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A1 preposition 8 min read

po

Examples Notes & Tips po in 30 Seconds
Explanation po in your Level:
At the A1 level, learners should focus on the two most basic uses of 'po': temporal ('after') and spatial ('along/on'). You will most often see 'po' followed by the Locative case. Common phrases include 'po šoli' (after school), 'po službi' (after work), and 'po mestu' (around/along the city). You should also learn the basic use of 'po' with the Accusative case for fetching common items: 'grem po kruh' (I'm going for bread). At this stage, the most important thing is to remember that 'po' is never followed by the base (nominative) form of a word.
At the A2 level, you expand your use of 'po' to include communication and transport. You will learn to say 'po telefonu' (by phone), 'po pošti' (by mail), and 'po radiu' (on the radio). You will also start using 'po' to describe movement over surfaces in more detail, such as 'hoditi po travi' (walking on the grass) or 'pisati po papirju' (writing on paper). You should become more comfortable with the Locative endings (-u for masculine/neuter, -i for feminine) and start recognizing the 'fetching' Accusative in various daily contexts.
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At the B1 level, 'po' begins to appear in more abstract and idiomatic expressions. You will use it to express 'according to' in phrases like 'po mojem mnenju' (in my opinion) or 'po načrtu' (according to plan). You will also encounter distributive uses, such as 'po vrsti' (in order) or 'eden po eden' (one by one). At this stage, you should be able to distinguish between 'po' (surface movement) and 'skozi' (movement through) and 'čez' (crossing over) with higher accuracy. You also learn to use 'po' for body parts: 'udariti se po nogi' (to hit oneself on the leg).
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At the B2 level, you should master the nuance of 'po' in formal and professional settings. This includes 'po zakonu' (according to the law) and 'po navodilih' (following instructions). You will also use 'po' to describe resemblances and origins, such as 'po naravi' (by nature) or 'po očetu' (taking after one's father). You should be able to use 'po' in complex temporal phrases like 'po dolgem času' (after a long time) or 'po vseh teh letih' (after all these years). Your understanding of the distributive 'po' (e.g., 'po dva in dva' - two by two) should be solid.
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At the C1 level, you use 'po' in highly nuanced rhetorical and literary ways. This includes phrases like 'po vsej verjetnosti' (in all likelihood) or 'po nepotrebnem' (unnecessarily). You understand the subtle difference between 'iti po nekoga' (to go fetch someone) and 'iti za nekoga' (to go in place of someone). You are comfortable with 'po' in scientific or technical contexts, such as 'razvrščanje po kategorijah' (classification by categories). You also recognize 'po' in archaic or poetic structures where it might imply a sense of following a destiny or a path.
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At the C2 level, 'po' is used with effortless precision across all registers. You can use it in legal jargon, philosophical discourse, and slang. You understand its role in word formation (prefixes like po- in 'pogledati') and how it interacts with the entire Slavic linguistic heritage. You can use 'po' to express extremely subtle distributive or temporal relations that might not have a direct English equivalent, and you can play with its meaning in creative writing or complex argumentation without ever faltering on case government.
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Examples Notes & Tips

po in 30 Seconds

  • Used for 'after' in time (Locative).
  • Used for 'along/on' in space (Locative).
  • Used for 'fetching' something (Accusative).
  • Used for 'according to' or 'via' (Locative).

The Slovenian preposition po is one of the most versatile and frequently encountered words in the language. For an English speaker, it primarily translates to 'after' (temporal) or 'along/on' (spatial), but its utility extends far beyond these simple equivalents. At its core, po describes movement across a surface, a sequence in time, or the purpose of an action. Understanding po requires a grasp of the Slovenian case system, as its meaning shifts depending on whether it is followed by the Locative case (mestnik) or the Accusative case (tožilnik).

Spatial Distribution
When used with the Locative case, po indicates movement on or along a surface. For example, walking 'along the street' or 'across the room'. It suggests a lack of a single fixed point, rather a distribution over an area.
Temporal Sequence
This is the most common use for beginners. It marks what happens after a specific event or time. 'After school' (po šoli) or 'after work' (po službi). Here, it always governs the Locative case.
Purpose and Acquisition
Interestingly, when paired with the Accusative case, po indicates the goal of an errand. If you are going to the store 'for' bread, you use po kruh. This is a vital distinction for daily errands.

Sprehajamo se po parku in uživamo v soncu.

Translation: We are walking through/along the park and enjoying the sun.

In professional contexts, po is used to denote 'according to'. For instance, 'po mojem mnenju' (in my opinion) or 'po zakonu' (according to the law). This makes it indispensable for formal writing and debate. It also appears in distributive contexts, such as 'korak po korak' (step by step) or 'eden po eden' (one by one), showing a sequence of individual units.

Po kosilu grem v trgovino po mleko.

Translation: After lunch (Locative), I am going to the store for milk (Accusative).

Slovenian learners often struggle with the fact that 'po' can translate to 'through', 'along', 'across', 'after', 'per', or 'for'. The secret lies in visualizing the movement. If the movement is 'on' a surface without crossing a boundary into the interior (which would use 'v' or 'skozi'), po is your best friend. It covers the surface of the earth, the surface of a table, or the timeline of a day.

Communication Channels
We use po for mediums of communication: 'po telefonu' (by phone), 'po pošti' (by mail), 'po internetu' (via internet). It treats the communication medium as a path or surface.

Mastering po requires a systematic approach to the cases it governs. Let's break down the sentence structures by meaning. This is essential because using the wrong case with po can change the meaning of your sentence entirely or make it grammatically nonsensical.

1. The Locative Case (Mestnik) - Temporal & Spatial
When po means 'after' or 'along', the noun following it must be in the Locative case. For singular masculine and neuter nouns, this usually ends in -u (e.g., po gradu, po mestu). For feminine, it ends in -i (e.g., po cesti).

Example: Po večerji gledamo televizijo. (After dinner we watch TV.)
2. The Accusative Case (Tožilnik) - Fetching
When you are 'going for' or 'fetching' something, po takes the Accusative. This is common with verbs of motion like iti (to go), priti (to come), or poslati (to send).

Example: Mama je šla v lekarno po zdravila. (Mom went to the pharmacy for medicine.)

Voda teče po tleh.

Translation: Water is flowing along/on the floor (Locative).

In more advanced usage, po is used to describe parts of the body where an action occurs or a state is felt. 'Boli me po celem telesu' (I hurt all over my body). It acts as a distributive marker, spreading the sensation across the surface area.

Naročil sem pico po spletu.

Translation: I ordered a pizza via the web (Locative).
3. Manner and Method
'Po' is used to show how things are done. 'Po vrsti' (in order), 'po naključju' (by chance), 'po nepotrebnem' (unnecessarily). This usage is almost always with the Locative.

In Slovenia, you cannot go an hour without hearing po. It is the language of logistics, time-management, and spatial awareness. From the morning news to the local bakery, its presence is constant.

At the Market and Shops
You will hear people saying, 'Grem po kruh' (I'm going for bread) or 'Pridem po otroke' (I'm coming for the kids). Shopkeepers might ask, 'Po čem je ta sir?' (How much is this cheese? - literally 'after what/at what rate is this cheese?').
In the Office
Colleagues will discuss schedules: 'Po sestanku se dobimo' (We meet after the meeting). Or they might discuss procedures: 'Vse poteka po načrtu' (Everything is going according to plan).

Ali greš po otroke v vrtec?

Translation: Are you going to pick up the kids from kindergarten? (Accusative)

On public transport, the conductor or the automated voice might announce stops or routes using po: 'Vlak vozi po voznem redu' (The train runs according to the timetable). On the radio, weather reports use it to describe conditions 'po vsej Sloveniji' (throughout all of Slovenia).

In casual conversation, po is part of the standard greeting 'Kaj je novega po svetu?' (What's new in the world?). It is also used to describe family resemblances: 'On je po očetu' (He takes after his father).

For English speakers, the most frequent error involves case selection. Because 'after' and 'for' are both 'po', learners often default to one case for everything. This leads to confusion or sounding very 'foreign'.

Mistake 1: Using Nominative after 'po'
Incorrect: Po šola grem domov.
Correct: Po šoli grem domov.
Explanation: Prepositions in Slovenian never take the nominative case. You must use Locative for 'after'.
Mistake 2: Confusing 'po' (fetching) with 'za' (purpose)
Incorrect: Grem v trgovino za kruh.
Correct: Grem v trgovino po kruh.
Explanation: If you are physically going to retrieve an object, use po + Accusative. Za is for the beneficiary or the reason, but not the physical fetching.

Pišem po svinčnik. (Wrong: Writing along a pencil? No.)
Pišem s svinčnikom. (Right: Writing with a pencil.)

Another common error is using po when skozi (through) is more appropriate. Use po for surface movement (walking on a path) and skozi for movement through a 3D space with boundaries (walking through a forest or a tunnel). However, 'po gozdu' is also used if you are wandering within it rather than passing through it from one side to the other.

To truly master Slovenian, you must know when to use po and when to opt for a more precise alternative. While po is a 'catch-all' preposition, other words offer more specificity.

Po vs. Potem
Po is a preposition (requires a noun). Potem is an adverb (used alone).
'Po šoli' (After school) vs. 'Potem grem domov' (Afterward I go home).
Po vs. Vzdolž
Vzdolž is more formal and specific for 'alongside' (usually with Genitive). Po is much more common in everyday speech for 'along'.
Po vs. Čez
Čez means 'across' or 'over'. While 'po cesti' means along the road, 'čez cesto' means crossing to the other side.

Namesto po lahko včasih uporabimo skladno z (in accordance with).

Legal and formal contexts often prefer 'skladno z' over 'po'.

In temporal contexts, if you want to say 'after' in a way that implies 'later than', you might use pozneje kot. But for simple sequence, po is unbeatable. For distributive 'per', you can also use na (e.g., trikrat na teden - three times a week), but po is used for 'one by one' (eden po eden).

Fun Fact

The preposition 'po' is so ancient that it appears as a prefix in thousands of Slovenian words, often giving the verb a 'perfective' (completed) aspect.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /pɔ/
US /poʊ/
Unstressed. Prepositions in Slovenian usually carry no stress and lean on the following word.
Rhymes With
ko do ko bo tako lepo lahko težko
Common Errors
  • Pronouncing it with a long 'o' like in 'go'.
  • Over-emphasizing the word instead of letting it flow into the next noun.
  • Using an English 'p' with too much aspiration.
  • Changing the vowel quality based on the following word.
  • Stressing the 'o' when it should be a short, functional sound.
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Examples by Level

1

Po šoli grem domov.

After school I go home.

po + šoli (Locative)

2

Grem po kruh.

I am going for bread.

po + kruh (Accusative)

3

Hodim po cesti.

I am walking along the road.

po + cesti (Locative)

4

Pijemo kavo po kosilu.

We drink coffee after lunch.

po + kosilu (Locative)

5

Po zimi pride pomlad.

After winter comes spring.

po + zimi (Locative)

6

Grem po vodo.

I am going for water.

po + vodo (Accusative)

7

Knjiga leži po mizi.

The book is lying on the table.

po + mizi (Locative)

8

Po službi sem utrujen.

After work I am tired.

po + službi (Locative)

1

Govorim po telefonu.

I am talking on the phone.

po + telefonu (Locative)

2

Potujem po Evropi.

I am traveling through Europe.

po + Evropi (Locative)

3

Gledam film po televiziji.

I am watching a film on TV.

po + televiziji (Locative)

4

Mama gre po otroke.

Mom is going to get the kids.

po + otroke (Accusative plural)

5

Pišem po zvezku.

I am writing in/on the notebook.

po + zvezku (Locative)

6

Slišal sem to po radiu.

I heard that on the radio.

po + radiu (Locative)

7

Sprehajamo se po parku.

We are walking through the park.

po + parku (Locative)

8

Pismo je prišlo po pošti.

The letter came by mail.

po + pošti (Locative)

1

Po mojem mnenju je to prav.

In my opinion, this is right.

po + mnenju (Locative)

2

Vse gre po načrtu.

Everything is going according to plan.

po + načrtu (Locative)

3

Vstopite eden po eden.

Enter one by one.

Distributive use

4

Udaril se je po glavi.

He hit himself on the head.

po + glavi (Locative)

5

Iščem informacije po spletu.

I am searching for information on the web.

po + spletu (Locative)

6

Po dolgem času se vidimo.

We see each other after a long time.

po + času (Locative)

7

Delamo po navodilih.

We work according to instructions.

po + navodilih (Locative plural)

8

Kri teče po žilah.

Blood flows through the veins.

po + žilah (Locative plural)

1

Po zakonu to ni dovoljeno.

According to the law, this is not allowed.

po + zakonu (Locative)

2

On je po naravi zelo miren.

He is very calm by nature.

po + naravi (Locative)

3

Po vseh teh letih se ni spremenil.

After all these years, he hasn't changed.

po + letih (Locative plural)

4

Razvrstite jih po velikosti.

Sort them by size.

po + velikosti (Locative)

5

Hodi po prstih, da ne zbudi otroka.

He is walking on tiptoes so as not to wake the child.

po + prstih (Locative plural)

6

Po poklicu sem zdravnik.

By profession, I am a doctor.

po + poklicu (Locative)

7

Po nepotrebnem zapravljaš čas.

You are wasting time unnecessarily.

Adverbial phrase with po

8

Ime je dobil po dedu.

He was named after his grandfather.

po + dedu (Locative)

1

Po vsej verjetnosti bo deževalo.

In all likelihood, it will rain.

po + verjetnosti (Locative)

2

Po njegovi zaslugi smo zmagali.

Thanks to him (by his merit), we won.

po + zaslugi (Locative)

3

Vse se je zgodilo po naključju.

Everything happened by chance.

po + naključju (Locative)

4

Po dolgem in počez smo preiskali hišo.

We searched the house far and wide.

Idiomatic phrase

5

On je po duši umetnik.

He is an artist at heart (in soul).

po + duši (Locative)

6

Po sili razmer smo morali oditi.

Due to circumstances (by force of circumstances), we had to leave.

po + sili (Locative)

7

To je po mojem okusu.

This is to my taste.

po + okusu (Locative)

8

Po pravici povedano, ne vem.

To tell the truth (truthfully told), I don't know.

Fixed expression

1

Po svoji biti je on filozof.

By his very being, he is a philosopher.

po + biti (Locative)

2

Vse se ravna po ustaljenih tirnicah.

Everything follows established tracks.

Metaphorical use

3

Po dolgem oklevanju je končno privolil.

After long hesitation, he finally agreed.

po + oklevanju (Locative)

4

Po čem sklepate, da je to res?

On what basis (after what) do you conclude this is true?

Interrogative use

5

Po vsem sodeč, nas čaka težka pot.

Judging by everything, a difficult path awaits us.

Participle phrase

6

Po njegovem nareku smo pisali zapisnik.

We wrote the minutes according to his dictation.

po + nareku (Locative)

7

Po božji volji se je vse uredilo.

By God's will, everything was settled.

Religious/Fixed expression

8

Oni so po prepričanju pacifisti.

They are pacifists by conviction.

po + prepričanju (Locative)

Common Collocations

po šoli
po telefonu
po svetu
po mnenju
po vrsti
po kosilu
po cesti
po sredi
po načrtu
po delih

Common Phrases

po dolgem času

— Used when something happens after a long interval.

Po dolgem času smo se srečali.

po pravici

— Used to introduce an honest statement.

Po pravici, to mi ni všeč.

po vsem tem

— Used to summarize a series of events.

Po vsem tem ne vem, kaj naj rečem.

po meri

— Custom-made or according to measurements.

Obleka je narejena po meri.

po naključju

— By accident or chance.

Srečala sta se po naključju.

po navadi

— Usually or as a habit.

Po navadi pijem čaj.

po vrsti

— In sequence or one after another.

Povejte mi vse po vrsti.

po nepotrebnem

— Doing something without a good reason.

Ne skrbi po nepotrebnem.

po sili

— Doing something because of necessity, not choice.

To sem storil po sili.

po delu

— After the workday is finished.

Po delu gremo na pijačo.

Idioms & Expressions

"po dolgem in počez"

— Everywhere or in great detail.

Preiskal je hišo po dolgem in počez.

informal
"po polžje"

— Very slowly (like a snail).

Promet se premika po polžje.

informal
"po maslu"

— Smoothly, without any problems (like butter).

Vse gre kot po maslu.

neutral
"po liniji najmanjšega upora"

— Taking the easiest way out.

Vedno gre po liniji najmanjšega upora.

neutral
"po vseh pravilih umetnosti"

— Doing something perfectly or exactly as it should be done.

Hiša je zgrajena po vseh pravilih umetnosti.

formal
"po glavi mi hodi"

— I am thinking about something constantly.

Ta pesem mi hodi po glavi.

informal
"po dolgem času"

— Finally, after a long wait.

Po dolgem času je sonce.

neutral
"po svoje"

— In one's own way.

On vse naredi po svoje.

neutral
"po senci"

— Walking or staying in the shade.

Hodi po senci, da ti ne bo vroče.

neutral
"po korakih"

— Step by step, gradually.

Učimo se po korakih.

neutral

Word Family

Nouns

pohod (hike/march)
površina (surface)
posledica (consequence)

Verbs

pogledati (to look at)
poslati (to send)
pomagati (to help)

Adjectives

podoben (similar)
poslušen (obedient)

Related

pot (path)
potemtakem (consequently)
povsod (everywhere)
ponavadi (usually)
popolnoma (completely)
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Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'po' as a path. You walk 'po' (along) the path 'po' (after) breakfast to go 'po' (for) bread.

Visual Association

Imagine a timeline. Everything to the right of the current point is 'po' (after). Imagine a flat table. Anything moving on it is 'po'.

Word Web

po šoli po cesti po kruh po mnenju po telefonu po delu po vrsti po svetu

Challenge

Try to use 'po' three times in one sentence: 'Po šoli sem šel po cesti po jabolka.' (After school I went along the road for apples.)

Word Origin

Derived from Proto-Slavic *po, which is a common preposition across all Slavic languages. It is cognate with Sanskrit 'apa' and Greek 'apo'.

Original meaning: The original meaning was likely 'near', 'at', or 'after', indicating spatial or temporal proximity.

Indo-European > Balto-Slavic > Slavic > South Slavic > Slovenian.

Cultural Context

No specific sensitivities, but be careful with 'po' in idioms as they can be very specific to the Slovenian mindset.

English speakers often use 'for' where Slovenians use 'po'. For example, 'I am waiting for you' is 'Čakam nate', but 'I am coming for you' is 'Pridem po tebe'.

Po dolini tihi (A famous Slovenian folk song) Počasi se daleč pride (Proverb) Po bitki je vsak general pameten (Proverb: After the battle, every general is smart)
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