Ali govorite angleško?
To ask "do you speak english?" in Slovenian, you say Ali govorite angleško?
This phrase is used to ask if someone is able to communicate in the English language.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase Ali govorite angleško?, the word Ali is a particle used at the beginning to indicate a yes/no question. The word angleško refers to the English language and functions as an adverb describing how one speaks.
When do people say it?
If someone asks you this question, a standard affirmative response is Da, govorim angleško and a standard negative response is Ne, ne govorim angleško. You might also hear živijo used to mean "hello" in a greeting.
Did you know?
- The word angleško is related to the word angle, though not in meaning. It shares a root with the ancient name for the Angles, the Germanic tribe that settled in Britain.
- The Slovenian language allows for the omission of the subject 'I' or 'you' because the verb ending in govorite already tells the listener exactly who is being addressed.
- While angleško refers to the English language, it is derived from Anglec, meaning a person from England. This means you are literally asking if someone speaks 'Englishly'.
Examples in context
- Oprostite, ali govorite angleško?Excuse me, do you speak English?
- Ali govorite angleško?Do you speak English?
- Prosim, ali govorite angleško?Please, do you speak English?
- Zanima me, ali govorite angleško?I'm wondering, do you speak English?
- Hej, govoriš angleško?Hey, do you speak English?
- Ali sploh govoriš angleško?Do you even speak English?
- Govoriš angleško, a ne?You speak English, right?
Example conversation
A tourist approaches a woman on a street in Ljubljana.
- ŽigaOprostite, ali govorite angleško?Excuse me, do you speak English?
- PetraŽal ne, govorim samo slovensko.Unfortunately no, I only speak Slovenian.
- ŽigaV redu, hvala.Alright, thank you.
- PetraNi za kaj.You're welcome.
