A0 Honorifics & Register 1 min read Facile

Formal vs. Informal Greetings

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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

In Slovenian, use 'ti' for friends and 'vi' for strangers or superiors to show respect.

  • Use 'ti' (informal) for friends, family, and children: 'Kako si?' (How are you?)
  • Use 'vi' (formal) for strangers, teachers, and elders: 'Kako ste?' (How are you?)
  • Always default to 'vi' if you are unsure about the relationship status.
Friend = Ti (Singular) | Stranger = Vi (Plural/Formal)

Verb Conjugation: Informal vs Formal

Pronoun Register Verb (delati) Ending
Ti
Informal
delaš
-š
Vi
Formal
delate
-te

Meanings

The distinction between informal (ti) and formal (vi) address, which dictates verb conjugation and pronoun usage.

1

Informal (Tikanje)

Used for close acquaintances, peers, and children.

“Kako si?”

“Kaj delaš?”

2

Formal (Vikanje)

Used for professional settings, strangers, and authority figures.

“Kako ste?”

“Kaj delate?”

Reference Table

Reference table for Formal vs. Informal Greetings
Form Structure Example
Informal
Ti + Verb(-š)
Ti hodiš
Formal
Vi + Verb(-te)
Vi hodite
Question (Inf)
Verb(-š) + ...?
Hodiš?
Question (Form)
Verb(-te) + ...?
Hodite?
Negative (Inf)
Ne + Verb(-š)
Ne hodiš
Negative (Form)
Ne + Verb(-te)
Ne hodite

Spectre de formalité

Formel
Kako ste?

Kako ste? (Greeting)

Neutre
Kako ste?

Kako ste? (Greeting)

Informel
Kako si?

Kako si? (Greeting)

Argot
Kako kaj?

Kako kaj? (Greeting)

The T-V Choice

Address Form

Informal (Ti)

  • Prijatelji Friends
  • Družina Family

Formal (Vi)

  • Neznanci Strangers
  • Šefi Bosses
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Exemples par niveau

1

Kako si?

How are you? (informal)

2

Kako ste?

How are you? (formal)

3

Ti si moj prijatelj.

You are my friend.

4

Vi ste učitelj.

You are the teacher.

1

Kaj delaš danes?

What are you doing today? (informal)

2

Kaj delate danes?

What are you doing today? (formal)

3

Ali ti je všeč kava?

Do you like coffee? (informal)

4

Ali vam je všeč kava?

Do you like coffee? (formal)

1

Lahko ti pomagam.

I can help you. (informal)

2

Lahko vam pomagam.

I can help you. (formal)

3

Si že jedel?

Have you eaten? (informal)

4

Ste že jedli?

Have you eaten? (formal)

1

Vesel sem, da te vidim.

I am happy to see you. (informal)

2

Vesel sem, da vas vidim.

I am happy to see you. (formal)

3

Zakaj si to naredil?

Why did you do that? (informal)

4

Zakaj ste to naredili?

Why did you do that? (formal)

1

Zanima me, če ti je jasno.

I wonder if it's clear to you. (informal)

2

Zanima me, če vam je jasno.

I wonder if it's clear to you. (formal)

3

Ti si tisti, ki ve.

You are the one who knows. (informal)

4

Vi ste tisti, ki veste.

You are the one who knows. (formal)

1

Ti si vreden zaupanja.

You are worthy of trust. (informal)

2

Vi ste vredni zaupanja.

You are worthy of trust. (formal)

3

Ti si se odločil pravilno.

You decided correctly. (informal)

4

Vi ste se odločili pravilno.

You decided correctly. (formal)

Facile à confondre

Formal vs. Informal Greetings vs Ti vs Vi

Learners often use 'ti' because it's simpler.

Formal vs. Informal Greetings vs Verb Endings

Mixing -š and -te.

Formal vs. Informal Greetings vs Pronoun Usage

Using both pronoun and verb.

Erreurs courantes

✗

Kako si? (to a boss)

✓

Kako ste?

Using informal with a superior.
✗

Ti ste.

✓

Vi ste.

Mixing pronouns.
✗

Kako delate? (to a friend)

✓

Kako delaš?

Using formal with a friend.
✗

Vi si.

✓

Vi ste.

Incorrect conjugation.
✗

Ali ti greš?

✓

Ali greš?

Redundant pronoun.
✗

Ali vi greste?

✓

Ali greste?

Incorrect conjugation.
✗

Kako si, gospod?

✓

Kako ste, gospod?

Mixing register.
✗

Pozdravljen, šef.

✓

Pozdravljeni, šef.

Informal greeting to boss.
✗

Ti ste prišli.

✓

Vi ste prišli.

Pronoun mismatch.
✗

Kako ti je ime?

✓

Kako vam je ime?

Informal to stranger.
✗

Ti si se odločili.

✓

Vi ste se odločili.

Register inconsistency.
✗

Kako ti gre, gospa?

✓

Kako vam gre, gospa?

Register error.
✗

Vi si bil tam.

✓

Vi ste bili tam.

Conjugation error.

Structures de phrases

Kako ___?

___ si moj prijatelj.

Kaj ___ danes?

Ali ___ všeč kava?

Real World Usage

Social Media constant

Kako si?

Job Interview very common

Kako ste?

Texting constant

Kaj delaš?

Ordering Food common

Želim kavo.

Travel common

Kje je hotel?

Delivery App occasional

Hvala.

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💡

Start Formal

Always use 'vi' with strangers. You can switch to 'ti' later.
⚠️

Don't Mix

Never use 'ti' with a formal verb ending.
🎯

Watch Others

Observe how locals address each other.
💬

Age Matters

Always use 'vi' for older people.

Smart Tips

Always start with 'vi'.

Kako si? → Kako ste?

Use 'vi' and titles.

Kaj delaš? → Kaj delate, gospod?

Use 'ti' to show closeness.

Kako ste? → Kako si?

Err on the side of 'vi'.

Ti si... → Vi ste...

Prononciation

ste [stɛ]

Vowel length

Ensure the 'e' in 'ste' is clear.

Rising

Kako si? ↗

Questioning

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Ti is for Tiny circles (friends), Vi is for Vast circles (everyone else).

Association visuelle

Imagine a small 'ti' bubble for your best friend and a large 'vi' umbrella covering a crowd of strangers.

Rhyme

Ti for a friend, Vi for the end (of a formal meeting).

Story

Mark met his friend Jane and said 'Kako si?'. Then he met his new boss and said 'Kako ste?'. He remembered: friends are small, bosses are big.

Word Web

TiViTikanjeVikanjePrijateljNeznanec

Défi

Write 5 sentences using 'ti' and 5 using 'vi' today.

Notes culturelles

Slovenians value politeness. 'Vikanje' is a sign of respect.

The T-V distinction is common in Slavic languages.

Amorces de conversation

“

Kako si danes?

“

Kako ste danes?

“

Ali ti je všeč Ljubljana?

“

Ali vam je všeč Ljubljana?

Sujets d'écriture

Write about a friend.
Write about your teacher.
Describe a party.
Describe a business meeting.

Erreurs courantes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the correct form.

Kako ___? (informal)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: si
Informal uses 'si'.
Choose the correct pronoun. Choix multiple

___ ste učitelj.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vi
Formal uses 'Vi'.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ti ste.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ti si.
Pronoun and verb must match.
Change to formal. Sentence Transformation

Kako si?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Kako ste?
Formal uses 'ste'.
Is this true? True False Rule

Use 'ti' for bosses.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Bosses require 'vi'.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Kako ste? B: ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Dobro, hvala.
Formal response.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

vi / ste / prijazni

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vi ste prijazni.
Correct structure.
Match the register. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Friend vs Stranger
Correct mapping.

Score: /8

Exercices pratiques

8 exercises
Fill in the correct form.

Kako ___? (informal)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: si
Informal uses 'si'.
Choose the correct pronoun. Choix multiple

___ ste učitelj.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vi
Formal uses 'Vi'.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ti ste.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ti si.
Pronoun and verb must match.
Change to formal. Sentence Transformation

Kako si?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Kako ste?
Formal uses 'ste'.
Is this true? True False Rule

Use 'ti' for bosses.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Bosses require 'vi'.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Kako ste? B: ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Dobro, hvala.
Formal response.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

vi / ste / prijazni

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vi ste prijazni.
Correct structure.
Match the register. Match Pairs

Ti vs Vi

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Friend vs Stranger
Correct mapping.

Score: /8

FAQ (8)

Use 'ti' for friends, family, and peers.

Use 'vi' for strangers, bosses, and elders.

Yes, it is plural, but used for formal singular.

Apologize and switch to the correct form.

No, always use 'vi'.

It takes practice but is very logical.

No, you can drop it.

They will usually suggest it.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Tú vs Usted

Spanish uses third-person for 'usted'.

French high

Tu vs Vous

French 'vous' is also plural.

German high

Du vs Sie

German 'Sie' is always capitalized.

Japanese moderate

Kimi vs Anata

Japanese has many levels of politeness.

Arabic moderate

Anta vs Antum

Arabic has gendered forms.

Chinese moderate

Ni vs Nin

Chinese does not conjugate verbs.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
Basic Introductions: 'Jaz sem...'

Related Grammar Rules

C1

Formal Pluralization (Vikanje)
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