dober dan
/dòːbər dáːn/
The English phrase "good afternoon" is translated into Slovenian as dober dan.
dober dan is a common greeting used during the afternoon. While it can be translated into English as "good day", it serves as the standard way to say "good afternoon" in Slovenian.
Meaning: greeting said in the afternoon (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase dober dan literally translates to "good day".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
dober dan is a formal greeting that is appropriate for professional or polite settings.
How do you pronounce it?
/dòːbər dáːn/
Did you know?
- While dober dan is the formal greeting, friends and family typically use zdravo or čao, the latter being borrowed from Italian due to Slovenia's proximity to Italy.
- In Slovenia, using the formal dober dan with someone you are on a first-name basis with can be interpreted as a joke or a sign that you are suddenly annoyed with them.
- When leaving a shop in the afternoon, it is just as common to say dober dan as a way of saying 'goodbye' as it is to use it as a greeting.
Examples in context
- Dober dan, gospod Novak. Kako vam lahko pomagam danes?Good afternoon, Mr. Novak. How can I assist you today?
- Dober dan, kako ste danes?Good afternoon, how are you today?
- Dober dan, vzamem to košarico.Good afternoon, I will take this basket.
Example conversation
Matic and Maja meet on the street.
- MaticDober dan, Maja!Good afternoon, Maja!
- MajaŽivjo, Matic!Hi, Matic!
- MaticKako si danes?How are you today?
- MajaSem dobro, hvala.I am well, thank you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good afternoon” translations and entries dober dan, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
