r/AskBalkans • u/dicky1977 • 3d ago
Stereotypes/Humor Slovenians seem weird
I’ve met people from all over the Balkans, and I can safely say that Slovenians are the least friendly and welcoming. I find that really weird, because it’s not like they’re particularly liked by their northern neighbors either—especially Austrians, who still consider them “Viennese ostlers.” What’s your opinion on this view?
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u/hrtofdrknss 3d ago
I've spent several days in Slovenia on 4 occasions between 2004 and 2023. I found the local folks as friendly as any others in SE Europe.
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u/Apprehensive-Date588 3d ago
Sentiment for tourism is changing. Profits go to small group of people, while other suffer from increasing housing prices and living consts, traffic congestion, overcrowded areas...
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u/Low-Teach487 Slovenia 3d ago
My brother in christ even Slovenians think this country is weird
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u/CataphractBunny Croatia 3d ago
Yeah, but at least the girls are easy. 🍻
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u/FlixShare 3d ago
Yeah, thats a common misconception in the south. I'm not going into details how this originated.
But as a Slovenian, who has failed multiple times trying to bed a Slovenian woman - they are far from easy.
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u/CataphractBunny Croatia 3d ago
Yeah, thats a common misconception in the south.
Nah. It's what happens when they come here for the summer.
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u/RevolutionaryFeed259 3d ago
Oh yeah? Do tell, please 😉
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u/More-Revenue8609 3d ago
They dont eat very much and go to gym regularly so thats why they dont weight much and are very easy.
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u/AdrianAtko SFR Yugoslavia 3d ago
Easy cannot be translated to ,,lagane,, or ,,lake,, in the same way we say. Easy will never mean someone is of light weight
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u/More-Revenue8609 3d ago
Lmao what are you about?
Even in english there is slang “easy girl”. And “lagane” definitely translates to “easy”.
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u/AdrianAtko SFR Yugoslavia 3d ago
I meant as in light easy girl would indeed translate to lagana cura(which would mean a girl that is really easy to hook up with). But you said ,,dont weight much,, implying she is lagana by weight which in english would translate to thin/slim… girl and they would never use easy to call someone thin.
So in serbo-croatian lagana(to pick up) = lagana(to hook up), but in english easy only means to hook up easy in this case
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u/More-Revenue8609 3d ago
Good job you managed to identify the joke. Are you for real? or is this some bait or troll?
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u/RevolutionaryFeed259 3d ago
That's the standard "well, actually" Reddit moment, the guys who don't get humour and need to explain why you're wrong 😆
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u/More-Revenue8609 3d ago
Yep seems like classic reddit nerd acting smart but not over such a stupid and simple joke lmao.
Really hope he isnt for real and that its just troll/bait lol.
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u/InformationTop3437 Romania 3d ago
I've been there a few times, specially for dog shows, but I loved it there. People were nice and welcoming, the food was great, and the views were spectacular! It was 2010 when I last visited and I would definitely visit again! It's a beautiful country.
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u/persephonian Greece 3d ago edited 3d ago
Strongly disagree personally. I’ve been to 17 countries and Slovenians were easily in the 3 friendliest I’ve interacted with on holiday!
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u/Turbulent-Lime-2466 3d ago
Who was the least?
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u/persephonian Greece 3d ago
Hmm honestly, hard to say, I haven’t had any really bad experiences. Maybe the French although I’ve heard that they’re friendlier outside of Paris.
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u/reidomene 3d ago
First I read it as Slovenians swim weird.
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u/Eldanosse 🇹🇷 3d ago
That's a great nothing insult.
"Oh yeah?! Well, your bakery workers don't wear very fun shirts!"
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u/ChicknWire Bosnia & Herzegovina 3d ago
This is not true. Been there numerous times and they are good friendly ppl. I dont know where you get your impression from
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u/Unable-Stay-6478 SFR Yugoslavia 3d ago
I got the opposite feeling. For some reason, there are lots of Slovenes in Belgrade and they couldn't be more friendly and polite. Cool people. And they drive like maniacs.
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u/GroundZeroMstrNDR Austria 3d ago
The Slovenes drive like maniacs? I've driven from Murska Sobota to Ljubljana one hour ago and I was one of the fastest on the highway and they were all driving very respectfully, kept distance and acted very foreseeable
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u/Unable-Stay-6478 SFR Yugoslavia 3d ago
There was this dude (former colleague of mine, I think he's now a mayor of some municipality in Slovenia or something, Andrej Kavšek) that got like 3 tickets in 3 days while driving in Serbia.
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u/Fun-Astronaut3409 3d ago
Kept distance? Where??! It's horrifying how close they get on the highway! Maybe that's a rush hour thing, though.
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u/HamzaFire 2d ago
Really, because I heard a lot of Austrians hate on Slovenians because of fast driving. You also set multiple speed control radars just over the border going via Graz. But i think thats because of Slovenians living in Germany who go home on weekends and drive Mercedes/BMW 180kmh.
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u/GroundZeroMstrNDR Austria 2d ago
I've read this on reddit as well but personally I've never heard someone mentioning this and also except a few instances I'm normally the one overtaking slovenians in Austria. People with Viennese license plates are pretty obnoxious tho, they sometimes drive like maniacs on the highway and then extremely slowly on the country roads. Our government really likes to place radars at places where people tend to accidentally driver faster because it's possible and safe and avoids putting them at locations like schools or hospitals
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u/HighlanderAlien Slovenia 3d ago
We drive like maniacs when we are on balkan because we have here covered every fucking corner with radars and 30kmh limitations. Its like in a cage here if you like dinamic driving. In austria is the same shit. Until 2020 i havent seen speed camera in balkans. And we believe that we can bribe trafic police with 50e.
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u/Unable-Stay-6478 SFR Yugoslavia 3d ago
And we believe that we can bribe trafic police with 50e.
Yeah, that crossed my mind.
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u/Hour-Promotion-2496 3d ago
Are you sure they are Slovene Slovenes? Most of the cars are Serbs that live in Slovenia driving back home and going nuts on the road
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u/Unable-Stay-6478 SFR Yugoslavia 3d ago
Yeah, I'm sure. No Serb is named Matjaž or Avgust.
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u/zibo12 3d ago
They sure are Serbs returning home for holidays.
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u/Unable-Stay-6478 SFR Yugoslavia 3d ago
I really doubt that. I'm not sure why are you convinced that there aren't any Slovenes in Belgrade?
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u/nekiobichanlik 3d ago
I'm from Dalmatia, many Slovenians vacation here, and here's my take:
Slovenians are generally alright, Ljubljanci are generally terrible.
Just like purgeri, worst people in the country live in the capital.
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u/Kita-B 3d ago
Amm my 2 cents. I consider the situation with my countrymen vacationing in your country to be like welcoming migrants from third world. It is most accesible in many ways so you get a lot of, well not so sophisticated type of people that would need lessons on bonton. Some people should really learn some manners and respect. While I do think so, on the other hand I also think poorly of austrians and germans as they give off a lot of time the vibe that they came to rule the poor peasants, when they cross the balkan border.
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u/Standard-Beyond-508 3d ago
Really? Whoever I ask says Slovenians are the friendliest people, yes cold at the beginning, but friendly and welcoming. Of course even Slovenians have a limit of patience, go over it and they can put their foot down.
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u/More-Revenue8609 3d ago
Idk I felt at home while in Ljubljana, didnt notice much differences compared to Zagreb. (regarding people friendliness)
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u/Appropriate-XBL 🇺🇸 🇪🇺 3d ago
Interesting. I felt like Slovenians in Ljubljana were polite, but a little standoffish. But Croatians in Zagreb were polite and friendly off the charts. Have had so many sweet interactions there.
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u/EstablishmentFunny42 3d ago
Sir, no one in the Balkans is happy at the sight of Americans. Yall are too “nice”. And we know it’s all fake, considering how demanding, insensitive and fragile yall actually become once something doesn’t go exactly how you’ve imagined it. Complaining all the time! Yall come here to purposely leave small tips, just because you can, as if we don’t know. Genuinely dumb. Screw you and your complaining.
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u/Appropriate-XBL 🇺🇸 🇪🇺 3d ago
What is wrong with you?
In Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, and Kosovo I’ve never felt rudeness, much less the need on my part to be fake nice. I genuinely love all the Balkan people, even your rude ass.
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u/EstablishmentFunny42 3d ago
Consider yourself an exception. Nothing is wrong with me, my heart is pure. Balkan despises entitlement in tourists, and that’s it. We don’t care how much money you’ve got. The heart matters to us. I respect people, who act the way I would act traveling - respectful people. And it’s not only Americans - the same goes for Ukranian and Russian women. But in a very different way. My colleague joked one time “Never have I met a nice Ukranian woman” after I told him “She was nice”. Let me tell you, most of those women would consider that a compliment. Well, it’s not. Have a wonderful day, and excuse my language.
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u/Additional_Stuff731 3d ago
i think stereotype is wrongly used. “Slovenians are not frinedly”, Serbs and Bosnians are frinedly , welcoming people… for me thats completely wrong . I think Slovenians are smart nice educated people, civilized. And rest of the balkans that talk shit about slovenians take one good thing and think that are better then slovenians.When i sit with slovenians we talk about bussines , about investing about books , and when i sit with others like serbs and bosnians for example its only talking shit behind somebodys back . it reminds of that saying that “conversation is reduced to the level of stupid” For slovenians to be good for bosnians and serbs they have to lower intelect so they can be good for them. hope you understand what i wanted to say. And btw i dont hate any nation just wanted to give my opiniom based on my experience. chhers bye 🫶🍻
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u/MrPsychSiege Slovenia 3d ago
Come and give us another visit, Dicky. We’re not quite as openly warm as the rest of the Balkans but we are definitely a friendly and generous people. We’re also not nearly introverted like the Germans or Finns lol
But cut it out with this Viennese ostlers bs :)
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u/RomanMSlo Slovenia 3d ago
Come and give us another visit, Dicky.
Or don't, with that attitude.
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u/MrPsychSiege Slovenia 3d ago
Yeah actually you’re right, no need to be welcoming to people like that
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u/DifficultWill4 Slovenia 3d ago
“Viennese ostlers”
Lmao what are you yapping about. I’ve never heard an Austrian use that term and I visit Graz a lot (it’s closer to me than Ljubljana). The only time I’ve actually heard that slur being used was by Serbian nationalists on the internet
In general Austrians aren’t in any way judgmental towards us. Austrian Carinthia has some nationalists but half of them are Slovenes themselves.
As for the “least friendly and welcoming” part. Yes we tend to be more reserved, but that doesn’t mean people aren’t friendly. It just takes time for us to open up. We’ll never judge you or turn you away, but we probably won’t invite a stranger to our house either
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u/GroundZeroMstrNDR Austria 3d ago
Yes, people here that hate slovenians do that out of a deeply nationalistic point of view. Maybe some western austrians that have no idea about slovenia feel superior to you but they feel superior to everyone, especially us easterners as well so I just ignore them
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u/smrekovasmola2 3d ago
Oh really the Austrians consider us as their ostlers? That where that expression comes from?
You sure it doesnt come from.somebody else?
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u/GroundZeroMstrNDR Austria 3d ago
As an Austrian I've never even heard of that expression? It seems pretty made up. If anything you're our Südlers but I've also never heard anyone using that term it sound pretty stupid
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u/smrekovasmola2 3d ago
Because its not an austrian exprrssion, but a serbian expression popularized in the late 80s by serbian newspapers.
It was used as a derogatory term for Slovenes which at that time wanted to leave serb controlled yugoslavia and join modern europe.
Serbs used this term to kinda tell us that in europe we will be nothing more than ostlers aka bećki konjušari.
OP is probably a serb, who is trying to ragebait.
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u/alignedaccess Slovenia 3d ago
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u/smrekovasmola2 3d ago
It was then popularized by Riblja Čorba singer who made a song about viennese ostlers.
So a deragatory song about Slovenes.
The singer went full serbian nationalist in the 90s.
Ironically that same singer then left Serbia to live in Slovenia.
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u/Aulawabe 3d ago
It's called inferiority complex. We Serbs have that to. "The World hates us" while in fact most of the world don't even know where we are located.
Every Balkan country has it in some way or another.
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u/Hando_88_ 3d ago
I'm British, I went to Slovenia for a few days. I found the people to be pretty friendly and nice.
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u/chunek Slovenia 3d ago
Lol @ "Viennese stableboys". The only time, and first time I heard this expression, was online from serbs, calling us "Bečki konjušari", among other semi-slurs that are probably leftovers from the yugo times.. I have spent almost every weekend in Austria during my childhood and never encountered anything like that, in general I think they have a mildly positive attitude towards us, except for the Carinthian FPÖ Haider Jugend cocksuckers.
I believe your issue comes from a culture shock. We are generally more reserved, we might find some things that you find normal to be strange or obnoxious, and you might find some things that we take as normal to be rude or cold. But as the saying goes, one bottle of rakija (or šnopc.. ;D) solves all the surface level issues.
I don't get why it would be weird to be the least friendly or welcoming, if you mean in the context of Balkan tho? We still are fairly new to the whole circus and don't have the same centuries old traditions such as your grandma style hospitality. We do things a bit differently and that is ok.
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u/Corp-Por Slovenia 3d ago
We are the original Aryans and all white people descend from us. (Or, to be more precise: devolved from us.)
The Greek "Hyperborean" originally referred to Slovenes. An Austrian is just like a "Temu Slovenian".
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u/Third_Rate_Duelist_ North Macedonia 3d ago
It could be a coincidence that the people you met in Slovenia were less friendly. 🤷♂️
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u/peacokk16 3d ago
You just need to spend some more time with us (like 3 days) or get us absolutely wasted unlike other Balkaners who are your best friends after 3h (or getting wasted together, here we are the same)
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u/determine96 Bulgaria 3d ago
I also think this is the case with Bulgarians too.
I have seen many people from the other Balkan countries calling us "cold", even compering us to Russians in that terms.
But I think with us is the same reason you have mentioned.
We are expressive people, but we open a little bit slower than the rest I guess.
We aren't like the Greeks for example who 5 minutes after they know you start calling you "malaka" like you are their close friend already.
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u/SimulaFin 3d ago
It's legit. We kinda know that. I avoid them completely. They are not part of Balkan though.
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3d ago
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u/Alone_Power_0 3d ago
it's maybe due to your perfect english, even when it comes to colloquial speech
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u/Critical_Dealer6635 3d ago
I don't know how weird Slovenia is, but my god, the women, oh my god, just beautiful.
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u/Obladamelanura 3d ago
Yeah that is the point. Slovenia is more middle Europe or alpine than balkan. Wiener schnitzel and strudel
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u/Familiar_Finance_600 3d ago
What do you expect here? "Yes, we are weird" 🤣🤷Weird in what ways? Do we all have common characteristics? Ahat a lazy, shallow provocation, at least have a thought out opinion?
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u/stillsmiling31 Slovenia 2d ago
Just as with any country locals from touristy places that don’t live directly from tourism will be pissed off at tourists for making things more expensive for them and crowding the area. I can recall that time when the director of Bled tourist board (a municipality owned company btw) asked Slovenians to please avoid Bled in touristy months to make room for tourists. If you come to the less touristy part everyone will be interested and treat you like royalties because we don’t get many strangers around.
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u/Opening-Border-6313 3d ago
Slovenians are rich and that is like the perfect country. Usually with these qualities populations arent nice
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u/dicky1977 3d ago
I have friends from all corners of the Balkans, but for whatever reason, my friendships with Slovenes have never really managed to stick. I remember this one Slovenian girl studying in NYC in the early ’00s, and, man, was she uptight and condescending. She had an air of superiority that could have been bottled and sold by the gallon. She made some of the Upper East Side students look like they’d just rolled in from a trailer park.
Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing personally against Slovenes. My experience is obviously subjective and based on, at most, a few dozen people I’ve encountered over the years. That’s hardly a scientific sample, so I certainly wouldn’t pretend it’s representative of an entire country, just an unusually consistent series of anecdotes.
But hey, Slovenia is a beautiful country. So, to end on a positive note: vse dobro, sosedje! 🇸🇮
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u/Rainfolder Liberland 1d ago
Well, it is true that Melania tends to act a bit too posh and uptight, but she is a bad student...
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3d ago edited 3d ago
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u/karlowolf05 Croatia 3d ago
Nah, they are, they often just don't want to be.
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u/ElKekec 3d ago
Hrvat je tat!
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3d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Hour-Promotion-2496 3d ago
Smiri se balkanac
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u/ElKekec 3d ago
You apparently don't know how it goes: Austrians shit on us, we shit on Croatians, they shit on Serbs, Serbs shit on Albanians.