When discussing family, knowing the word for 'sister' is fundamental. In Slovenian, this is sestra. It's a feminine noun and will decline according to its grammatical case, which is important for constructing accurate sentences. For example, 'moja sestra' means 'my sister'.
§ Understanding 'Sestra'
The Slovenian word for 'sister' is 'sestra'. It's a fundamental vocabulary word, and you'll hear it often in everyday conversations, especially when people talk about their families. Knowing this word is really useful for understanding and participating in basic discussions.
- DEFINITION
- sister
§ Examples of 'Sestra' in Sentences
Moja sestra živi v Ljubljani. (My sister lives in Ljubljana.)
Imam eno sestro in enega brata. (I have one sister and one brother.)
Ali imaš sestro? (Do you have a sister?)
§ 'Sestra' in Daily Life
You'll hear 'sestra' most often in casual conversations among friends and family. It's a word that connects people and helps describe family structures.
- At family gatherings: "Kje je tvoja sestra?" (Where is your sister?)
- When introducing family: "To je moja sestra, Ana." (This is my sister, Ana.)
- Talking about siblings: "Moja sestra je študentka." (My sister is a student.)
Beyond immediate family, 'sestra' can also be used in a more general sense, like referring to a 'nurse' in a hospital setting. In this context, it's often used with the title 'medicinska sestra' (medical nurse), but sometimes shortened to just 'sestra' in informal speech.
Gospa, ali ste sestra? (Madam, are you a nurse?)
You might also encounter 'sestra' in literature or historical texts when discussing nuns, where it would be used as 'redovnica sestra' or simply 'sestra'. While less common in modern everyday speech outside of direct religious contexts, it's good to be aware of these extended meanings.
§ Why 'Sestra' Matters
Understanding 'sestra' is not just about knowing a single word; it's about grasping how Slovenians talk about relationships. Family is very important in Slovenian culture, so knowing these terms helps you connect with people more deeply. It's a basic building block for more complex conversations about personal life and social connections.
§ 'Sestra' vs. 'Sorodnik'
Many learners, especially those with Germanic language backgrounds, might assume 'sestra' can also mean a female relative in a broader sense, similar to how 'sister' can sometimes be used informally in English. However, in Slovenian, 'sestra' specifically means sister. For a general female relative, you would use 'sorodnica' (female relative) or 'sorodnik' (relative, gender-neutral but often used for male). This distinction is important for clarity.
- DEFINITION
- sorodnica: female relative
- DEFINITION
- sorodnik: relative (can be male or gender-neutral)
Moja sestra je učiteljica. (My sister is a teacher.)
Imam veliko sorodnikov. (I have many relatives.)
§ Gender and Number Agreement
Slovenian is a highly inflected language, meaning words change their endings based on gender, number, and case. 'Sestra' is a feminine noun. When you use it in a sentence, any adjectives or pronouns referring to 'sestra' must also agree in gender and number. This is a common stumbling block for new learners.
- DEFINITION
- feminine noun: a noun that takes feminine grammatical endings
Moja starejša sestra. (My older sister.) - 'starejša' (older) agrees with 'sestra' (feminine singular).
Imam dve sestri. (I have two sisters.) - 'sestri' is the dual form.
§ Using 'Sestra' in Medical Contexts
In Slovenian, 'sestra' is also commonly used to refer to a nurse, specifically a female nurse. While this usage is correct, learners might get confused if they hear 'sestra' in a hospital setting and expect it to mean a literal sibling. Context is key here. If you're in a medical environment, 'sestra' almost certainly means 'nurse'.
- DEFINITION
- medicinska sestra: nurse (literally 'medical sister')
Poklical sem sestro, da mi prinese vodo. (I called the nurse to bring me water.)
Moja sestra dela v bolnišnici. (My sister works in a hospital.) - This could be ambiguous without further context. If she's a nurse, it would be 'Moja medicinska sestra dela v bolnišnici' or just clear from conversation.
§ Confusing with 'Bratranec' or 'Sestrična'
Another common mistake is to confuse 'sestra' with cousins. 'Bratranec' means male cousin, and 'sestrična' means female cousin. These are distinct from 'sestra'. Using 'sestra' for a cousin is incorrect.
- DEFINITION
- bratranec: male cousin
- DEFINITION
- sestrična: female cousin
Moja sestrična živi v Ljubljani. (My female cousin lives in Ljubljana.)
Imam enega bratrance in dve sestrični. (I have one male cousin and two female cousins.)
§ Over-generalization of 'Sestra'
In some languages, a term for 'sister' might be used more broadly to refer to female friends or close associates. This is not common in Slovenian. While you might encounter 'sestra' in very specific, often older or informal, contexts (like a nun, 'redovna sestra'), it's generally best to stick to its primary meaning for a sibling or a nurse. For female friends, use 'prijateljica'.
- DEFINITION
- prijateljica: female friend
Moja prijateljica in jaz greva v kino. (My female friend and I are going to the cinema.)
Beispiele nach Niveau
Moja sestra je študentka.
My sister is a student.
Possessive pronoun 'Moja' (My) with feminine noun 'sestra'.
Imam sestro.
I have a sister.
Verb 'Imam' (I have) followed by direct object 'sestro' (accusative case).
To je moja sestra.
This is my sister.
'To je' (This is) is a common introductory phrase.
Njena sestra je visoka.
Her sister is tall.
Possessive pronoun 'Njena' (Her) with feminine noun 'sestra'.
Sem s sestro.
I am with my sister.
'Sem s' (I am with) followed by 'sestro' (instrumental case).
Sestra in brat.
Sister and brother.
Conjunction 'in' (and) connecting two nouns.
Rad imam sestro.
I love my sister. (Literally: I like my sister.)
'Rad imam' (I like/love) is a common way to express affection.
Moja sestra je lepa.
My sister is beautiful.
Adjective 'lepa' (beautiful) agrees in gender with 'sestra'.
Moja sestra je študirala medicino in zdaj dela kot zdravnica v Ljubljani, kar je izjemno zahteven, a izpolnjujoč poklic.
My sister studied medicine and now works as a doctor in Ljubljana, which is an extremely demanding but fulfilling profession.
Possessive pronoun 'Moja' (my) agrees in gender and number with 'sestra' (sister).
Čeprav sva si s sestro zelo različni, naju povezuje močna vez in vedno se lahko zanesem nanjo, ne glede na okoliščine.
Although my sister and I are very different, a strong bond connects us and I can always rely on her, regardless of the circumstances.
The preposition 's' (with) takes the instrumental case, hence 's sestro'.
Sestra mi je zaupala, da razmišlja o selitvi v tujino zaradi boljše karierne priložnosti, čeprav ji bo težko zapustiti domovino.
My sister confided in me that she is considering moving abroad for a better career opportunity, even though it will be difficult for her to leave her homeland.
The dative case is used with 'mi' (to me) and 'sestra' (subject).
Naše družinsko srečanje je bilo nepopolno brez sestre, saj je bila na službenem potovanju v Aziji, kar smo vsi pogrešali.
Our family gathering was incomplete without my sister, as she was on a business trip in Asia, which we all missed.
The preposition 'brez' (without) takes the genitive case, so 'brez sestre'.
Sestra se je vpisala na tečaj slikanja, saj verjame, da je umetnost pomemben del osebnega razvoja in sprostitve.
My sister enrolled in a painting course, as she believes that art is an important part of personal development and relaxation.
The reflexive verb 'se je vpisala' (she enrolled herself) is used here.
Ko sem bil v stiski, me je sestra vedno znala potolažiti in mi ponuditi praktične nasvete, ki so mi resnično pomagali.
When I was in trouble, my sister always knew how to comfort me and offer practical advice that truly helped me.
'Me' (me) is in the accusative case, as it is the direct object of 'potolažiti' (to comfort).
S sestro sva si delili skrivnosti že od otroštva in še danes ostajava najboljši prijateljici, kljub vsem življenjskim preizkušnjam.
My sister and I have shared secrets since childhood and we still remain best friends, despite all of life's challenges.
The plural form 'sestra' (sisters, or sister and I) can imply both individuals if the context is clear.
Mojim nečakom je sestra najboljša teta na svetu, saj jim vedno prinese zanimiva darila in se z njimi igra ure in ure.
To my nephews, my sister is the best aunt in the world, as she always brings them interesting gifts and plays with them for hours.
'Mojim nečakom' (to my nephews) is in the dative plural.
Grammatikmuster
Satzmuster
To je moja [sestra].
To je moja sestra. (This is my sister.)
Imam [sestro].
Imam sestro. (I have a sister.)
Moja [sestra] je [lepa/mlada/stara].
Moja sestra je mlada. (My sister is young.)
Si ti [njena sestra]?
Si ti njena sestra? (Are you her sister?)
[Sestra] in jaz greva v [mesto].
Sestra in jaz greva v mesto. (My sister and I are going to the city.)
Kako je ime tvoji [sestri]?
Kako je ime tvoji sestri? (What is your sister's name?)
Govorim s [sestro].
Govorim s sestro. (I am talking to my sister.)
To je darilo za [sestro].
To je darilo za sestro. (This is a gift for my sister.)
Teste dich selbst 42 Fragen
Listen for 'sestra'.
How many sisters?
Who is Ana?
Read this aloud:
Moja sestra je doma.
Focus: sestra
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Ali imaš sestro?
Focus: imaš
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Imam sestro.
Focus: imam
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence means 'My sister is tall.'
This sentence means 'I have one sister.'
This sentence means 'Your sister is beautiful.'
Listen for 'sestra' and understand the sentence context. The speaker is talking about their sister.
Listen carefully to identify if the question is about a 'sister' or 'brother'.
Pay attention to 'sestri' (plural for sisters) and the activity they did.
Read this aloud:
Moja sestra živi v Ljubljani.
Focus: sestra, živi, Ljubljani
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Imam starejšo sestro in mlajšega brata.
Focus: starejšo, mlajšega, sestro, brata
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Z mojo sestro greva na izlet.
Focus: Z mojo, sestro, greva, izlet
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence means 'My older sister lives in Ljubljana.' The word order in Slovenian often places the adjective before the noun, and the verb follows the subject.
This question asks 'Do you have a sister or a brother?' 'Ali' is used to introduce a yes/no question. The verb 'imaš' (you have) comes before the object.
This means 'I am going to the cinema with my sister today.' 'Z' means 'with' and takes the instrumental case, which applies to 'mojo sestro'. The verb 'grem' (I go) follows the subject implicitly.
Listen for what my sister is studying and where.
Listen for the relationship between the speaker and the sister, and what kind of advice the sister gives.
Listen for whose sister is being discussed and what she does.
Read this aloud:
Moja sestra je pred kratkim potovala po Južni Ameriki in mi prinesla veliko zanimivih zgodb.
Focus: Južni Ameriki
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Povej mi več o svoji sestri. Kateri so njeni hobiji in kaj rada počne v prostem času?
Focus: hobiji
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Sestra in jaz se bova jutri srečali na kavi in se pogovorili o načrtih za poletje.
Focus: načrtih
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
The speaker is talking about their sister's new job and how it makes them feel.
The speaker is sharing news about their friend's sister and her successful book.
The speaker is describing the relationship with their sister despite geographical distance.
Read this aloud:
Opravičujem se, ali mi lahko poveste, ali je sestra gospoda Novak prisotna na današnjem srečanju? Z njo moram nujno govoriti.
Focus: sestra gospoda Novak prisotna
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Zadnjič mi je sestra pomagala pri pripravi kompleksnega projekta, ki je zahteval veliko časa in truda. Brez nje mi verjetno ne bi uspelo.
Focus: sestra pomagala kompleksnega projekta
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Sestra mi je vedno svetovala, naj sledim svojim sanjam, ne glede na ovire. Njen nasvet mi je pomagal pri pomembnih življenjskih odločitvah.
Focus: sestra svetovala sledim sanjam ovire
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence describes an individual's boundless intellectual curiosity and continuous pursuit of new challenges, emphasizing the depth of their inquisitiveness and proactive engagement with learning.
This sentence highlights the team's ability to maintain strong cohesion and mutual respect even when faced with a challenging project, underscoring their resilience and effective collaboration under pressure.
This sentence describes someone's philosophical thinking as transcending conventional boundaries, offering alternative perspectives on the essence of existence, indicating a profound and unconventional approach to philosophy.
/ 42 correct
Perfect score!
