Meaning
Communicating with one's mother.
Cultural Background
The 'Cankar' mother is a powerful cultural archetype. Calling your mother is often seen as a way to alleviate the 'national guilt' of leaving home. Sunday lunch is a sacred time. If you can't be there, you must call. Young professionals in Ljubljana use 'poklicati mami' almost exclusively, reflecting a shift toward softer, more affectionate language. In villages, calling your mother often involves asking about the garden or the neighbors, serving as a local news network.
The 'Po-' Power
Always use 'po-' if you want to sound like you actually finished the conversation.
Sunday is Call Day
If you want to blend in with Slovenians, mention you called your mom on Sunday morning.
Meaning
Communicating with one's mother.
The 'Po-' Power
Always use 'po-' if you want to sound like you actually finished the conversation.
Sunday is Call Day
If you want to blend in with Slovenians, mention you called your mom on Sunday morning.
Case Matters
Saying 'Poklicati mama' sounds like 'To call Mother Nature' or a title, not an action.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of the noun 'mama'.
Moram poklicati ______.
The verb 'poklicati' requires the accusative case, which for 'mama' is 'mamo'.
Which verb is perfective (completed action)?
Danes bom ______ mamo.
In the future tense with 'bom', we use the l-participle of the perfective verb 'poklicati'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Zakaj si žalosten? B: Ne vem, mislim, da moram ______.
Calling mom is a common Slovenian remedy for sadness.
Match the situation to the phrase.
You just won the lottery.
In Slovenia, family is the first to know about big news.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesMoram poklicati ______.
The verb 'poklicati' requires the accusative case, which for 'mama' is 'mamo'.
Danes bom ______ mamo.
In the future tense with 'bom', we use the l-participle of the perfective verb 'poklicati'.
A: Zakaj si žalosten? B: Ne vem, mislim, da moram ______.
Calling mom is a common Slovenian remedy for sadness.
You just won the lottery.
In Slovenia, family is the first to know about big news.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, it is common to use 'poklicati' for Skype or Zoom, though you can specify 'poklicati preko videoklica'.
It's a colloquialism from the central dialect that has become very popular in informal speech.
No, but it is very formal and can sound cold or distant in a family context.
Use the imperfective: 'Ravno jo kličem.'
You would say 'poklicati mami' (plural accusative) or 'poklicati obe mami'.
Yes, 'cimniti' (to give a ring/ping) or 'obrniti' (to dial/turn).
Yes, compared to many Northern European cultures, the frequency is quite high.
Poklicala sem mamo.
No, for that use 'poklicati mamo' (to shout her name), but usually 'poklicati' implies the phone in modern settings.
Poklical jo bom nazaj.
Related Phrases
Poklicati očeta
similarTo call father
Se slišati z mamo
similarTo hear from mom
Obiskati mamo
builds onTo visit mom
Pisati mami
contrastTo write to mom
