When you're speaking Slovenian at a C2 level, you'll encounter a rich tapestry of idiomatic expressions. The word "roka" goes far beyond its basic meaning of "hand" or "arm."
You'll find it in phrases like "imeti proste roke" (to have a free hand, meaning to have freedom to act), or "podati roko" (to offer a hand, meaning to help someone).
Understanding these nuanced uses is key to sounding truly native.
It's not just about knowing the dictionary definition, but grasping the cultural and contextual implications of how words like "roka" are woven into everyday Slovenian speech.
§ Understanding 'Roka'
The Slovenian word for 'hand' is roka. It's a feminine noun. Like many nouns in Slovenian, 'roka' changes its ending depending on its grammatical role in a sentence. This is called declension. Don't worry, we'll go through the most common uses here to get you started.
- Definition
- the part of the body at the end of the arm; hand
§ Using 'Roka' in Sentences: Basic Cases
Let's look at how 'roka' works in different grammatical cases. We'll focus on the most practical ones for beginners.
- Nominative Case (who/what): This is the basic form of the word, used when 'roka' is the subject of the sentence.
Moja roka je velika. (My hand is big.)
Leva roka je močnejša. (The left hand is stronger.)
- Genitive Case (whose/of what): This case shows possession or is used with certain prepositions. The ending of 'roka' changes to roke.
Dotaknil se je moje roke. (He touched my hand.)
Iztegnil je roke. (He stretched out his hands.)
- Dative Case (to/for whom/what): This case indicates the indirect object, meaning 'to' or 'for' the hand. The ending changes to roki.
Dal je cvetje svoji roki. (He gave flowers to her hand.)
- Accusative Case (whom/what - direct object): This case is for the direct object of a verb. For 'roka', it stays roko.
Dvignil je roko. (He raised his hand.)
Drži mojo roko. (Hold my hand.)
- Locative Case (about/in/on what): This case is always used with a preposition and usually means 'in' or 'on' the hand. The ending changes to roki. Common prepositions include 'v' (in) and 'na' (on).
Imam prstan na roki. (I have a ring on my hand.)
Drži telefon v roki. (He holds the phone in his hand.)
- Instrumental Case (with/by what): This case is used when 'roka' is the instrument or means by which something is done. The ending changes to roko. It's often used with the preposition 'z' (with).
Pišem z roko. (I write with my hand.)
§ Common Phrases with 'Roka'
Here are some useful phrases where 'roka' is used:
- Podati roko: To shake hands / To offer a hand.
Rad bi mu podal roko. (I would like to shake his hand.)
- Dati roko v roko: To give hand in hand (to walk hand in hand).
Šla sta roko v roko po ulici. (They walked hand in hand down the street.)
- Biti pri roki: To be at hand / to be available.
Vedno imej telefon pri roki. (Always have your phone at hand.)
§ Practice Makes Perfect
The best way to learn these cases is through practice. Try to create your own sentences using 'roka' in different contexts. Don't be afraid to make mistakes; that's how you learn!
स्तर के अनुसार उदाहरण
S spretnimi gibi roke je kirurg precizno dokončal občutljivo operacijo, kar je pacientu rešilo življenje.
With skillful hand movements, the surgeon precisely completed the delicate operation, saving the patient's life.
Here, 'roke' is in the genitive case, following 'gibov' (movements of the hand).
Njeno strokovno znanje je bilo očitno, ko je z eno samo potezo roke sprožila kompleksni mehanizem in ga spravila v popolno delovanje.
Her expertise was evident when, with a single motion of her hand, she triggered the complex mechanism and brought it into full operation.
'Roke' is in the genitive case, following 'potezo' (motion of the hand).
Med plezanjem po zahtevni gorski poti je nenadoma izgubila oporo in se morala v zadnjem trenutku z vso močjo oprijeti skalne roke, da ni padla v prepad.
While climbing a challenging mountain path, she suddenly lost her footing and, at the last moment, had to grab onto the rock face with all her might to avoid falling into the abyss.
'Roke' is in the genitive case, following 'skalne' (rocky hand, referring to a rock face).
Umetnik je s pretanjeno spretnostjo ustvaril kip, kjer vsaka žila na roki in guba na koži odraža globino človeškega trpljenja in upanja.
With refined skill, the artist created a sculpture where every vein on the hand and wrinkle on the skin reflects the depth of human suffering and hope.
'Roki' is in the locative case, following 'na' (on the hand).
Po več urah intenzivnega dela je bila njegova roka utrujena in boleča, a zadovoljstvo ob dokončanem projektu je preseglo vse fizične napore.
After several hours of intense work, his hand was tired and sore, but the satisfaction of the completed project surpassed all physical efforts.
'Roka' is in the nominative case, acting as the subject of the sentence.
Politični pogovori so potekali v izjemno napetem ozračju, kjer so diplomati s stiskom roke na koncu vendarle dosegli kompromis, ki obeta boljše mednarodne odnose.
The political discussions took place in an extremely tense atmosphere, where diplomats, with a handshake at the end, nevertheless reached a compromise that promises better international relations.
'Roke' is in the genitive case, following 'stiskom' (with a handshake, literally 'with the squeeze of a hand').
Deklica je sramežljivo podala roko svoji novi učiteljici, kar je bil začetek iskrenega in trajnega prijateljstva, ki je presegalo formalne učne ure.
The little girl shyly offered her hand to her new teacher, which was the beginning of a sincere and lasting friendship that went beyond formal lessons.
'Roko' is in the accusative case, as it is the direct object of 'podala' (offered).
Kljub vsem pričakovanjem in oviram je s trdno roko vodil podjetje skozi turbulentno obdobje in ga popeljal do nepričakovanega uspeha in stabilnosti.
Despite all expectations and obstacles, with a firm hand, he led the company through a turbulent period and brought it to unexpected success and stability.
'Roko' is in the instrumental case, following 's' (with a hand).
मुहावरे और अभिव्यक्तियाँ
"imeti proste roke"
to have free rein / to have a free hand
Dali so mi proste roke pri projektu. (They gave me a free hand with the project.)
neutral"držati pesti"
to keep one's fingers crossed
Držim pesti zate! (I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!)
neutral"udariti po rokah"
to shake hands (on a deal)
Udari po rokah in dogovorjeno je. (Shake hands and it's agreed.)
neutral"imeti nekaj v rokah"
to have something in hand / to have control over something
Imam situacijo v rokah. (I have the situation under control.)
neutral"roka roko umije"
one hand washes the other / you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours
V poslu roka roko umije. (In business, one hand washes the other.)
neutral"z lahkoto (z zaprtimi očmi)"
with ease (with eyes closed)
To nalogo naredim z lahkoto. (I do this task with ease.)
neutral"prati si roke"
to wash one's hands of (to disclaim responsibility)
Perem si roke od te zadeve. (I wash my hands of this matter.)
neutral"iz prve roke"
first-hand
Informacije imam iz prve roke. (I have the information first-hand.)
neutral"imeti obe levi roki"
to be clumsy / to be all thumbs
Joj, imam obe levi roki danes! (Oh, I'm all thumbs today!)
informal"na lastno roko"
on one's own initiative / independently
To sem storil na lastno roko. (I did this on my own initiative.)
neutralइसे कैसे इस्तेमाल करें
The Slovenian word 'roka' can mean both 'hand' and 'arm'. The meaning is usually clear from context. For example, if you say 'Moja roka me boli' (My arm/hand hurts), you might need to clarify if it's the hand or the arm, but often it's understood. When referring specifically to the hand, some might use 'dlan' (palm) or 'pest' (fist) in more specific contexts, but 'roka' for hand is very common. Similarly, for arm, if you need to be very specific about the upper arm, you might hear 'nadlaket', but 'roka' is generally sufficient for both arm and hand.
A common mistake for English speakers is to assume 'roka' exclusively means 'hand'. Remember it encompasses both the hand and the arm. Another mistake is trying to always find a separate word for 'arm' when 'roka' is perfectly natural and correct in most situations.
Incorrect: 'Imam dve roki in dve *nadlaketi*.' (I have two hands and two upper arms.) - This is grammatically correct but sounds very unnatural.
Correct: 'Imam dve roki.' (I have two arms/hands.) - The context would usually make it clear, or you can specify if needed.
Incorrect: 'Prosim, daj mi svojo *dlan*.' (Please give me your palm.) if you mean 'Please give me your hand.'
Correct: 'Prosim, daj mi svojo roko.' (Please give me your hand.)
सुझाव
Basic use of roka
In Slovenian, 'roka' can mean both hand and arm. Pay attention to context. For example, 'Moja roka boli' can mean 'My hand hurts' or 'My arm hurts'.
Distinguishing hand and arm
If you need to be specific, you can use 'dlan' for palm (of the hand) and 'podlaket' for forearm, or 'nadlaket' for upper arm. However, for general use, 'roka' is common for both.
Common phrase: podati roko
You'll often hear 'podati roko', which means 'to shake hands' or 'to offer a hand'. This is a polite gesture in Slovenia.
Common phrase: držati za roko
'Držati za roko' means 'to hold hands'. This phrase is common for couples or parents with children.
Figurative use: imeti proste roke
'Imeti proste roke' literally means 'to have free hands', but figuratively it means 'to have a free hand' or 'to have freedom to act'.
Figurative use: zvezanih rok
'Zvezanih rok' means 'with tied hands', implying being unable to do anything or being powerless.
Plural of roka
The plural of 'roka' is 'roke'. For example, 'Obe roke bolijo' means 'Both hands/arms hurt'.
Possessive forms with roka
To say 'my hand/arm', you would use 'moja roka'. For 'your hand/arm', it's 'tvoja roka' (informal) or 'vaša roka' (formal/plural).
Pronunciation of roka
The 'o' in 'roka' is pronounced like the 'o' in 'go', and the 'a' is like the 'a' in 'father'. The 'r' is rolled slightly.
Practice with examples
Try making simple sentences: 'Imam eno roko.' (I have one hand/arm.) 'Dve roki.' (Two hands/arms.) This helps solidify the meaning.
खुद को परखो 42 सवाल
You are at a Slovenian market and want to ask for an apple. Write down the word for 'hand' in Slovenian, as you might point with your hand to indicate what you want.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Roka.
Imagine you are describing someone who has small hands. What is the Slovenian word for 'hand'?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Roka.
You just touched something hot and quickly moved your hand away. What is the Slovenian word for 'hand'?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Roka.
Kaj je roka? (What is 'roka'?)
Read this passage:
To je moja roka. Imam majhno roko. Uporabljam roko za pisanje. (This is my hand. I have a small hand. I use my hand for writing.)
Kaj je roka? (What is 'roka'?)
The passage clearly describes 'roka' as a part of the body used for writing, which is the hand.
The passage clearly describes 'roka' as a part of the body used for writing, which is the hand.
Kaj pomeni 'roko' v tem kontekstu? (What does 'roko' mean in this context?)
Read this passage:
Otrok dvigne roko. On ima čisto roko. Pokaži svojo roko. (The child raises his hand. He has a clean hand. Show your hand.)
Kaj pomeni 'roko' v tem kontekstu? (What does 'roko' mean in this context?)
The sentences refer to actions and descriptions associated with a hand, such as raising and showing it, and it being clean.
The sentences refer to actions and descriptions associated with a hand, such as raising and showing it, and it being clean.
Koliko rok imam? (How many 'roki' do I have?)
Read this passage:
Imam dve roki. Z levo roko držim knjigo, z desno pa pišem. (I have two hands. With my left hand I hold a book, and with my right I write.)
Koliko rok imam? (How many 'roki' do I have?)
The first sentence explicitly states 'Imam dve roki' which translates to 'I have two hands'.
The first sentence explicitly states 'Imam dve roki' which translates to 'I have two hands'.
This sentence means 'He/She has a small hand.' The verb 'ima' (has) comes first, followed by the adjective 'majhno' (small) and then the noun 'roko' (hand).
This sentence means 'Give me your hand.' 'Daj' is the imperative form of 'to give', 'mi' means 'to me', and 'roko' is 'hand' in the accusative case.
This sentence means 'The bracelet is on my hand.' 'Zapestnica' (bracelet) is the subject, 'je' (is) is the verb, 'na' (on) is the preposition, and 'moji roki' (my hand) is in the locative case.
Which of these is a common idiom using 'roka'?
'Imeti roko v testu' is a Slovenian idiom that means to be involved in something illegal or suspicious.
If someone says 'Daj mi roko!', what are they asking for?
'Dati roko' literally means 'to give a hand', but in common usage, it means to offer help or assistance.
What does 'Na desni roki' mean?
'Na desni roki' translates to 'on the right hand', often used for location.
The phrase 'dvigniti roke' (to raise hands) can also mean to give up.
Similar to English, 'dvigniti roke' in Slovenian can idiomatically mean to surrender or give up.
If you 'podati roko' (to extend a hand), you are always offering a handshake.
While 'podati roko' can mean to shake hands, it can also mean to offer help or reconciliation, not always a physical handshake.
The word 'roka' can only refer to a human hand, not an arm or other limb.
In Slovenian, 'roka' can refer to both the hand and the entire arm, depending on the context.
Imagine you are describing an incident where you accidentally broke something with your hand. Write a short paragraph explaining what happened, using the word 'roka' at least once.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Včeraj sem po nesreči z roko zlomil vazo. Bilo mi je zelo žal, ker je bila stara in lepa. Poskušal sem jo popraviti, a ni šlo.
You are writing a short email to a friend about a new skill you are learning that involves your hands. Describe the skill and how you use your hands. Use the word 'roka' or its plural 'roke' at least once.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Živjo! Učim se igrati na kitaro in moje roke so že kar utrujene od vseh novih akordov. Ampak je zabavno in upam, da bom kmalu igral bolje.
Write a sentence describing a common action you do with your hand every day. Include the word 'roka' in your sentence.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Vsak dan zjutraj si z roko namažem kruh z marmelado.
Zakaj ima prijatelj močno desno roko?
Read this passage:
Moj prijatelj ima zelo močno desno roko, ker veliko dela v vrtu. Vsak dan koplje in sadi, zato so njegove roke polne žuljev. Včasih ga bolijo, ampak je ponosen na svoje delo.
Zakaj ima prijatelj močno desno roko?
Besedilo pravi, da ima prijatelj močno desno roko, 'ker veliko dela v vrtu'.
Besedilo pravi, da ima prijatelj močno desno roko, 'ker veliko dela v vrtu'.
Kaj je avtor besedila počel z levo roko kot otrok?
Read this passage:
Ko sem bil otrok, sem si z levo roko vedno pokrival oči, ko sem gledal strašne filme. Moja mama mi je vedno rekla, naj ne bom tako prestrašen. Zdaj sem odrasel in ne rabim več pokrivati oči.
Kaj je avtor besedila počel z levo roko kot otrok?
V besedilu piše: 'sem si z levo roko vedno pokrival oči'.
V besedilu piše: 'sem si z levo roko vedno pokrival oči'.
Kaj je prodajalec držal v eni roki?
Read this passage:
Na trgu je prodajalec ponujal sveže sadje. V eni roki je držal košaro jabolk, v drugi pa šopek cvetja. Ljudje so se ustavljali, da bi kupili njegove izdelke.
Kaj je prodajalec držal v eni roki?
Besedilo navaja: 'V eni roki je držal košaro jabolk'.
Besedilo navaja: 'V eni roki je držal košaro jabolk'.
They shook hands as a sign of cooperation. Listen for the word 'roke'.
The dexterity of his hands in making jewelry is exceptional. Listen for 'rok'.
With the help of his hands, he climbed the high wall. Listen for 'rok'.
Read this aloud:
Moja roka je poškodovana po padcu.
Focus: ro-ka
तुमने कहा:
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Read this aloud:
Držala me je za roko, ko smo prečkali cesto.
Focus: ro-ko
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Na obeh rokah nosi zapestnice.
Focus: ro-kah
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence describes Jana raising her hand to ask a question. The order follows standard Slovenian sentence structure: Subject-Verb-Object-Conjunction-Verb-Object.
This sentence is a polite request followed by a reason. The first part asks for a book, and the second part explains why, using 'moja roka' (my arm/hand) as the subject.
This sentence describes a painter holding tools in different hands. It uses locative case for 'roki' (in the hand) and shows parallel structure for both actions.
Listen for the idiom 'z vsemi štirimi rokami' and its meaning in context.
Pay attention to the phrase 'dvignili roke' and infer its meaning.
Understand the idiomatic expression 'oprati si roke' in this context.
Read this aloud:
Pojasnite, kaj pomeni imeti proste roke pri odločanju in podajte primer iz vsakdanjega življenja.
Focus: proste roke
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Opišite situacijo, ko ste komu priskočili na pomoč oziroma mu podali roko, in kako ste se ob tem počutili.
Focus: podati roko
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Kako bi uporabili izraz 'biti v dobrih rokah' v pogovoru o varnosti ali zanesljivosti storitve?
Focus: v dobrih rokah
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
/ 42 correct
Perfect score!
Basic use of roka
In Slovenian, 'roka' can mean both hand and arm. Pay attention to context. For example, 'Moja roka boli' can mean 'My hand hurts' or 'My arm hurts'.
Distinguishing hand and arm
If you need to be specific, you can use 'dlan' for palm (of the hand) and 'podlaket' for forearm, or 'nadlaket' for upper arm. However, for general use, 'roka' is common for both.
Common phrase: podati roko
You'll often hear 'podati roko', which means 'to shake hands' or 'to offer a hand'. This is a polite gesture in Slovenia.
Common phrase: držati za roko
'Držati za roko' means 'to hold hands'. This phrase is common for couples or parents with children.
संबंधित सामग्री
संबंधित मुहावरे
health के और शब्द
bolan
A1sick
bolnišnica
A1hospital
glava
A1the upper part of the human body containing the brain
lačen
A1feeling or showing a need for food
lekarna
A1a store where medicinal drugs are dispensed and sold
noga
A1the limb on which a person or animal stands and walks; leg
obraz
A1the front part of a person's head
oko
A1the organ of sight
srce
A1the muscular organ that pumps blood through the body
telo
A1the physical structure of a person or animal
