Meaning
A close and reliable companion.
Cultural Background
Friendship is often solidified over a 'podaljšana kava' (long espresso). If a dober prijatelj invites you for coffee, expect to stay for at least an hour. Helping a friend move house or harvest grapes is a standard expectation of a 'dober prijatelj'. It's a form of social currency called 'pomoč'. Slovenians distinguish strictly between 'znanec' (acquaintance) and 'prijatelj'. You might know someone for years but still only call them a 'znanec'. In rural areas, a 'dober prijatelj' might be someone you share 'domače žganje' (homemade brandy) with as a sign of trust.
Gender Matters
Always remember to change 'dober' to 'dobra' if your friend is female. Slovenian is very strict about this!
The 'Z' Rule
When you say 'with a friend', use 'z' if the next word starts with a voiced consonant, but 's' if it's unvoiced. Since 'dobrim' starts with 'd', it's always 'z dobrim'.
Meaning
A close and reliable companion.
Gender Matters
Always remember to change 'dober' to 'dobra' if your friend is female. Slovenian is very strict about this!
The 'Z' Rule
When you say 'with a friend', use 'z' if the next word starts with a voiced consonant, but 's' if it's unvoiced. Since 'dobrim' starts with 'd', it's always 'z dobrim'.
Sound Native
Shorten 'prijatelj' to 'prjatu' in very casual conversations to sound like a local in Ljubljana.
Coffee is Key
If you want to be a 'dober prijatelj', never refuse an invitation for coffee unless you have a very good excuse.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of 'dober' or 'prijatelj'.
Marko je moj ______ prijatelj.
'Marko' is masculine singular, so we use 'dober'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
How do you say 'I am with a good friend'?
The preposition 'z' requires the instrumental case: 'dobrim prijateljem'.
Match the Slovenian phrase with its English translation.
Match the following:
Matching gender and number is key in Slovenian.
Complete the dialogue.
Ana: 'Kdo je to?' Bojan: 'To je Peter. On je moj ______ ______.'
Peter is a male name, so use masculine singular.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Gender Agreement
Practice Bank
4 exercisesMarko je moj ______ prijatelj.
'Marko' is masculine singular, so we use 'dober'.
How do you say 'I am with a good friend'?
The preposition 'z' requires the instrumental case: 'dobrim prijateljem'.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Matching gender and number is key in Slovenian.
Ana: 'Kdo je to?' Bojan: 'To je Peter. On je moj ______ ______.'
Peter is a male name, so use masculine singular.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt's better to use 'fant' or 'partner'. 'Dober prijatelj' usually implies a platonic relationship.
The plural is 'dobri prijatelji'.
Use 'najboljši prijatelj' (masculine) or 'najboljša prijateljica' (feminine).
Yes, but in this collocation, it specifically means 'close' or 'reliable'.
No, Slovenian does not have articles. 'Dober prijatelj' can mean 'a good friend' or 'the good friend' depending on context.
In standard Slovenian, it's a soft 'l'. In many dialects, the 'j' is silent.
Yes, that means 'a very good friend'.
An acquaintance—someone you know but aren't close to. It's the opposite of a 'dober prijatelj'.
It is neutral. You can use it with anyone.
Write: 'Vse najboljše mojemu dobremu prijatelju!'
Related Phrases
Najboljši prijatelj
specialized formBest friend
Zvest prijatelj
similarFaithful friend
Družinski prijatelj
specialized formFamily friend
Sodelavec
contrastColleague
Znanec
contrastAcquaintance
