Significado
To feel comfortable and natural in a situation.
Contexto cultural
Slovenians have a very high 'water literacy.' Most people can name several local rivers and lakes, and swimming is a standard childhood skill. This makes the idiom feel very literal and grounded. In the mountain regions, being 'like a fish in water' is often applied to being comfortable on steep terrain or in the snow, showing how the idiom adapts to the local 'element.' On the coast (Piran, Koper), the idiom is used with a literal wink, as the sea is a daily part of life. In Slovenian offices, this phrase is a common way to give a 'soft' compliment to a colleague without sounding overly formal.
Use with 'Počutiti se'
If you want to talk about your own confidence, 'Počutim se kot riba v vodi' sounds more natural than just 'Sem kot riba v vodi'.
Check the Case
Always use 'vodi' (locative), never 'vodo' (accusative), unless you are jumping into the water.
Significado
To feel comfortable and natural in a situation.
Use with 'Počutiti se'
If you want to talk about your own confidence, 'Počutim se kot riba v vodi' sounds more natural than just 'Sem kot riba v vodi'.
Check the Case
Always use 'vodi' (locative), never 'vodo' (accusative), unless you are jumping into the water.
The Antonym
Mastering 'kot riba na suhem' at the same time will double your expressive power for describing awkwardness.
Ponte a prueba
Dopolni poved s pravilno obliko samostalnika 'voda'.
Na odru se počutim kot riba v ____.
Preposition 'v' in this context requires the locative case (vodi).
Kateri stavek je pravilen?
Izberi pravilno uporabo idioma.
The idiom describes being comfortable and happy, which fits someone who loves people at a party.
Poveži osebo s situacijo, kjer bi bila 'kot riba v vodi'.
Poveži:
All these pairs represent a person in their natural, comfortable environment.
Dopolni dialog.
A: 'Kako se tvoj brat znajde v novi šoli?' B: 'Odlično! Že prvi dan je bil tam kot ____.'
'Riba v vodi' is the standard idiom for social/environmental comfort.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Comfort vs. Discomfort
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosNa odru se počutim kot riba v ____.
Preposition 'v' in this context requires the locative case (vodi).
Izberi pravilno uporabo idioma.
The idiom describes being comfortable and happy, which fits someone who loves people at a party.
Empareja cada elemento de la izquierda con su par de la derecha:
All these pairs represent a person in their natural, comfortable environment.
A: 'Kako se tvoj brat znajde v novi šoli?' B: 'Odlično! Že prvi dan je bil tam kot ____.'
'Riba v vodi' is the standard idiom for social/environmental comfort.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasYes, but it's usually redundant. It's almost always used figuratively for humans.
Absolutely. It shows confidence and a good grasp of the language.
Mi smo kot ribe v vodi. (We are like fish in water.) Note that 'ribe' is plural.
No, it's a standard idiom used by all ages and in all registers.
You can, but 'v vodi' is the fixed, standard form of the idiom.
It can, but usually it means you are comfortable in a situation (like a job or a party).
Ne počutim se kot riba v vodi. Or better: Počutim se kot riba na suhem.
Yes, Croatian, Serbian, and Russian have very similar versions.
Only if you are trying to say you are very comfortable in the mess!
In this phrase, yes, because of the locative case requirement.
Frases relacionadas
Biti v svojem elementu
synonymTo be in one's element.
Biti kot riba na suhem
contrastTo be like a fish on dry land (uncomfortable).
Plavati proti toku
similarTo swim against the current.
Imeti vse pod kontrolo
builds onTo have everything under control.
