A1 Idiom तटस्थ

Biti bolan

To be sick

Phrase in 30 Seconds

The essential Slovenian phrase to express physical illness or feeling unwell in any social or professional setting.

  • Means: To be sick or physically unwell.
  • Used in: Medical appointments, calling out of work, or telling friends you're staying home.
  • Don't confuse: Never use 'imeti' (to have) like in English 'I have a cold'.
Person 🤒 + Bed 🛏️ = Biti bolan

Explanation at your level:

At this level, you just need to know how to say 'I am sick.' You use the verb 'to be' (biti) and the word 'bolan.' Remember: if you are a man, say 'bolan.' If you are a woman, say 'bolna.' It is a basic survival phrase for travel or school.
You can now use the past tense ('bil sem bolan') and talk about other people ('moja sestra je bolna'). You should also start using 'zato' (because) to explain why you can't go somewhere. You understand that 'bolan' changes for more than one person.
At the intermediate level, you can describe the symptoms of being 'bolan' (fever, cough). You can use the dual form correctly ('midva sva bolna') and understand the difference between 'biti bolan' and 'slabo se počutiti' (feeling unwell). You can handle a basic conversation at the pharmacy.
You understand the nuances of 'bolniška odsotnost' and can use the phrase in professional emails. You are aware of the figurative uses in slang and can distinguish between being physically 'bolan' and the metaphorical 'bolna družba' (a sick society). You use conditional forms like 'če bi bil bolan' (if I were sick).
You can analyze the etymology of the root 'bol' and its relation to other Slavic languages. You understand the subtle register shifts between 'biti bolan' and more clinical terms like 'oboleli.' You can discuss public health policy and the cultural implications of 'prepih' with native-level nuance.
You have mastered the morphosyntactic properties of the adjective 'bolan' in the predicate position. You can use the phrase in literary contexts or high-level academic discourse regarding medical sociology. You understand archaic or dialectal variations and can use the phrase with perfect pragmatic competence in any social stratum.

मतलब

Not feeling well physically.

🌍

सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि

The 'Prepih' Myth: Slovenians have a cultural fear of drafts. Being 'bolan' is often blamed on an open window or door creating a breeze. Tea Culture: When someone is 'bolan,' the immediate remedy is herbal tea, usually mountain tea (planinski čaj) or chamomile (kamilica), always with honey and lemon. Sick Leave (Bolniška): It is socially unacceptable to go to work if you are 'bolan.' Slovenians value the recovery period and the state provides paid sick leave. The 'Viroza': Slovenians often use the word 'viroza' to describe a general viral infection when they are 'bolan.' It's a catch-all term for the flu or a cold.

💡

Gender is Key

Always check if you need to add an 'a' at the end if you are female (bolna).

⚠️

Avoid 'Imam'

Never say 'Imam bolan.' It sounds like you are possessing a sick person.

मतलब

Not feeling well physically.

💡

Gender is Key

Always check if you need to add an 'a' at the end if you are female (bolna).

⚠️

Avoid 'Imam'

Never say 'Imam bolan.' It sounds like you are possessing a sick person.

🎯

The 'Prepih' excuse

If you want to sound like a local, blame your illness on a draft!

💬

Wishing well

When someone says they are bolan, always reply with 'Pozdravi se!' (Get well!).

खुद को परखो

Fill in the correct form of 'bolan' (bolan, bolna, bolni).

Moja sestra je ____.

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: bolna

Sestra (sister) is feminine singular, so we use 'bolna'.

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

How do you say 'We (men) are sick'?

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: Mi smo bolni.

'Mi' is masculine plural, 'smo' is the correct verb, and 'bolni' is the plural adjective.

Match the subject with the correct form of 'biti bolan'.

Subjects: 1. Jaz (m), 2. Vid in Ana, 3. Ti (f)

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: 1-b, 2-c, 3-a

Jaz (m) -> sem bolan; Vid in Ana (dual) -> sta bolna; Ti (f) -> si bolna.

Complete the dialogue.

A: Zakaj ne greš v kino? B: Ker ____ ____.

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: sem bolan

The speaker (B) is talking about themselves, so 'sem bolan' is the logical choice.

🎉 स्कोर: /4

विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स

When to use 'Biti Bolan'

🤒

Physical

  • • Fever
  • • Flu
  • • Cough
💼

Professional

  • • Sick leave
  • • Calling boss
❌

Social

  • • Canceling plans
  • • Staying home

Gender Agreement

Masculine
bolan sick (he)
Feminine
bolna sick (she)

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल

12 सवाल

No, for a headache use 'Boli me glava.' 'Bolan' is for general illness like the flu.

The feminine form is 'bolna.' Example: 'Ona je bolna.'

Use the verb 'zboleti.' For example: 'Mislim, da bom zbolel.'

It can be, but 'duševna bolezen' is the formal term. 'Bolan na glavi' is an insult.

It is short for 'bolniška odsotnost,' meaning official sick leave from work.

In standard Slovenian, it is 'bolan.' 'Bolen' is a dialectal variation.

Use 'Slabo mi je.' 'Bolan' is more general.

No, only for people and animals. For cars, use 'pokvarjen.'

It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your friends.

Bil sem bolan (m) or Bila sem bolna (f).

Midva sva bolna (two men) or Midve sva bolni (two women).

Only young people, and they might just use the English word 'sick' or 'bolano.'

संबंधित मुहावरे

🔗

slabo se počutiti

similar

to feel poorly

🔗

zboleti

builds on

to fall ill

🔗

ozdraveti

contrast

to get well

🔗

bolečina

specialized form

pain

🔗

bolniška

specialized form

sick leave

🔗

biti zdrav

contrast

to be healthy

कहाँ इस्तेमाल करें

👨‍⚕️

At the Doctor

Zdravnik: Kaj je narobe?

Pacient: Že dva dni sem bolan in imam vročino.

formal
📞

Calling Work

Delavec: Dober dan, danes ne morem priti, ker sem bolan.

Šef: V redu, pozdravi se!

formal
📱

Texting a Friend

Prijatelj 1: Gremo na pivo?

Prijatelj 2: Ne morem, sem čist' bolna. Uživajte!

informal
💊

At the Pharmacy

Farmacevt: Izvolite?

Stranka: Moj otrok je bolan. Kaj mi svetujete?

neutral
🏫

School Absence

Starš: Moj sin je danes bolan in bo ostal doma.

Učiteljica: Hvala za obvestilo.

neutral
📸

Social Media Post

User: Spet sem bolna... 🤒 #čaj #postelja

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a person who is 'Bawling' (crying) because they are 'Bolan' (sick).

Visual Association

Imagine a giant Slovenian bee (Kranjska sivka) wearing a scarf and holding a thermometer under its wing, looking very 'bolan'.

Rhyme

Če si bolan, ostani doma ves dan. (If you are sick, stay home all day.)

Story

Bojan was a strong man, but one day he sat in a 'prepih' (draft). Suddenly, Bojan felt 'bolan'. He had to call his boss and say, 'Bojan je bolan!' Now Bojan just drinks tea and sleeps.

Word Web

bolnicabolečinabolnikzboletizdravjezdraviločajvročina

चैलेंज

Try to tell three people (real or imaginary) that you are sick today, using the correct gender ending for yourself.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

estar enfermo

Spanish uses 'estar' specifically for states, while Slovenian 'biti' is the only verb for 'to be'.

French high

être malade

Slovenian has the dual form, which French lacks.

German high

krank sein

German adjectives in the predicate don't decline; Slovenian ones do.

Japanese moderate

病気です (byōki desu)

Japanese uses a noun-based structure; Slovenian uses an adjective-based one.

Arabic high

مريض (marid)

Arabic often omits the verb 'to be' in the present tense.

Chinese partial

生病 (shēngbìng)

Chinese treats 'being sick' more like an action or a process.

Korean moderate

아프다 (apuda)

Korean 'apuda' is a verb, while Slovenian 'bolan' is an adjective.

Portuguese high

estar doente

Slovenian 'bolan' is more clearly tied to the root for 'pain'.

Easily Confused

Biti bolan बनाम Boli me...

Learners use 'bolan' when they want to say a specific part of the body hurts.

Use 'Boli me [body part]' for specific pain, and 'Sem bolan' for general illness.

Biti bolan बनाम Slab sem

Can mean 'I am bad (at something)' or 'I am a bad person.'

Always use 'Slabo se počutim' for health, not 'Slab sem.'

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल (12)

No, for a headache use 'Boli me glava.' 'Bolan' is for general illness like the flu.

The feminine form is 'bolna.' Example: 'Ona je bolna.'

Use the verb 'zboleti.' For example: 'Mislim, da bom zbolel.'

It can be, but 'duševna bolezen' is the formal term. 'Bolan na glavi' is an insult.

It is short for 'bolniška odsotnost,' meaning official sick leave from work.

In standard Slovenian, it is 'bolan.' 'Bolen' is a dialectal variation.

Use 'Slabo mi je.' 'Bolan' is more general.

No, only for people and animals. For cars, use 'pokvarjen.'

It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your friends.

Bil sem bolan (m) or Bila sem bolna (f).

Midva sva bolna (two men) or Midve sva bolni (two women).

Only young people, and they might just use the English word 'sick' or 'bolano.'

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