Meaning
Saying goodbye when meeting again shortly.
Cultural Background
Slovenians are generally punctual. If they say 'Se vidimo kmalu', they often have a specific next meeting in mind or expect to run into you soon in their small towns. In the capital, the phrase is often shortened to 'Se vidmo'. The 'i' is swallowed in the fast-paced urban dialect. In the northeast, the accent on 'kmalu' might shift, and you might hear more German-influenced loanwords in the surrounding conversation, but 'Se vidimo kmalu' remains the standard. Near the Italian border, you'll hear 'Čav' (from Ciao) used very frequently alongside 'Se vidimo kmalu'.
Use the Dual!
If you are leaving one person, say 'Se vidiva kmalu'. It makes you sound 10x more fluent instantly.
Don't forget 'Se'
Without 'se', the phrase is incomplete and confusing to native speakers.
Meaning
Saying goodbye when meeting again shortly.
Use the Dual!
If you are leaving one person, say 'Se vidiva kmalu'. It makes you sound 10x more fluent instantly.
Don't forget 'Se'
Without 'se', the phrase is incomplete and confusing to native speakers.
Eye Contact
Slovenians value eye contact when saying goodbye. Look at the person when you say 'Se vidimo'.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing reflexive pronoun.
____ vidimo kmalu!
In Slovenian, 'se' is the required reflexive particle for reciprocal actions like 'seeing each other'.
You are saying goodbye to ONE friend. Which is most natural?
Goodbye, see you soon!
The dual form 'vidiva' is used for exactly two people (you and your friend).
Match the Slovenian phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
These are the standard translations for these common Slovenian goodbyes.
Complete the dialogue.
Janez: 'Grem domov. Lep večer!' Maja: 'Hvala, tudi tebi. ____ ____ ____!'
Since Maja is talking to one person (Janez), the dual 'Se vidiva kmalu' is the best fit.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercises____ vidimo kmalu!
In Slovenian, 'se' is the required reflexive particle for reciprocal actions like 'seeing each other'.
Goodbye, see you soon!
The dual form 'vidiva' is used for exactly two people (you and your friend).
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are the standard translations for these common Slovenian goodbyes.
Janez: 'Grem domov. Lep večer!' Maja: 'Hvala, tudi tebi. ____ ____ ____!'
Since Maja is talking to one person (Janez), the dual 'Se vidiva kmalu' is the best fit.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt is neutral to informal. It's safe for friends and colleagues, but use 'Nasvidenje' for very formal situations.
'Kmalu' means 'soon' (could be days), while 'pozneje' means 'later' (usually the same day).
Yes, it's a common way to end a friendly or semi-formal email.
This is a common colloquial contraction where the 'i' is dropped in fast speech.
You actually use the plural 'Se vidimo kmalu' for three or more people. For exactly TWO people (including yourself and the other), use 'Se vidiva'. Wait—if you are talking TO two people, that's three people total, so 'Se vidimo' is correct!
Not always, but in this short phrase, it usually is. In longer sentences, it follows the first stressed word.
You can still use it as a polite wish, similar to 'See you around'.
The standard is 'kmalu'. 'Kmalo' is a dialectal variation found in some regions.
Yes! That means 'See you tomorrow'.
Simply say 'Velja, se vidimo!' or 'Čav!'
Related Phrases
Nasvidenje
similarGoodbye (Formal)
Se slišimo kmalu
similarTalk to you soon
Adijo
synonymBye
Srečno
contrastGood luck / Goodbye
