Fluent Fiction - Slovenian: Chasing Dreams in a Snow-Kissed Café: Matej's Quest for Italy
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/sl/episode/2025-02-17-23-34-01-sl

Story Transcript:

Sl: Snežinke so nežno padale nad Maribor tistega februarja.
En: The snowflakes gently fell over Maribor that February.

Sl: Majhno kavarno je objemala toplina, zvok klepetanja in vonj po sveže mleti kavi.
En: A small café was enveloped in warmth, the sound of chatter, and the scent of freshly ground coffee.

Sl: Matej je sedel ob oknu in pregledoval zapiske.
En: Matej sat by the window, reviewing notes.

Sl: Njegova glava je bila polna misli o prihajajočih izpitih na Univerzi v Mariboru.
En: His head was full of thoughts about the upcoming exams at the University of Maribor.

Sl: Matej je bil odločen.
En: Matej was determined.

Sl: Želel je prejeti štipendijo za poletni program v umetnostni šoli v Italiji.
En: He wanted to receive a scholarship for a summer program at an art school in Italy.

Sl: Njegova družina je vedno pričakovala veliko od njega, a Matej je želel predvsem impresionirati samega sebe.
En: His family always expected a lot from him, but Matej wanted to impress himself above all.

Sl: Morda bodo izpiti vmesna postaja na poti do njegovih sanj?
En: Perhaps the exams would be a stopover on the path to his dreams?

Sl: Do njega se je prikradla Jana, njegova prijateljica iz faksa.
En: Jana, his friend from college, snuck up to him.

Sl: “Matej, videti si utrujen,” je rekla z rahlim nasmehom.
En: “Matej, you look tired,” she said with a slight smile.

Sl: “Ti bi lahko kdaj tudi malo počival.”
En: “You could take a break sometime.”

Sl: Matej je vzdihnil.
En: Matej sighed.

Sl: “Vem, ampak času zmanjkuje.
En: “I know, but time is running out.

Sl: Kmalu se začenjajo izpiti, pa še služiti moram, da pokrijem osnovne stroške.
En: The exams are starting soon, and I still have to work to cover basic expenses.

Sl: Današnji dan sem si vzel prost in zdaj sem tukaj, med zapiski.”
En: I took the day off today, and now I’m here, among the notes.”

Sl: Jana ga je potolažila: “Verjamem vate.
En: Jana comforted him: “I believe in you.

Sl: Če kdo lahko tole zmore, si to ti.”
En: If anyone can do this, it’s you.”

Sl: Anže, njun sošolec, je sedel za bližnjo mizo.
En: Anže, their classmate, was sitting at a nearby table.

Sl: “Hej, Matej! Ali si se že lotil priprav za teorijo?” je vprašal.
En: “Hey, Matej! Have you started preparing for the theory yet?” he asked.

Sl: “Tista vprašanja znajo biti zoprna.”
En: “Those questions can be tricky.”

Sl: Nenadoma, kot po nekakšni usodi, je Matej pomislil na temno stanovanje.
En: Suddenly, as if by fate, Matej thought about the dark apartment.

Sl: Njegovo stanovanje je zaradi izpada elektrike brez svetlobe in toplote, in zato je v kavarni našel zavetje ter tih mir za študij.
En: His apartment was without light and heat due to a power outage, so he found refuge in the café and quiet peace for studying.

Sl: Kljub neprijetni situaciji se je usedel nazaj in pogledal proti oknu, kjer so snežinke prinašale mir.
En: Despite the unpleasant situation, he sat back and looked toward the window, where the snowflakes brought peace.

Sl: Matej je zagledal sliko, kako v sončni Italiji slika s čopičem v roki.
En: Matej envisioned himself painting with a brush in hand in sunny Italy.

Sl: Potem se je spomnil, zakaj tako garajoče dela.
En: Then, he remembered why he worked so hard.

Sl: Pomirjen je odprl zvezek z zapiski.
En: Reassured, he opened the notebook with notes.

Sl: Večer se je prevesil v noč.
En: The evening turned into night.

Sl: Matej je bil utrujen, a njegova odločnost neomajna.
En: Matej was tired, but his determination was unwavering.

Sl: Ob koncu seanse je zaprl knjige, zadovoljno zamrmral in se ozrl proti Jani in Anžetu.
En: At the end of the session, he closed his books, murmured with satisfaction, and looked at Jana and Anže.

Sl: “Hvala vama za podporo.
En: “Thank you for the support.

Sl: Mislim, da bo šlo.”
En: I think it will be okay.”

Sl: Ko se je pripravljal na odhod, se je ustavil pri vratih.
En: As he prepared to leave, he paused at the door.

Sl: S sneženjem so padle skrbi, a njegov pogled je bil usmerjen naprej.
En: With the snowfall, his worries fell away, yet his gaze was focused forward.

Sl: Matej je vedel, da je danes naredil pravo izbiro.
En: Matej knew he had made the right choice today.

Sl: Naučil se je postaviti prioritete — izobraževanje pred trenutnimi ovirami in zaupasamo vase.
En: He learned to set priorities — education over current obstacles, and trusting in himself.

Sl: Zdaj je bil pripravljen na prihodnje izpite, ob zavedanju, da bo ne glede na vse, uspel slediti svojim sanjam.
En: Now he was ready for the upcoming exams, with the awareness that no matter what, he would succeed in pursuing his dreams.


Vocabulary Words:

• snowflakes: snežinke
• gently: nežno
• enveloped: objemala
• warmth: toplina
• chatter: klepetanja
• scent: vonj
• freshly ground: sveže mleti
• determined: odločen
• scholarship: štipendija
• exam: izpit
• stopover: vmesna postaja
• snuck: prikradla
• sigh: vzdihnil
• expenses: stroški
• comforted: potolažila
• tricky: zoprna
• refuge: zavetje
• unpleasant: neprijetni
• determination: odločnost
• unwavering: neomajna
• murmured: zamrmral
• priorities: prioritete
• obstacles: ovire
• trusting: zaupasamo
• pursuing: slediti
• notes: zapiske
• fate: usoda
• apartment: stanovanje
• awareness: zavedanju
• impress: impresionirati