Signification
To be very depressed or exhausted.
Contexte culturel
Slovenians often use this phrase during 'veseli december' (Happy December) when the combination of parties and work leads to burnout. In broader Balkan culture, being 'na tleh' is often expressed more loudly and socially than in the more reserved Slovenian context. In modern Ljubljana tech startups, 'biti na tleh' is increasingly used to describe 'burnout' (izgorelost), a hot topic in local media. Many 'ex-Yu' and Slovenian rock songs use this phrase to depict the 'hero's low point' before a comeback.
Use 'čisto'
Adding 'čisto' (cleanly/completely) makes you sound much more like a native speaker.
Grammar Trap
Never say 'na tlu'. Even though 'tlo' is the singular, the idiom is fixed in the plural 'tleh'.
Signification
To be very depressed or exhausted.
Use 'čisto'
Adding 'čisto' (cleanly/completely) makes you sound much more like a native speaker.
Grammar Trap
Never say 'na tlu'. Even though 'tlo' is the singular, the idiom is fixed in the plural 'tleh'.
Empathy
If someone says they are 'na tleh', don't just say 'OK'. It's a signal they need emotional support.
Physical vs Mental
You can specify 'psihično na tleh' (mentally down) or 'fizično na tleh' (physically wiped out).
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the noun 'tla'.
Po dolgem dnevu sem čisto na ______.
The idiom always uses the locative plural form 'tleh'.
Which sentence correctly uses the idiom to mean 'I am exhausted'?
Izberi pravilen stavek:
This correctly links the state of being 'na tleh' with the cause (working a lot).
Match the response to the situation.
Tvoj prijatelj je pravkar izgubil službo. Kaj mu rečeš?
This shows empathy for their emotional state.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Greš z nami v kino?' B: 'Ne, oprosti. Danes sem ______ na tleh.'
'Čisto' is the most natural intensifier for this idiom.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Intensity Scale
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesPo dolgem dnevu sem čisto na ______.
The idiom always uses the locative plural form 'tleh'.
Izberi pravilen stavek:
This correctly links the state of being 'na tleh' with the cause (working a lot).
Tvoj prijatelj je pravkar izgubil službo. Kaj mu rečeš?
This shows empathy for their emotional state.
A: 'Greš z nami v kino?' B: 'Ne, oprosti. Danes sem ______ na tleh.'
'Čisto' is the most natural intensifier for this idiom.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNot at all. It's an honest expression of feelings, though best kept for friends and family.
Yes, 'Podjetje je na tleh' means the business is in a very bad financial state.
'Potrt' is more formal and specifically means 'depressed'. 'Na tleh' is more versatile and informal.
Use the phrase 'Pobiram se na noge' or 'Pobiram se s tal'.
It is plural. The word 'tla' (floor/ground) doesn't have a singular form in common usage.
Yes, but context usually clarifies. If you are smiling and eating pizza on the floor, people won't think you're depressed.
Yes, it is standard Slovenian and used in all dialects.
Usually no. You wouldn't say a car is 'na tleh' unless it's a metaphor for it being completely broken down.
'Biti v devetih nebesih' (to be in ninth heaven) or 'biti poln energije' (to be full of energy).
Yes! It's a very useful way to express how you feel with simple grammar.
Expressions liées
pobrati se s tal
builds onTo recover/get back up
biti na psu
synonymTo be in a dog's state
biti sesut
similarTo be crashed/broken
biti v devetih nebesih
contrastTo be in seventh heaven
