Signification
To be focused on the task.
Contexte culturel
Slovenians value 'pridnost' (diligence). Being 'pri stvari' is a common compliment in school reports and work evaluations. In the mountainous regions of Slovenia, precision in woodworking and farming was vital for survival, cementing the idiom's importance. In Ljubljana's growing tech scene, this phrase is used to describe 'deep work' or being in a 'flow state'. Slovenian basketball and football commentators frequently use this to describe a player's mental toughness.
Use it as an apology
If you zone out during a conversation, 'Oprosti, nisem bil pri stvari' is the most natural way to apologize.
Watch the case!
Never say 'pri stvar'. The '-i' at the end is what makes it correct Slovenian.
Signification
To be focused on the task.
Use it as an apology
If you zone out during a conversation, 'Oprosti, nisem bil pri stvari' is the most natural way to apologize.
Watch the case!
Never say 'pri stvar'. The '-i' at the end is what makes it correct Slovenian.
The 'Ostati' trick
Use 'ostati pri stvari' in your work emails to sound like a native professional.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing word in the correct form.
Danes moram delati, zato moram biti pri _______.
The preposition 'pri' requires the locative case, which for 'stvar' is 'stvari'.
Which sentence means 'I am not focused'?
Izberi pravilen odgovor:
The idiom always uses the preposition 'pri'.
Complete the dialogue.
Šef: 'Marko, ali poslušaš?' Marko: 'Oprostite, _________.'
Marko is apologizing for *not* having been focused in the past moment.
Match the situation to the phrase.
You are driving and your friend is talking too much, making you lose focus. What do you say?
You are telling your friend that *you* need to focus on the road.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesDanes moram delati, zato moram biti pri _______.
The preposition 'pri' requires the locative case, which for 'stvar' is 'stvari'.
Izberi pravilen odgovor:
The idiom always uses the preposition 'pri'.
Šef: 'Marko, ali poslušaš?' Marko: 'Oprostite, _________.'
Marko is apologizing for *not* having been focused in the past moment.
You are driving and your friend is talking too much, making you lose focus. What do you say?
You are telling your friend that *you* need to focus on the road.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, 'biti pri stvari' is only for tasks or abstract situations. To say you are focused on a person, you would say 'posvečam se ti'.
Yes, it is perfectly polite and professional. It shows you are serious about your work.
The most common opposite is 'biti raztresen' (to be scattered/absent-minded).
Yes, but in this idiom, it represents the 'matter at hand' or the 'current task'.
Yes: 'Jutri bom pri stvari.' (Tomorrow I will be focused.)
Yes, it is a standard idiom used from the coast to the Hungarian border.
Use 'Bodi pri stvari!' for one person, and 'Bodite pri stvari!' for a group or formal setting.
'Biti zbran' is more literal and formal. 'Biti pri stvari' is more common in everyday spoken language.
Yes, if you are actively doing the hobby. 'Ko slikam, sem vedno pri stvari.'
No, it's a standard idiom. It's safe for all ages and situations.
Expressions liées
ostati pri stvari
builds onTo stay focused.
zbrati se
similarTo concentrate.
biti zbran
synonymTo be concentrated.
imeti glavo na pravem mestu
similarTo have one's head in the right place.
