-lyeh
- pohištvofurnitureš = sh: POH-heesht-voh
- kavčsofač = ch, v before it like w: KOWCH
- foteljarmchairlj soft ly: FOH-tely
- policashelfc = ts: poh-LEE-tsah
- preprogacarpetfrom prepregati, to spread out; the little mat at the door is predpražnik, literally before-the-threshold; wall-to-wall is tekststilna talna obloga, a rug pregrinjalo
- ogledalomirrorfrom gledati, to look — the thing you look into; the same root as ogled, an inspection; the rear-view mirror in the car is vzvratno ogledalo; look into it with gledati se v ogledalo
- zavesawindow curtainclose e in the second syllable: zah-VEH-sah
- blazinapillowunder the head, on the sofa, and in the car: the airbag is zračna blazina; the pillowcase is prevleka za blazino
- odejablanketj = y: oh-DEH-yah
- lestenecchandelierfinal c = ts: lehs-TEH-nets
- barvapaintthe same word as colour — context is the only thing that tells them apart: bela barva is white paint, lepa barva a pretty colour
- pleskati stenepaint the wallswalls and ceilings get pleskati; hair or fabric get barvati; the painter by trade is a pleskar
- tapetewallpaperboth e close: TAH-peh-teh
- ploščicetilesšč = sh plus ch, c = ts: PLOHSH-chee-tseh
- izvijačscrewdriverč = ch: eez-VEE-yach
- vrtalnikdrillvr with no vowel in between: VRT-ahl-neek
- cevpipec = ts, final v fades toward w: tsew
- žarnica je pregorelathe light bulb has blownž = zh, c = ts: ZHAHR-nee-tsah yeh pre-goh-REH-lah
- ogrevanjeheatingnj = ny: oh-greh-VAH-nyeh
- prenoviti stanovanjerenovatefrom nov, new — literally to make new again; a repair of something broken is the familiar popravilo, a full redo is prenova
- števecutility meterš = sh, c = ts: SHTEH-vets
- stanje števcameter readingnj = ny, š = sh: STAH-nyeh SHTEH-vtsah
- račun za vodowater billč = ch: RAH-choon zah VOH-doh
- račun za elektrikoelectricity billč = ch: RAH-choon za el-EK-tree-koh
- zaprli so vodowater shut offliterally they closed the water — Slovenian shuts water off like a door; the same impersonal they as in zaposlili so me; no power is ni elektrike
- smetnjakgarbage binnj = ny: SMEHT-nyak
- vhodbuilding entranceh is sounded, final d devoiced: vhod
- domofonintercomstress on the last syllable: domofón; to ring it is pozvoniti na domofon; with video it is videodomofon; the doorbell button is the familiar zvonec
- hrup od sosedovneighbour noisehrup is noise — the familiar hrupno, noisy, comes from it; quiet hours run from 10 to 6, and you complain: moti me hrup
- hišni redhouse rulesš = sh: HEESH-nee red
- pečicaovenč = ch, c = ts: PEH-chee-tsah
- mikrovalovkamicrowavethe full name is mikrovalovna pečica, but everyday speech cuts it short, exactly like English
- ribežgraterž = zh: REE-besh
- zajemalkaladlefrom zajemati, to scoop up; the slotted spoon is penovka, from pena, foam
- pokrovlidfrom pokriti, to cover; for a pot you will also hear pokrovka, the feminine twin of the word
- deska za rezanjecutting boarddeska is a board in any sense — a snowboard is snežna deska; to cut is rezati
- predpasnikapronliterally the thing before the belt: pred plus pas; built the same way as naramnica, a strap, from rama
- prttableclothNo vowel at all — the r holds the syllable by itself: puhrt; do not slip an extra vowel between the consonants
- mešalnikblenderš = sh: meh-SHAHL-neek
- posoda za malicolunch boxmalica is the meal between breakfast and lunch — in Slovenia a proper meal, paid extra at work; posoda is both dishes and any container
- glavnikcombfrom glava, a head; the hair brush is krtača za lase — a different object
- brivnikshaverfrom briti se, to shave; a disposable razor is britvica, shaving foam pena za britje
- šamponshampooŠ is "sh" as in "ship": SHAHM-pohn
- škarjescissorsŠ is "sh" as in "ship": SHKAHR-yeh
- iglaneedleStress on the first syllable: EEG-lah
- sukanecthread (sewing)C is "ts" as in "cats": soo-KAH-nehts
- vreči pročthrow awayČ is "ch" as in "church" in both words: VREH-chee-prohch
- hranitistorea two-sense homonym: hraniti v hladilniku, to store in the fridge, and hraniti otroka, to feed a child; both from hrana, food
- pralni strojwashing machinefrom prati, to wash; stroj is a machine as a mechanism — a car is never a stroj, it is avto
- pomivalni strojdishwasherfrom pomivati, to wash dishes; washing them by hand is pomivati posodo; washing yourself is umivati se
- zamrzovalnikfreezerfrom zmrzniti, to freeze; the fridge is hladilnik — different appliances, though often one body
- ventilatorfanStress on the last syllable: vehn-tee-lah-TOHR
- grelecheaterC is "ts" as in "cats": GREH-lehts
- sušilnik za lasehairdryerŠ is "sh" as in "ship": soo-SHEEL-neek-zah-LAH-seh
- podaljšekextension cordJš sounds like "ysh": poh-DAHLY-shehk
- stikalolight switchfrom stikati, to connect: the switch is named for what it joins, not for what it turns off
- vijakscrew (fastener)J is "y" as in "yes"; Stress on the last syllable: vee-YAHK
- ključ za maticewrenchČ is "ch" as in "church": KLYOOCH-zah-MAH-tee-tseh
- kleščepliersŠč is two sounds said one after the other, "sh-ch": KLEHSH-cheh
- izolirni trakinsulating tapetrak is any tape: insulating tape, sticky tape, a ribbon in the hair — the first word tells them apart
- lepiloglueStress on the second syllable: leh-PEE-loh
- lepilni traksticky tapeliterally a gluing tape; double-sided is obojestranski lepilni trak
- vrvropeNo vowel at all — the r holds the syllable by itself: vuhrv; do not slip an extra vowel between the consonants
- prilepitistick (glue)Stress on the second syllable: pree-LEH-pee-tee
- privitiscrew infrom viti, like vijak; unscrew is odviti — the prefix od- always unwinds the action
- izmeritimeasureStress on the second syllable: eez-MEH-ree-tee
- popravljati samdo your own repairssam agrees with the speaker: a man says popravljam sam, a woman popravljam sama, two people popravljava sama; English DIY needs no own hands in Slovenian
- prhashowerNo vowel in front — the r holds the syllable by itself: PUHRH-ah
- budilkaalarm clockStress on the "dil": boo-DEEL-kah
- termometerthermometer (instrument)Stress on the second syllable «me»: tehr-moh-MEH-tehr
- opekač kruhatoasterČ is "ch" as in "church": oh-PEH-kahch-KROO-hah
- šivalni strojsewing machineŠ is "sh" as in "ship": shee-VAHL-nee-strohy
- temeljfoundationmostly in the plural: temelji hiše; figuratively a basis: temelji demokracije; the verb utemeljiti, to justify, comes from the proof unit
- zaključna delafinishing workČ is "ch" as in "church": zahk-LYOOCH-nah-DEH-lah
- spustitito lowerThe same verb as "to go down", but without se. The particle is the whole difference.
- premaknitito movePresent premaknem. With se it is "to shift yourself".
- izpustitito dropLiterally "let out". To drop something is to let it slip out of your hands.
- pobratito pick upPresent poberem. Also "to collect someone": poberem te ob petih, "I will pick you up at five".
- obesitito hangFrom the obešalnik you know — the coat rack. Also "to hang up the phone".
- snetito take downPresent snamem. A short infinitive with a surprising present.
- zložitito foldž is the "zh" of "measure"
- razgrnitito spread outFrom grniti, "to rake together". The dual shows up in the past: razgrnila sva, "the two of us spread".
- razvitito unwrapA trap: the same verb means "to develop". Context tells them apart.
- spustiti noterto let innoter is "inward", notri "inside". The place adverbs come in pairs.
- spustiti vento let outThe partner of spustiti noter. ven is "outward", zunaj "outside".
- odpretito openPresent odprem. The imperfective is odpirati.
- zapretito closePresent zaprem. zapor, "prison", is from the same root.
- zaklenitito lockFrom ključ, "key" — a separate verb reserved for locking.
- odklenitito unlockThe partner of zakleniti. About a phone the same word means "to unlock".
- prižgati lučto turn on the lightž is the "zh" of "measure"
- ugasniti lučto turn off the lightg is hard: oo-GAHSH-nee-tee
- obrniti kljukoto turn the handlej is "y"
- potrkatito knockFrom trkati, "to knock". The po- prefix makes the action single.
- pozvonitito ring the bellFrom zvonec, "doorbell". Knocking and ringing are kept apart.
- pragthresholdfinal g devoices: prak
- kljukadoor handlej is "y"
- ključavnicalockj is "y", č is "ch"
- zvonecdoorbellc is "ts": ZVOH-nets
- okenska policawindowsillLiterally "window shelf". In the adjective from okno a fleeting e appears: okenski.
- zastorcurtainzavesa is taken for the curtain; zastor is the panel you draw — up to the theater curtain.
- nočna lučkanight lightč is "ch"
- umivalniksinkFrom umivati, "to wash". This is the bathroom sink; the kitchen one is pomivalno korito.
- kadbathtubFeminine on a consonant: v kadi, iz kadi. The room is kopalnica — a different word.
- straniščna školjkatoiletš is "sh", č is "ch"
- vrtna cevhosej is "y"
How it sounds in a sentence
A word list is a blank. Conversation is made of sentences, and these are the ones the words fit into most often.
- Njihova hiša ima velik vrtTheir house has a big garden
- Iščem stanovanje blizu centraI am looking for an apartment near the center
- Na obrazec vpišite svoje bivališčeEnter your residence in the form
- Stanovanje ima dve sobiThe apartment has two rooms
- Kuhinja je majhna, a svetlaThe kitchen is small but bright
- V kopalnici ni tople vodeThere is no hot water in the bathroom
What is worth knowing about these words
hiša — house. Only a standalone house. An apartment is stanovanje, and in the city that is where most people live.
stanovanje — apartment. From stanovati, "to reside". It opens the first line of rental ads.
bivališče — residence. From bivati, "to dwell". A word of forms and ads; in a live conversation people just say stanovanje.
soba — room. Rooms are counted the way you count rooms: dvosobno stanovanje, "a two-room apartment".
Test yourself
First by ear — the way you will meet the word in conversation. Click the speaker and pick the translation.
- What is this word?
It is hiša — house.
- What is this word?
It is kopalnica — bathroom.
- What is this word?
It is miza — table.
- What is this word?
It is vrata — door.
- What is this word?
It is smeti — trash.
Now the other way around: recall the spelling from the meaning. That is harder, and therefore more useful.
- How do you say “house” in Slovenian?
Only a standalone house. An apartment is stanovanje, and in the city that is where most people live.
- How do you say “bathroom” in Slovenian?
From kopati se, "to bathe". The toilet lives separately and is stranišče — or plainly WC.
- How do you say “table” in Slovenian?
Half of the furniture trap: miza is the table. The other half is stol, and that is the chair.
- How do you say “door” in Slovenian?
Always plural in shape, though there is one door: vrata so odprta.
- How do you say “trash” in Slovenian?
Always plural: smeti so polne. Waste is sorted seriously here, and neighbors will scold you for mixing it.
How to learn the set instead of just reading it
Room, key, water, electricity. You will need them on your first day in a rented flat.
A list is read in a minute and forgotten in a day. What works: hide the translation, try to recall, get it wrong — and come back to the same words tomorrow.
- Recalling beats re-reading. Covering the translation and trying to remember it does more than reading it ten more times.checked many timesAdesope, Trevisan & Sundararajan, 2017, Review of Educational Research 87(3) · 188 experiments, 272 comparisons. g = 0.61; against plain re-reading 0.51, against passive review 0.93.
- This holds not only in experiments but in ordinary classrooms, with real students.checked many timesMawson & Kang, 2025, Behavioral Sciences 15(6):771 · 22 studies, d = 0.54 (confidence interval 0.31–0.77). The authors warn that individual studies disagree widely.
Frequently asked
How do you say “house” in Slovenian?
«hiša». š is "sh", the h sounds: HEESH-ah. It is one of 196 words in the set “home and things” — the rest are in the table above.
How many household words do you need to start?
A dozen is enough. The set of 196 words on this page covers nearly every everyday case on the topic — but it is best taken a few at a time, not all at once.
Is there audio?
Yes, 196 words on this page can be played — click the speaker next to the word. The sound works on any phone, and nothing needs to be installed.