služba 30 सेकंड में
- Služba is the standard Slovenian word for a job or employment, used to describe where you work and your professional role.
- It is a feminine noun that changes endings based on whether you are going to work (v službo) or are already there (v službi).
- While 'delo' refers to the act of working, 'služba' refers to the job itself as an institution or position.
- The word also appears in formal contexts to name government departments or public services like emergency or military units.
The Slovenian word služba is a fundamental noun that every learner must master early in their journey. At its core, it refers to one's job, employment, or career. However, unlike the English word 'work,' which can be both a verb and a noun, služba specifically denotes the institution of employment or the specific role one holds within an organization. It is derived from the root služ-, which is related to the verb služiti (to serve). This historical connection to 'service' is still visible today, as the word is also used for religious services or military duty.
- Daily Employment
- This is the most common use. When a Slovenian says, 'Grem v službo,' they mean they are physically heading to their place of employment. It encompasses the 9-to-5 grind, the office, or the professional responsibility one has.
- The Concept of Service
- In a more formal or historical context, it refers to serving a higher purpose. For instance, vojaška služba refers to military service, while božja služba refers to a church mass or divine service.
- Public Departments
- Many government branches or public utilities are called 'službe'. For example, reševalna služba is the emergency/ambulance service. Here, the word takes on a collective meaning of an organized functional body.
"Moja služba je zelo naporna, vendar jo imam rad."
In Slovenia, the concept of služba is often associated with the 'malica' culture. Around 10:00 or 11:00 AM, most employees take a dedicated break for a warm meal. If you call someone and they don't answer, they might be 'v službi' (at work) or specifically 'na malici' (on their lunch break). Slovenians value a clear distinction between their professional life and their private life, although the word služba can sometimes carry a weight of obligation. For example, the phrase 'služba je služba' (job is a job) is often used to justify why someone must do something they don't necessarily enjoy but is required by their role.
"Iščem novo službo v Ljubljani."
Understanding the nuance between delo and služba is crucial. Delo is the generic term for work or labor. You can do delo at home (like gardening), but you wouldn't call it your služba unless you are a professional gardener employed by a company. Služba implies a contract, a employer-employee relationship, or a formal appointment. It is the framework within which your professional life exists.
"Po službi gremo na kavo."
Mastering the use of služba requires a good grasp of Slovenian cases. Because it is a feminine noun, it follows the first feminine declension pattern. Let's look at how it changes depending on the context of the sentence.
- Nominative (Subject)
- The basic form used as the subject. Example: Služba je blizu mojega doma. (The job is near my home.)
- Accusative (Direction/Object)
- Used when moving toward work or as a direct object. Example: Vsak dan zamujam v službo. (I am late for work every day.) Or: Izgubil je službo. (He lost his job.)
- Locative (Location)
- Used when talking about being at work. Example: Danes sem cel dan v službi. (Today I am at work all day.)
"Kdaj končaš s službo?"
In everyday conversation, Slovenians often drop the subject pronouns, so the verb ending and the case of služba carry all the meaning. If you want to ask someone what they do for a living, you might say, 'Kakšno službo imaš?' (What kind of job do you have?) or more commonly, 'Kje si v službi?' (Where are you employed?).
When discussing the loss of a job, the verb izgubiti (to lose) is used with the accusative službo. Conversely, when finding work, dobiti (to get) or najti (to find) are the standard verbs. For example: 'Končno sem dobil službo!' (I finally got a job!). If you are describing a high-pressure environment, you might say, 'V naši službi je vedno stresno' (In our workplace, it is always stressful).
"Moja sestra je dobila sanjsko službo."
If you spend any time in a Slovenian city like Ljubljana, Maribor, or Celje during a weekday, you will hear služba everywhere. It is the centerpiece of adult daily life. The morning rush hour is defined by people 'going to work' (grejo v službo). You'll hear it in the following contexts:
- On the bus (LPP/Marprom): Passengers chatting about their boss or how they are tired of služba.
- At the 'Gostilna': During the lunch hour (malica), colleagues discuss work-related matters, often starting sentences with 'Pri nas v službi...' (At our workplace...).
- In News Reports: Economic segments frequently discuss trg dela (the labor market) and izguba službe (job loss).
- Family Gatherings: Relatives will inevitably ask younger members, 'Kako je kaj v službi?' (How is everything at work?).
"A si še v službi?"
The word also appears in formal titles. If you are looking for the 'customer service' desk, you might see a sign for Služba za stranke. If you are dealing with government administration, you might encounter the Služba vlade za... (Government Office for...). In these cases, služba acts as a synonym for 'department' or 'bureau'.
You will also hear it in the context of public utilities. If the water stops running, you call the komunalna služba. If the roads are covered in snow, people complain that the zimska služba (winter service/snow removal) hasn't done its job yet. In this sense, the word represents the functional machinery of society that 'serves' the citizens.
"Služba za pomoč uporabnikom je trenutno zasedena."
English speakers often make specific errors when using služba because the English word 'work' is much more versatile. Here are the most common pitfalls to avoid:
- Confusing 'Služba' with 'Delo'
- Mistake: 'Imam veliko službe.' (I have a lot of job.) Correct: 'Imam veliko dela.' (I have a lot of work/tasks to do.) Use služba for the position, and delo for the actual labor or amount of tasks.
- Incorrect Prepositions
- Mistake: 'Grem na službo.' Correct: 'Grem v službo.' Slovenian prepositions are tricky. While you go 'na delo' (to work), you always go 'v službo'.
- Using it for 'Service' in a Restaurant
- Mistake: 'Služba v tej restavraciji je počasna.' Correct: 'Postrežba v tej restavraciji je počasna.' For the quality of waiting staff, use postrežba, not služba.
Another nuance involves the plural. While 'službe' exists, it usually refers to different types of services (like 'emergency services' - intervencijske službe). If you have two jobs, you would say 'Imam dve službi', but it's more common to talk about your primary employment as služba and side gigs as dodatno delo.
"Ne morem priti, ker sem v službi."
To sound more natural and precise, it's helpful to know the synonyms and related terms that Slovenians use instead of služba in certain contexts.
- Zaposlitev (Employment)
- This is a more formal term, often found in contracts or statistics. Example: 'Iščem redno zaposlitev.' (I am looking for full-time employment.)
- Delovno mesto (Workplace/Position)
- Literally 'work place'. It refers to the specific vacancy or role. Example: 'To delovno mesto zahteva izkušnje.' (This position requires experience.)
- Poklic (Profession/Vocation)
- Refers to your trade or what you were trained for. You might have the poklic of a doctor, but your služba is at the University Medical Centre.
- Kariera (Career)
- Used just like in English to describe the long-term progression of professional life.
"Njegov poklic je učitelj, trenutno pa nima službe."
When comparing služba and delo, think of it this way: Služba is the 'where' and 'who for', while delo is the 'what'. If you are working on a project at your job, you are doing delo in your služba. If you are unemployed, you have 'brezposelnost' (unemployment), and you are 'brez službe' (without a job).
स्तर के अनुसार उदाहरण
Imam službo.
I have a job.
Nominative case, simple present tense.
Grem v službo.
I am going to work.
Accusative case indicating direction.
Kje je tvoja služba?
Where is your job?
Interrogative sentence, nominative case.
Moja služba je dobra.
My job is good.
Adjective agreement with a feminine noun.
Sem v službi.
I am at work.
Locative case indicating location.
Nimam službe.
I don't have a job.
Genitive case used after negation.
Kdaj greš v službo?
When do you go to work?
Question with accusative case.
Služba je blizu.
The job is near.
Simple subject-verb-adverb structure.
Iščem novo službo.
I am looking for a new job.
Accusative case for the object of the search.
Po službi grem v trgovino.
After work, I am going to the store.
Preposition 'po' takes the locative case.
V službi sem od osmih do štirih.
I am at work from eight to four.
Locative case with time range.
Moja služba je zelo naporna.
My job is very tiring.
Feminine adjective 'naporna'.
Ali rad hodiš v službo?
Do you like going to work?
Verb 'hoditi' implies regular movement.
Dobil je službo v banki.
He got a job in a bank.
Past tense of 'dobiti'.
Danes ne grem v službo, ker sem bolan.
Today I am not going to work because I am sick.
Negative sentence with a causal clause.
Njegova služba je zanimiva.
His job is interesting.
Possessive pronoun 'njegova' agreeing with 'služba'.
Jutri imam razgovor za službo.
Tomorrow I have a job interview.
Phrase 'razgovor za službo' is standard for interview.
V naši službi imamo odlično ekipo.
In our workplace, we have an excellent team.
Locative case with possessive adjective.
Izgubila je službo zaradi krize.
She lost her job because of the crisis.
Accusative object with causal preposition 'zaradi'.
Služba mi vzame preveč časa.
The job takes up too much of my time.
Dative 'mi' (to me) used with 'vzeti'.
Ali je to tvoja prva služba?
Is this your first job?
Ordinal number 'prva' in nominative.
V službo se vozim z vlakom.
I commute to work by train.
Instrumental case for the means of transport.
Služba je služba, družina pa je na prvem mestu.
Work is work, but family comes first.
Idiomatic comparison using 'pa'.
Katera služba bi bila primerna zame?
Which job would be suitable for me?
Conditional mood 'bi bila'.
Država mora zagotoviti nove službe za mlade.
The state must provide new jobs for young people.
Plural accusative 'službe'.
Veliko ljudi išče službo preko spleta.
Many people look for a job online.
Preposition 'preko' takes the genitive.
V javni službi so plače določene z zakonom.
In the public service, salaries are determined by law.
Adjective 'javni' defining the type of service.
Njegova služba zahteva veliko potovanj.
His job requires a lot of travel.
Third-person singular verb 'zahteva'.
Služba od doma postaja vse bolj priljubljena.
Working from home is becoming increasingly popular.
Phrase 'služba od doma' (remote work).
Brez dobre službe je težko dobiti kredit.
Without a good job, it's hard to get a loan.
Genitive case after 'brez'.
V tej službi sem se veliko naučil.
I learned a lot in this job.
Reflexive verb 'naučiti se' in past tense.
Služba v vojski je častna, a nevarna.
Service in the army is honorable but dangerous.
Locative 'v vojski' specifying the sector.
Služba vlade za zakonodajo je pripravila nov predlog.
The Government Office for Legislation has prepared a new proposal.
Formal institutional usage of 'služba'.
Pomanjkanje služb v regiji povzroča izseljevanje.
The lack of jobs in the region is causing emigration.
Genitive plural 'služb'.
Diplomatska služba zahteva visoko stopnjo diskretnosti.
The diplomatic service requires a high degree of discretion.
Specialized professional terminology.
Njena služba temelji na pomoči ranljivim skupinam.
Her job is based on helping vulnerable groups.
Verb 'temeljiti na' with locative.
Služba za odnose z javnostmi je izdala sporočilo.
The public relations department has issued a statement.
Standard corporate/government department name.
V tej službi so možnosti za napredovanje omejene.
In this job, the possibilities for promotion are limited.
Plural 'možnosti' as the subject.
Služba mu ne dopušča veliko prostega časa.
The job does not allow him much free time.
Dative 'mu' with the verb 'dopuščati'.
Obveščevalne službe so prestregle sumljivo komunikacijo.
Intelligence services intercepted suspicious communication.
Plural nominative 'službe' in a security context.
Vprašanje službe v sodobni družbi presega zgolj ekonomski vidik.
The question of employment in modern society transcends a merely economic perspective.
Abstract philosophical usage.
Služba božja se je začela s procesijo.
The divine service began with a procession.
Archaic/Religious usage of 'služba'.
Njegova predanost službi je bila brezmejna.
His dedication to the service was boundless.
Dative case 'službi' after the noun 'predanost'.
Reševalna služba je kljub snegu prispela pravočasno.
The rescue service arrived on time despite the snow.
Compound noun phrase as a subject.
Služba v imenu ljudstva je najvišje poslanstvo.
Service in the name of the people is the highest mission.
Formal rhetorical style.
Brezposelnost je posledica strukturnih sprememb v službah.
Unemployment is a consequence of structural changes in jobs.
Genitive plural 'službah' in a technical sense.
Služba za revizijo je odkrila številne nepravilnosti.
The audit office discovered numerous irregularities.
Institutional usage.
V službi domovine je žrtvoval svoje osebno življenje.
In the service of the homeland, he sacrificed his personal life.
Locative case in a patriotic context.
सामान्य शब्द संयोजन
सामान्य वाक्यांश
— Used to say that work must be done regardless of personal feelings or preferences.
Vem, da je težko, ampak služba je služba.
— A phrase often used for public servants or police, meaning 'serving the people'.
Policisti so vedno v službi ljudstva.
— The modern concept of remote working or telecommuting.
Služba od doma mi zelo ustreza.
— A permanent job contract with no fixed end date.
Končno je dobila službo za nedoločen čas.
— To leave work for the day or to quit a job permanently.
Danes bom pozno odšel iz službe.
— Another way to say remote work or working from a distance.
Služba na daljavo zahteva veliko samodiscipline.
— A job that is physically or mentally exhausting.
Njegova služba v bolnišnici je zelo naporna.
मुहावरे और अभिव्यक्तियाँ
— Don't mix business with pleasure; keep your professional and social lives separate.
Ne bova se pogovarjala o delu na zabavi; služba je služba, družba je družba.
neutral— To officially start a new job on the first day.
Novo službo bo nastopil v ponedeljek.
formal— To be in the service of something (an idea, a goal, a cause).
Znanost mora biti v službi človeštva.
literary— To quit a job or give notice of resignation.
Včeraj je odpovedal službo, ker je našel boljšo.
neutral— The idea of keeping a job no matter how bad the conditions are.
V teh časih ljudje držijo službo za vsako ceno.
informal— To bring work tasks home to finish after hours (often used negatively).
Nikoli si ne vzemi službe domov, uživaj v prostem času.
informal— A religious mass or divine service.
V nedeljo zjutraj je božja služba v vaški cerkvi.
religious— To be actively serving in a war or military conflict.
Moj dedek je bil v vojni službi štiri leta.
historicalSummary
The word 'služba' is essential for daily conversation in Slovenia. It specifically means 'job' or 'employment'. Remember to use the preposition 'v' and the correct case: 'v službo' (to work) and 'v službi' (at work). It differs from 'delo', which means general labor.
- Služba is the standard Slovenian word for a job or employment, used to describe where you work and your professional role.
- It is a feminine noun that changes endings based on whether you are going to work (v službo) or are already there (v službi).
- While 'delo' refers to the act of working, 'služba' refers to the job itself as an institution or position.
- The word also appears in formal contexts to name government departments or public services like emergency or military units.
