Which one should you use?
The phrase Živjo, kako si? is used among friends or peers. For more formal situations, such as when speaking to a stranger, an elder or a group of people, you should use Kako ste? instead.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Živjo, kako si? is an informal phrase and should be used with friends, family or peers. For formal greetings, you might use Dober dan (Good day), Dobro jutro (Good morning) or Dobri večer (Good evening). Similarly, the most common formal way to ask how someone is doing is Kako ste?, while Kako se počutite? is used to show extra concern when asking how someone is feeling.
How does it change in a sentence?
The part kako si? uses the second-person singular verb form, which is used for one person you know well.
When do people say it?
When someone asks you Kako si?, a common response is Dobro, hvala (Good, thanks).
Did you know?
- The informal greeting Živjo is actually a playful, shortened version of the older expression Živijo, which was a celebratory shout used to wish people 'long life' or 'health'.
- The word kako is an ancient linguistic relative of the English word 'how', as both words descend from the same Proto-Indo-European ancestor meaning 'in what manner'.
- In Slovenia, if you use the informal Živjo, kako si? with a person significantly older than you, it may be perceived as a lack of respect rather than just being friendly.
Examples in context
- Živjo, kako si?Hello, how are you?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kako, CC BY-SA 4.0.
