| Prekmurje Slovene | |
| Nativename: | Slovenian: prekmürščina, Slovenian: prekmörščina, Slovenian: panonska slovenščina, Slovenian: prekmurščina, Slovenian: prekmursko narečje |
| States: | Slovenia, Hungary and emigrant groups in various countries |
| Ethnicity: | Prekmurje Slovenes |
| Speakers: | 110,000 |
| Date: | no date |
| Familycolor: | Indo-European |
| Fam2: | Balto-Slavic |
| Fam3: | Slavic |
| Fam4: | South Slavic |
| Fam5: | Western South Slavic |
| Fam6: | Slovene |
| Fam7: | Pannonian |
| Isoexception: | dialect |
| Glotto: | prek1239 |
| Glottorefname: | Prekmurski |
| Map: | Slovenian Dialects.svg |
| Mapcaption: | Map of Slovenian dialects. Prekmurje Slovene is in dark yellow at the top right. |
| Also Known As: | Prekmurje dialect, East Slovene, Wendish |
| Script: | Latin script |
Prekmurje Slovene, also known as the Prekmurje dialect, East Slovene, or Wendish (sl|prekmurščina, prekmursko narečje, hu|vend nyelv, muravidéki nyelv, Prekmurje Slovene: prekmürski jezik, prekmürščina, prekmörščina, prekmörski jezik, panonska slovenščina), is the language of Prekmurje in Eastern Slovenia, and a variety of the Slovene language. Part of the Pannonian dialect group,[1] it is spoken in the Prekmurje region of Slovenia and by the Hungarian Slovenes in Vas County in western Hungary. It is used in private communication, liturgy and publications by authors from Prekmurje[2] [3] as well as in television, radio and newspapers.[4] [5] [6] [7] It is closely related to other Slovene dialects in neighboring Slovene Styria, as well as to Kajkavian with which it retains a considerable degree of mutual intelligibility, and forms a dialect continuum with other South Slavic languages.
Prekmurje Slovene is part of the Pannonian dialect group (Slovene: Slovenian: panonska narečna skupina), also known as the eastern Slovene dialect group (Slovenian: vzhodnoslovenska narečna skupina). Prekmurje Slovene shares many common features with the dialects of Haloze, Slovenske Gorice, and Prlekija, with which it is completely mutually intelligible. It is also closely related to the Kajkavian dialect of Croatian, although mutual comprehension is difficult. Prekmurje Slovene, especially its more traditional version spoken by the Hungarian Slovenes, is not readily understood by speakers from central and western Slovenia, whereas speakers from eastern Slovenia (Lower Styria) have much less difficulty understanding it. The early 20th-century philologist Ágoston Pável stated that Prekmurje Slovene in fact it is a major, independent dialect of Slovene, from which it differs mostly in the relationships of stress, in intonation, in the softening of consonants and—as a result of the lack of linguistic reform—in the striking dearth of modern vocabulary and that it preserves many older features from the Proto-Slavic language.
Prekmurje Slovene is spoken by approximately 110,000 speakers worldwide.[8] 80,000 in Prekmurje, 20,000 dispersed in Slovenia (especially Maribor and Ljubljana) and 10,000 in other countries. In Hungary it is used by the Slovene-speaking minority in Vas County in and around the town of Szentgotthárd. Other speakers of the dialect live in other Hungarian towns, particularly Budapest, Szombathely, Bakony, and Mosonmagyaróvár. The dialect was also spoken in Somogy (especially in the village of Tarany), but it has nearly disappeared in the last two centuries. There are some speakers in Austria, Germany, the United States, and Argentina.
Prekmurje Slovene has a defined territory and body of literature, and it is one of the few Slovene dialects in Slovenia that are still spoken by all strata of the local population.[9] Some speakers have claimed that it is a separate language. Prominent writers in Prekmurje Slovene, such as Miklós Küzmics, István Küzmics, Ágoston Pável, József Klekl Senior, and József Szakovics, have claimed that it is a language, not simply a dialect. Evald Flisar, a writer, poet, and playwright from Prekmurje (Goričko), states that people from Prekmurje "talk in our own language." It also had a written standard and literary tradition, both of which were largely neglected after World War II. There were attempts to publish in it more widely in the 1990s, primarily in Hungary,[10] and there has been a revival of literature in Prekmurje Slovene since the late 1990s.
Others consider Prekmurje Slovene a regional language, without denying that it is part of Slovene. The linguist Janko Dular has characterized Prekmurje Slovene as a "local standard language" for historical reasons,[11] as has the Prekmurje writer Feri Lainšček. However, Prekmurje Slovene is not recognized as a language by Slovenia or Hungary, nor does it enjoy any legal protection under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In 2016 the General Maister Society (Društvo General Maister) proposed that primary schools offer education in the Prekmurje Slovene.[12] [13] Some regional politicians and intellectuals advocate Prekmurje Slovene.[14]
Together with Resian, Prekmurje Slovene is the only Slovene dialect with a literary standard that has had a different historical development from the rest of Slovene ethnic territory. For centuries, it was used as a language of education, as well as in the press and mass. The historical Hungarian name for the Slovenes living within the borders of the Kingdom of Hungary (as well as for the Slovenians in general) was Vendek, or the Wends. In the 18th and 19th centuries Prekmurje authors used to designate this language variety as sztári szlovenszki jezik 'old Slovene'. Both then and now, it is also referred to as the "Slovene language between the Mura and Raba" (Slovenščina med Muro in Rabo; Slovenski jezik med Mürov i Rábov).
Prekmurje Slovene is widely used in the regional media (Murski Val Radio, Porabje, Slovenski utrinki), films,[15] literature. The younger generation also write SMS messages and web comments in their local tongue. In the Prekmurje and Hungary a few streets, shops, hotels, etc. have Prekmurje Slovene names.[16] [17] In the 2012 protests in Slovenia in Murska Sobota the protesters used Prekmurje Slovene banners.[18] It is the liturgical language in the Lutheran and Pentecostal churches, and in the Catholic Church of Hungarian Slovenes. Marko Jesenšek, a professor at the University of Maribor, states that the functionality of Prekmurje Slovene is limited, but "it lives on in poetry and journalism."
The Prekmurje Slovene developed from the language of the Carantanian Slavs who settled around Balaton in the 9th century. Due to the political and geographical separation from other Slovene dialects (unlike most of contemporary Slovenia, which was part of the Holy Roman Empire, Prekmurje was under the authority of the Kingdom of Hungary for almost a thousand years), the Prekmurje Slovene acquired many specific features. Separated from the cultural development of the remainder of ethnic Slovene territory, the Slovenes in Hungary gradually forged their own specific culture and also their own literary language.
From Carniola and Styria in the 16th and 17th centuries, a few Slovene Protestant pastors fled to Hungary. The pastors brought along the Bible of Jurij Dalmatin, were used in Felsőszölnök and Postil of Primož Trubar, were used in Gornji Petrovci. Hungarian Slovenes found it difficult to understand the language of this book.
By the 16th century, a theory linking the Hungarian Slovenes to the ancient Vandals had become popular.[19] Accordingly, Prekmurje Slovene was frequently designated in Hungarian Latin documents as the Vandalian language (Latin: lingua vandalica, Hungarian: Vandál nyelv).
The fact of double development of the Slovene language in Slovenian linguistics and science was ignored for a long time. The current form of the standard Slovene language only developed in the 19th century. Prior to this, there was two types of language norms: the Central Slovene language (mostly in Carniola) and the East Slovene language (in Styria and Hungary).
For a short time, there were also two variants of the East Slovene language: the Prekmurian Slovene and the East Styrian Slovene (in the regions of Ormož, Ljutomer and Lenart of Slovene Hills).
The literary traditions of the Prekmurian language developed during the Protestant Reformation: mostly manuscript hymnals with religious hymns, psalms from the 16th and 17th century and an agreement from 1643. The standard language emerged at the beginning of the 18th century and slowly developed. The Prekmurian literary language followed homogeneous grammatical rules and phonetic characteristics. An example of this is the use of the wovels ö or ü and diphthongs in writing.
Manuscripts were also written in the East Styrian Slovene language. Printed books in this language were also published. However, there were no homogeneous grammatical or phonologycal forms in this language variant. Styrian Slovene authors had completely different ideas about the standard language. The Styrian Slovene literary language eventually ceased to exist and was replaced by the Central Slovene language.
The first book in the Prekmurje Slovene appeared in 1715, and was written by the Lutheran pastor Ferenc Temlin. The most important authors from this period were the Lutheran pastor István Küzmics and the Roman Catholic priest Miklós Küzmics who settled the standard for the Prekmurje regional standard language in the 18th century.
István translated the entire New Testament into Prekmurian (Nouvi Zákon 1771). István was born in Ravensko, the standard language was based on the Lowland dialect of Prekmurian Slovene, just like the as is the language of the old manuscripts. István as well expanded the language with elements from Highland (Goričko) dialect.Miklós Küzmics though was born in Goričko, but he followed István's conception in language. He adopted additional elements from the Highland and Lower Lowland (Dolinsko) dialects. Miklós wrote several books, which were reprinted in the 20th century. His prayer book was really popular (Kniga molitvena 1783). His text and coursebook (ABC Kni'sicza 1790) was mandatory for decades in Slovene schools.
István Szijjártó and Mihály Bakos also performed important standardization work in Prekmurian Lutheran literature.
In 1774 was written Versus Vandalici, the first literary poem in Prekmurian language.
In 1823 Mihály Barla created a new orthography for the Prekmurian Slovene. Two new characters were introduced to denote diphthongs: ô (ou), ê (ej) and â (aj). The new orthography was presented in new hymn books Diktomszke, versuske i molitvene kni'zicze (1820) and Krscsanszke nôve peszmene knige (1823). In 1820, a Lutheran teacher named István Lülik wrote a new coursebook Nôvi abeczedár, into which was made three issue (1853, 1856, 1863). His book also spread Barla's orthography. Although this orthogragphy was used only in Prekmurian Lutheran literature.
Lülik wrote the first grammar of the Prekmurian language, but it remained in manuscript.
The first non-religious book in Prekmurian language was a ceremony book for weddings (Sztarisinsztvo i zvacsinsztvo 1804; the author is probably István Szijjártó).
Catholic priest József Kossics brought the Prekmurian language to a new functional position. Kossics no longer wrote religious books, but books on history, grammar and etiquette. His orientation merged with the orientation towards national encouragement.
Lutheran pastor Sándor Terplán translated the Psalmas (Knige 'zoltárszke 1848) and also wrote new school-books.
János Kardos translated numerous verses from Sándor Petőfi, János Arany and few Hungarian poet. He worked on new coursebooks, for ex. Nôve knige cstenyá za vesznícski sôl drügi zlôcs. Kardos followed a conservative conception in language: Kardos was not open to Slovene or Croatian, stuck to the archaic elements. Kárdos' purism was very similar to purism of Fran Levstik in Carniola.
Opposite Kardos was Catholic priest József Borovnyák, who adapted the Prekmurian literary language to the Slovene literary language. Borovnyák also contributed to the functional development of the Prekmurian language, for ex. with his political brochure Máli politicsni vodnik (1869).
In 1875, poet, writer, translator and journalist Imre Augustich established the first Prekmurje Slovene newspaper Prijátel (The Friend). Later, he wrote a new Hungarian–Prekmurje Slovene grammar (Návuk vogrszkoga jezika, 1876) and translated works from Hungarian poets and writers.
Augustich made approaches toward standard Slovene,[20] but at first retained the Hungarian alphabet. Later Augustich introduced the Gaj alphabet in the Prijátel and in a new coursebook Prirodopis s kepami, the first natural science book in Prekmurian language.
In 1871 József Bagáry wrote first course-book, which apply the Gaj alphabet (Perve knige – čtenyá za katholičánske vesničke šolê). The Magyarization policy tried to push the coursebook out of the school, however, the coursebook was so popular in schools that in 1886 it was reprinted.
In the last decades of the 19th and 20th century, the denomination "Wends" and "Wendish language" was promoted, mostly by pro-Hungarians, in order to emphasize the difference between the Hungarian Slovenes and other Slovenes, including attempts to create a separate ethnic identity.
The Prekmurian Slovene language was able to follow the changes of the modern era and was able to renew itself. Either unaided or by taking over innovations from the (Central) Slovene and Croatian languages. The assertion that the Prekmurian Slovene slowly declined with modernization in the middle of the 19th century is not believable. This is contradicted by the first science books (by Kossics and Augustich) and the first journalistic products.[21]
In 1908 Hungarian minister of Education and Religion Albert Apponyi introduced a new law, according to which subjects of instruction must be taught in Hungarian language in all schools of Kingdom of Hungary. The purpose of the law was to Magyarization of national minorities. Education in the Prekmurian Slovenian language in schools has been displaced.
In 1914–1918, the political leader and later parliamentarian congressman in Belgrade József Klekl reformed the Prekmurje Slovene literary language, making use of the Croatian and Slovene languages. In 1923, the new prayerbook's Hodi k oltarskomi svesti (Come on to the Eucharist) orthography was written in the Gaj.
In 1919, most of Prekmurje was assigned to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, and Slovene and Serbo-Croatian replaced Hungarian as the language of education and administration. The language of literature, journalism and the church remained Prekmurian Slovene.
Although in Yugoslavia, education in Prekmurian Slovene was not restored in schools (instead, they learned Serbo-Croatian and Standard Slovene at schools), nevertheless journalism in Prekmurian language flourished in the 1920s and 1930s. Items in the newspapers the catholic Novine, Marijin list, Marijin ograček, calendar Kalendar Srca Jezušovoga, the Lutheran Düševni list and Evangeličanski kalendari were written in the Prekmurje Slovene. Prekmurian Slovene Emigrants also had their own weekly in the USA between 1921 and 1954: Amerikanszki Szlovencov Glász (American Windisch Voice).
József Szakovics took an active part in cultivating the Prekmurje Slovene with his books and articles in newspapers and calendars or with the reprints of oldest book of Miklós Küzmics. The prominent Prekmurje writer Miško Kranjec also wrote in Slovene.
In these years, works of world literature were also translated into Prekmurian, for. ex. Molière's Le Médecin malgré lui.[22]
János Berke started to collect the vocabulary for the first Prekmurian dictionary. János Fliszár was published a part of this dictionary (Vogrszki-vendiski rêcsnik 1922). The dictionary, which contains fifty thousand terms, has been preserved in manuscript.
In 1941, the Hungarian Army seized back the Prekmurje area and by 1945 aimed to make an end of the Prekmurje Slovene and Slovene by the help of Mikola.
After 1945, Communist Yugoslavia banned the printing of books and newspapers in the Prekmurje Slovene, and only standard Slovene or Serbo-Croatian was used in administration and education. In Hungary, the dictator Mátyás Rákosi banned every minority language and deported the Slovenes in the Hungarian Plain.
Since the independence of Slovenia, there has been a noticeable increase in interest in the Prekmurian language and cultural heritage. Few assotioations, publisher and self-publisher prints both old and new books in Prekmurian.
In the 21st century, the Prekmurian language has become more most visible in Slovenia's cultural life. The Premurian can be more often heard in different interviews on TV channels and radios (Murski val, Slovenski utrinki[23]). Today, Prekmurian is also found in written form on public signs, such as some shop signs, evidence of growing use in the linguistic landscape.
In 2018 a Prekmurje Slovene translation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince was published.[24]
Singer and songwriter Nika Zorjan in 2018 created the Prekmurje Slovene version of Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas Is You aka Fse ka bi za Božič.[25] [26] On one occasion she said: »Prekmurians are often local patriots and sometimes we say with pride: This is prekmurščina, not slovenščina.«[27]
Popular throughout Slovenia, Vlado Kreslin also sings in Prekmurian.[28] It also has its own website in the Prekmurian.[29]
The vowel ö occurs only in a few words as a variant of closed e or ö. It has plain a in long stressed syllables and rounded a in short stressed and unstressed syllables in the Hill country (Goričko) and Lowland (Ravensko) dialect. The relationship is reversed in the Lower Lowland (Dolinsko) dialect, where the long stressed a is rounded.
Long vowels and most diphthongs occur only stressed in syllables. If the stress shifts, the vowel loses its length and the diphthong usually loses its glide, e.g.: Nom. Boug; Gen. Bogá.
The diphthong ej (ei) is a short, closed e followed by a shorter, less fully articulated i, e.g.: dejte (child), bejžati (run), pejnezi (money), mlejko (milk), bejli (white).
The diphthong ou consists of a short o and a short, less fully articulated u, e.g.: rouka (hand), nouga (foot), goloub (dove), rour (chimney), gospoud (lord).
Prekmurian Slovene is very rich in the diphthongs ej and ou. These diphthongs are found in various Slovene dialects, but in forms that are phonetically different from the diphthongs of Prekmurian Slovene. The ou and ej diphthongs were represented in the old Prekmurian literary language ortographically by separate signs ê and ô but only in the books and newspapers of the Lutheran Slovenes.
The diphthong ou in the northern Goričko subdialects (mostly near the river Rába) and in the settlements along the Hungarian-Slovene border is reduced to au. The Ravensko dialect and some Goričko subdialects have diphthongs üj or öj.
Diphthongs in open syllables, if they occur in polysyllabic words, are broken up into their components, for ex. Nom. sou (salt), Gen. soli; Nom. krau (king), Gen. krala.
a>e
Unstressed a and a in a diphthong with i or j often sound like open e. This system is typical mostly in the lower Lowland (Dolinsko) dialect, for ex. eli (or) (Ravensko, Goričko, Standard Slovene: ali), nezaj (back) (Ravensko, Goričko, Standard Slovene: nazaj), dele (forward) (Ravensko, Goričko: dale, Standard Slovene: dalje).
o>i
This is a sporadic dissimilation and assimilation. e.g.: visiki (high, Standard Slovene visok).
o>e
In inflected forms a soft consonant (c, č, š, ž, j) is usually followed by o instead of the e in Standard Slovene. For example: z noužicon (Standard Slovene z nožem 'with knife'), s konjon (Standard Slovene s konjem 'with horse'). In neuter nominative singular and accusative o is also heard instead of e, e.g.: mojo delo, našo delo, (Standard Slovene moje delo, naše delo 'my work', 'our work'). Innovative e is heard only in the eastern subdialects of the Dolinsko dialect, mostly along the Slovene-Croatian border (near the Međimurje).
o>u
The diactric ŭ refers to the non-frontedness of the vowel. For ex. un, una Standard Slovene on, ona (he, she). The Dolinsko dialect have has even more diactric u, for ex. kunj (horse) (Ravensko, Goričko, Standard Slovene: konj), Marku (Marc) (Ravensko, Goričko, Standard Slovene Marko).
a>o
For ex. zakoj (why) (Standard Slovene zakaj).
u>ü
The historical u is pronounced almost without exception as ü and it is also spelled this way. For ex. küp (mound) (Standard Slovene kup), küpiti (purchase) (Standard Slovene kupiti), düša (soul) (Standard Slovene duša), lüknja (slit) (Standard Slovene luknja), brüsiti (facet) (Standard Slovene brusiti).
In words starting wutg a v there are mixed forms, while in the Standard Slovene remains the u, for ex. vüjo (ear) (Standard Slovene uho), vujti (escapes) (Standard Slovene uiti).
The u derived from earlier ol preceding a consonant does not turn into ü, for ex. pun (full) (Standard Slovene poln), dugi (long) (Standard Slovene dolg), vuna (wool) (Standard Slovene volna), vuk (wolf) (Standard Slovene volk).
Z preceding nj often sounds like ž, for ex. ž njin (with him) (Standard Slovene z njim).
k>c
For ex. tenko, natenci (thin, thinly) (Standard Slovene tanko, natanko). This type of alternations was even more frequent in the old Prekmurian Slovene, for ex. vuk, vucke, vuci (wolf, wolves) (Standard Slovene volk, volki, Croatian vuk, vuci). Today it is preserved in the speech of older people in Goričko and the subdialect of Hungarian Slovenes.
m>n
Word final m in Prekmurian Slovene almost always sounds like n (just like in other Pannonian Slovene dialects or in the Chakavian). For ex. znan (I know) (Standard Slovene znam), man (I have) (Standard Slovene imam), tan (there) (Standard Slovene tam), vüzen (Easter) (Standard Slovene vuzem[30] z zlaton (with gold) (Standard Slovene z zlatom), ran (building) (Standard Slovene hram). Exceptions: grm (bush), doum (home), tram (strut) etc.
The change of m>n can also occur in middle position, preceding consonants, for ex.: Nom. vüzen, Gen. vüzma.
nj>n
The n has developed from an nj in word-final position or medial position, for ex. ogen (fire) (Standard Slovene ogenj), kniga (book) (Standard Slovene knjiga). In declined forms nj return, for ex. ognja (Genitive).
lj>l
The hard lj (ł) has totally disappeared from Prekmurian Slovene, for ex.: klüč (key) (Standard Slovene ključ), lübiti, lübezen (love) (Standard Slovene ljubiti, ljubezen), grable (rake) (Standard Slovene grablje).
h>j or ∅
In certain regions and in certain positions it is still present the h.
Exceptions shajati (to make do on something), zahtejvati (demand) etc.
bn>vn
For ex. drouvno (tiny) (Standard Slovene drobno).
p>f
For ex. ftic, ftič, ftica (bird) (Standard Slovene ptic, ptič, ptica).
j>d
For ex. žeden (thirsty) (Standard Slovene žejen).
hč>šč
For ex. nišče (nobody) (Standard Slovene nihče).
kt>št
For ex. što (who) (Standard Slovene: kdo).
ljš>kš
For ex. boukši (better, right) (Standard Slovene boljši).
dn (dnj)>gn (gnj)
For ex. gnes, gnjes (today) (Standard Slovene danes). Nom. škegen (barn), Gen. škegnja.
t>k
Manly preceding an l.
Historically, Prekmurje Slovene was not written with the Bohorič alphabet used by Slovenes in Inner Austria, but with a Hungarian-based orthography. János Murkovics's textbook (1871) was the first book to use Gaj's Latin Alphabet.
Before 1914: Aa, Áá, Bb, Cc, Cscs, Dd, Ee, Éé, Êê, Ff, Gg, Gygy, Hh, Ii, Jj, Kk, Ll, Lyly, Mm, Nn, Nyny, Oo, Ôô, Öö, Őő, Pp, Rr, Szsz, Ss, Tt, Uu, Üü, Űű, Vv, Zz, Zszs.
After 1914: Aa, Áá, Bb, Cc, Čč, Dd, Ee, Éé, Êê, Ff, Gg, Gjgj, Hh, Ii, Jj, Kk, Ll, Ljlj, Mm, Nn, Njnj, Oo, Ôô, Öö, Pp, Rr, Ss, Šš, Tt, Uu, Üü, Vv, Zz, Žž.
Also in Prekmurian Slovene can be nouns masculine, feminine or neuter. Nouns, adjectives and pronouns have three numbers: singular, dual and plural, just like in the Standard Slovene.
Feminine nouns ending in a.
| Declension patterns of feminine nouns ending in a (Prekmurian Slovene) | ||||
| Singular | Dual | Plural | ||
| -a | -i/ej | -e | ||
| -e | -∅/ej | -∅ | ||
| -i/ej | -ama | -an | ||
| -o/ou | -i/ej | -e | ||
| -i/ej | -ama/aj | -aj | ||
| -of(v)/-ouf(v) | -ama | -ami |
| Declension patterns of feminine nouns ending in a (Standard Slovene) | ||||
| Singular | Dual | Plural | ||
| -a | -i | -e | ||
| -e | -∅ | -∅ | ||
| -i | -ama | -am | ||
| -o | -i | -e | ||
| -i | -ah | -ah | ||
| -o | -ama | -ami |
Feminine nouns ending in consonant.
| Declension patterns of feminine nouns ending in a (Prekmurian Slovene) | ||||
| Singular | Dual | Plural | ||
| -∅ | -i/ej | -i | ||
| -i | -i/ej | -i | ||
| -i | -ama | -an | ||
| -∅ | -i/ej | -i | ||
| -i | -ama/aj | -aj | ||
| -jof(v)/-of(v) | -ama | -ami |
| Declension patterns of feminine nouns ending in a (Standard Slovene) | ||||
| Singular | Dual | Plural | ||
| -∅ | -i | -i | ||
| -i | -i | -i | ||
| -i | -ema | -em | ||
| -∅ | -i | -i | ||
| -i | -eh/ih | -eh/ih | ||
| -o | -ema | -mi |
Declension of feminine adjective.
| Declension patterns of feminine adjectives (Prekmurian Slovene) | ||||
| Singular | Dual | Plural | ||
| -a | -ivi/evi | -e | ||
| -e | -ivi(j)/evi(j) | -i(j) | ||
| -oj | -ima | -in | ||
| -o | -ivi/evi | -e | ||
| -oj | -ima/ivaj/evaj | -i(j) | ||
| -of(v) | -ima/ivima/evima | -imi |
| Declension patterns of feminine adjectives (Standard Slovene) | ||||
| Singular | Dual | Plural | ||
| -a | -i | -e | ||
| -e | -ih | -ih | ||
| -i | -ima | -im | ||
| -o | -i | -e | ||
| -i | -ih | -ih | ||
| -o | -ima | -imi |
Masculine nouns ending in a consonant. The singular accusative of masculine nouns designating animate things is the same as their genitive form. The singular accusative of nouns designatinginanimate things is the same as their nominative.
| Declension patterns of masculine nouns ending in consonant (Prekmurian Slovene) | ||||
| Singular | Dual | Plural | ||
| -∅ | -a | -i | ||
| -a | -a/of(v) | -of(v) | ||
| -i | -oma | -on | ||
| -∅/a | -a | -e | ||
| -i | -oma/aj | -aj/i | ||
| -on | -oma | -ami |
| Declension patterns of masculine nouns ending in consonant (Standard Slovene) | ||||
| Singular | Dual | Plural | ||
| -∅ | -a | -i | ||
| -∅/a | -ov | -ov | ||
| -u | -oma | -om/-em | ||
| -∅/a | -a | -e | ||
| -u | -ih | -ih | ||
| -om/-em | -oma | -i |
Masculines nouns ending in a.
| Declension patterns of feminine nouns ending in a (Prekmurian Slovene) | ||||
| Singular | Dual | Plural | ||
| -a | -a | -e/i | ||
| -o/e | -of(v)/a | -∅/of(v) | ||
| -i | -oma | -on | ||
| -o | -a/i | -e | ||
| -i | -oma/aj | -aj | ||
| -of(v) | -oma | -ami/i |
| Declension patterns of feminine nouns ending in a (Standard Slovene) | ||||
| Singular | Dual | Plural | ||
| -a | -i | -e | ||
| -e | -∅ | -∅ | ||
| -i | -ama | -am | ||
| -o | -i | -e | ||
| -i | -ah | -ah | ||
| -o | -ama | -ami |
Declension of masculine adjective.
| Declension patterns of masculine adjectives (Prekmurian Slovene) | ||||
| Singular | Dual | Plural | ||
| -i | -iva/eva | -i | ||
| -oga | -iva/ivi(j)/eva/evi(j) | -i(j) | ||
| -omi | -ima | -in | ||
| -i/oga | -iva/eva | -e | ||
| -on | -ima/ivaj/evaj/i(j) | -i(j) | ||
| -in | -ima/ivima/evima | -imi |
| Declension patterns of masculine adjectives (Standard Slovene) | ||||
| Singular | Dual | Plural | ||
| -∅ | -a | -i | ||
| -∅/ega | -ih | -ih | ||
| -emu | -ima | -im | ||
| -∅/ega | -a | -e | ||
| -em | -ih | -ih | ||
| -im | -ima | -imi |
Neuter nouns ending in o and e.
| Declension patterns of neuter nouns ending in o or e (Prekmurian Slovene) | ||||
| Singular | Dual | Plural | ||
| -o/e | -i | -a | ||
| -a | -i/∅ | -∅ | ||
| -i | -oma | -an | ||
| -o/e | -i | -a | ||
| -i | -oma/aj | -aj/ami/i | ||
| -on | -oma | -ami/i |
In the declension of nouns for ex tejlo (body, St. Slov.: telo) or drejvo (three, St. Slov.: drevo) are not lengthened as in the Standard Slovene with the syllable –es (Prekmurian: Nom. tejlo, drejvo Gen. tejla, drejva; Standard Slovene: Nom. telo, drevo Gen. telesa, drevesa).
| Declension patterns of masculine nouns ending in e (Standard Slovene) | ||||
| Singular | Dual | Plural | ||
| -e | -i | -a | ||
| -a | -∅ | -∅ | ||
| -u | -ema | -em | ||
| -e | -i | -a | ||
| -u | -ih | -ih | ||
| -em | -ima | -i |
| Declension patterns of masculine nouns ending in o (Standard Slovene) | ||||
| Singular | Dual | Plural | ||
| -o | -i | -a | ||
| -a | -∅ | -∅ | ||
| -u | -oma | -om | ||
| -o | -i | -a | ||
| -u | -ih | -ih | ||
| -om | -oma | -i |
Declension of neuter adjective.
| Declension patterns of masculine adjectives (Prekmurian Slovene) | ||||
| Singular | Dual | Plural | ||
| -o | -ivi/evi | -a | ||
| -oga | -ivi(j)/evi(j)/i(j) | -i(j) | ||
| -omi | -ima/ivima/evima | -in | ||
| -o | -ivi/evi | -a | ||
| -on | -ima/ivima/evima/i(j) | -i(j) | ||
| -in | -ima/ivima/evima | -imi |
| Declension patterns of neuter adjectives (Standard Slovene) | ||||
| Singular | Dual | Plural | ||
| -o/e | -i | -a | ||
| -ega | -ih | -ih | ||
| -emu | -ima | -im | ||
| -o/e | -i | -a | ||
| -em | -ih | -ih | ||
| -im | -ima | -imi |
| Nom. | ges/jes (Masc.Fem.) | ti(j) (Masc.Fem.) | un (Masc.) | una (Fem.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen. | mene(j) me | tebe(j) te | njega ga | nje je |
| Dat. | meni mi | tebi ti | njemi | njej/njoj ji |
| Ac. | mene(j) me | tebe(j) te | njega ga | njou jo |
| Loc. | meni | tebi | njen | njej/njoj |
| Inst | menof(v)/meuf | tebof(v)/teuf | njin | njouf(v) |
| Nom. | jaz (Masc.Fem.Neut.) | ti (Masc.Fem.Neut) | on (Masc.) | ona (Fem.) | ono (Neut.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen. | mene me | tebe te | njega ga | nje je | njega ga |
| Dat. | meni mi | tebi ti | njemu mu | njej/nji ji | njemu mu |
| Ac. | mene me -me | tebe te -te | njega ga -(e)nj | njo jo -njo | njega/ono ga -(e)nj |
| Loc. | pri meni | pri tebi | pri njem | pri njej/nji | pri njem |
| Inst. | z mano/menoj | s tabo/teboj | z njim | z njo | z njim |
| Nom. | müva (Masc.), müve (Fem.) | vüva (Masc.), vüve (Fem.) | njüva/njiva/oneva (Masc), njüve/njive (Fem.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen. | naj(a) | vaj(a) | njiva(Masc), njivi (Fem.) |
| Dat. | nama | vama | njima |
| Ac. | naj(a) | vaj(a) | njiva(Masc), njivi (Fem.) |
| Loc. | nama | vama | njima |
| Inst. | nama | vama | njima |
| Nom. | midva (Masc.), medve (Fem.Neut.) | vidva (Masc.), vedve (Fem.Neut.) | onadva (Masc.), onidve (Fem.Neut.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen. | naju | vaju | njiju |
| Dat. | nama | vama | njima jima |
| Ac. | naju | vaju | njiju ju -nju |
| Loc. | naju | vaju | njiju |
| Inst. | nama | vama | njima |
| Nom. | mi (Masc.Fem.) | vi (Masc.Fem.) | uni (Masc.), une (Fem.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen. | nas | vas | njih/nji jih/je |
| Dat. | nan | van | njin jin |
| Ac. | nas | vas | njih/nje jih je |
| Loc. | nas/nan | vas/van | njij |
| Inst. | nami | vami | njimi |
| Nom. | mi (Masc.), me (Fem.Neut.) | vi (Masc.), ve (Fem.Neut.) | oni (Masc.), one (Fem.), ona (Neut.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen. | nas | vas | njih jih |
| Dat. | nam | vam | njim jim |
| Ac. | nas | vas | njih/nje jih -nje |
| Loc. | nas | vas | njih |
| Inst. | nami | vami | njimi |
| Nom. | — |
|---|---|
| Gen. | sebe(j) se |
| Dat. | sebi si |
| Ac. | sebe(j) se |
| Loc. | sebi/sebej |
| Inst. | sebof(v)/seuf |
| Nom. | — |
|---|---|
| Gen. | sebe se |
| Dat. | sebi si |
| Ac. | sebe se -se |
| Loc. | sebi |
| Inst. | sabo/seboj |
The names for numerals in Prekmurian Slovene are formed in a similar way to that found in the Standard Slovene or other Slavic languages. The again, the old way of two-digit numbers was preserved. Ten comes first, followed by a one-digit number. They don't need a conjunction. In Standard Slovene the formation of numerals from 21 to 99, in which the unit is placed in front of the decade ("four-and-twenty"), as in German language.
| Prekmurian Slovene | Standard Slovene | Number | |
|---|---|---|---|
| štirideset eden | enainštirideset | 41 | |
| štirideset dva | dvainštirideset | 42 | |
| štirideset tri(j) | triinštirideset | 43 | |
| štirideset štiri | štiriinštirideset | 44 |
Verb stems in Prekmurian Slovene is most frequently üvati or avati, more rarely ovati (stem ovati is most frequently in Standard Slovene). In the conjugation suffixes change is also dissimilar in Prekmurian and Slovene. For ex. Prekm. nategüvati, obrezavati, conj. nategüvlen/nategüjen, obrezavlen, Stand. Slov. nategovati, obrezovati, conj. nategujem, obrezujem.
In Goričko dialect and some western subdialects of Ravensko is the infinitive stem with the suffix -niti (zdigniti), just like in the Standard Slovene (dvigniti), infrequently -nouti (Prekm. obrnouti, Stand. Slov. obrniti). In the Dolinsko dialect and other Ravensko subdialects the infinitive stem with the suffix -noti (zdignoti), just like in Croatian (and Kajkavian).
| Singular | lübin | lübiš | lübi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dual | lübiva | lübita | lübita |
| Plural | lübimo | lübite | lübijo |
| Singular | ljubim | ljubiš | ljubi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dual | ljubiva | ljubita | ljubita |
| Plural | ljubimo | ljubite | ljubijo |
| Singular | san/sen lübo(Masc.) lübila(Fem.) | si lübo(Masc.) lübila(Fem.) | je lübo(Masc.) lübila(Fem.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dual | sva lübila(Masc.) lübili(Fem.) | sta lübila(Masc.) lübili(Fem.) | sta lübila(Masc.) lübili(Fem.) |
| Plural | smo lübili(Masc.) lübile(Fem.) | ste lübili(Masc.) lübile(Fem.) | so lübili(Masc.) lübile(Fem.) |
| Singular | sem ljubil(Masc.) ljubila(Fem.) | si ljubil(Masc.) ljubila(Fem.) | je ljubil(Masc.) ljubila(Fem.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dual | sva ljubila(Masc.) ljubili(Fem.) | sta ljubila(Masc.) ljubili(Fem.) | sta ljubila(Masc.) ljubili(Fem.) |
| Plural | smo ljubili(Masc.) ljubile(Fem.) | ste ljubili(Masc.) ljubile(Fem.) | so ljubili(Masc.) ljubile(Fem.) |
| Singular | mo lübo(Masc.) lübila(Fem.) | boš lübo(Masc.) lübila(Fem.) | de lübo(Masc.) lübila(Fem.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dual | va lübila(Masc.) lübili(Fem.) | ta lübila(Masc.) lübili(Fem.) | ta lübila(Masc.) lübili(Fem.) |
| Plural | mo lübili(Masc.) lübile(Fem.) | te lübili(Masc.) lübile(Fem.) | do lübili(Masc.) lübile(Fem.) |
| Singular | bom ljubil(Masc.) ljubila(Fem.) | boš ljubil(Masc.) ljubila(Fem.) | bo ljubil(Masc.) ljubila(Fem.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dual | bova ljubila(Masc.) ljubili(Fem.) | bosta ljubila(Masc.) ljubili(Fem.) | bosta ljubila(Masc.) ljubili(Fem.) |
| Plural | bomo ljubili(Masc.) ljubile(Fem.) | boste ljubili(Masc.) ljubile(Fem.) | bodo ljubili(Masc.) ljubile(Fem.) |
| Singular | bi lübo(Masc.) lübila(Fem.) | bi lübo(Masc.) lübila(Fem.) | bi lübo(Masc.) lübila(Fem.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dual | bi lübila(Masc.) lübili(Fem.) | bi lübila(Masc.) lübili(Fem.) | bi lübila(Masc.) lübili(Fem.) |
| Plural | bi lübili(Masc.) lübile(Fem.) | bi lübili(Masc.) lübile(Fem.) | bi lübili(Masc.) lübile(Fem.) |
| Singular | bi ljubil(Masc.) ljubila(Fem.) | bi ljubil(Masc.) ljubila(Fem.) | bi ljubil(Masc.) ljubila(Fem.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dual | bi ljubila(Masc.) ljubili(Fem.) | bi ljubila(Masc.) ljubili(Fem.) | bi ljubila(Masc.) ljubili(Fem.) |
| Plural | bi ljubili(Masc.) ljubile(Fem.) | bi ljubili(Masc.) ljubile(Fem.) | bi ljubili(Masc.) ljubile(Fem.) |
The Prekmurian Slovene vocabulary is very rich and is significantly different from the Standard Slovene vocabulary. The dialect includes many archaic words that have disappeared from modern Slovene. Along with the three dialects spoken in Venetian Slovenia and the Slovene dialects of eastern Carinthia, Prekmurje Slovene is considered the most conservative of all Slovene dialects with regard to vocabulary.
The Prekmurian Slovene greatly expanded its vocabulary from the other Slavic languages (mainly from Kajkavian Croatian, Standard Slovene, Styrian Slovene, Serbo-Croatian, partly from the Czech and Slovak) and non-Slavic languages (mainly from Hungarian and German, partly from Latin and Italian). The more recently borrowed and less assimilated words are typically from English.
| Prekmurian Slovene | Standard Slovene | Kajkavian Croatian | Serbo-Croatian | English | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bajžlek | bazilika | bajžulek, bažuljek | bosiljak | basil | |
| bejžati | hiteti, teči | bežati | trčati | run | |
| betvo | betev | betvo | stabljika | stem | |
| blejdi | bled | bledi | blijed | white-faced | |
| bliskanca | bliskavica | bliskavica, blesikavec | blistanje | flashing | |
| bougati | ubogati | poslušati | pokoravati se, slušati | submit | |
| brač | trgač | brač | berač | vintager | |
| brbrati, brbravi | klepetati, klepetav | brbotati, brblivi, brbotlivi | brbljati, brbljavi | chatter, chatterbox | |
| comprnjak | čarovnik, čarodej | coprnik carovnik | čarobnjak | wizard | |
| cükati | lulati | cukati | piškiti | urinate | |
| čarni, črni | črn | črni | crn | black | |
| česnek | česen | česen, češnjak | češnjak | garlic | |
| činiti | delati, opravljati | činiti | činiti | make | |
| čun | čoln | čun | čamac | boat | |
| čüti | slišati | čuti | čuti | hear | |
| den | dan | den | dan | day | |
| dečko | fant, deček | dečko | dečak | boy | |
| deklina, dekla | deklica | dekle | devojka | girl | |
| delati | delati | delati | raditi | work | |
| dokeč | dokler | doklam, dok | dok | until | |
| dveri | vrata | vrata | vrata | door | |
| fala | hvala | fala/hvala | hvala | thanks, gratitude | |
| fčela | čebela | čmela | pčela | bee | |
| fčera/včera | včeraj | čera | jučer | yesterday | |
| geniti | ganiti | genuti | ganuti | move | |
| ge | kje, kjer | de, gde | gdje | where | |
| gorice | vinograd | trsje | vinograd | vineyard | |
| grbanj | jurček | vrganj | vrganj | penny bun | |
| gnes, gnjes | danes | denes | danas | today | |
| gnüs | gnus | gnus, gnjus | gnus | disgust | |
| gostüvanje | ženitovanje | goščenje | svadba | wedding | |
| goušča | gozd | šuma | šuma | forest | |
| gučati | govoriti | govoriti | govoriti | speak, talk | |
| grüška | hruška | hruška | kruška | pear | |
| inda | nekoč | negda | nekada | once | |
| istina | resnica | istina | istina | truth | |
| iža | hiša | hiža | kuća | house | |
| Jezuš Kristuš | Jezus Kristus | Jezuš Kristuš | Isus Krst | Jesus Christ | |
| ka | kaj | kaj | što | what | |
| ka | da | da | da | that | |
| ka | ker | arold jernew | jer | as | |
| kakši | kakšen | kakvi | kakov | what | |
| kama | kam, kamor | kam | kamo | to where | |
| kapla | kaplja | kaplja, kapla | kapljica | drop | |
| keden, tjeden | teden | tjeden | tjedan | week | |
| kelko | koliko | kulko, kuliko | koliko | how much | |
| kisili | kisel | kisel | kiseo | sour | |
| kitina | kutina | kutina | dunja | quince | |
| klejt | klet, shramba | sramba | podrum | cellar | |
| klün | kljun | klun | kljun | beak | |
| kmica | tema | tmica, kmica | tama, tmina | darkness | |
| koupanca | kopalnica | kopel | kupatilo | bathroom | |
| kopün | kopun | kopon, kopun | kopun | capon | |
| koula | voz | kola, vozica | kola | cart | |
| krapanca | krastača | krastača | krastača | toad | |
| krpliva | kopriva | kopriva | kopriva | nettle | |
| krpüšnica | robidnica, robida | kupina | kupina | blackberry | |
| krumpiš, krumpič, krumše | krompir | krumpir | krumpir | potato | |
| krüj | kruh | kruh | hlijeb, kruh | bread | |
| krv | kri | krv | krv | blood | |
| kukorca | koruza | kuruza | kuruza | corn | |
| küščar | kuščar | kuščer | gušter | lizard | |
| lapec | hlapec | hlapec | sluga | servant | |
| ledičen | samski | ledičen | samac | bachelor | |
| lejko | lahko | lehko | lako | possible | |
| len | lan | len | lan | flax | |
| lice | obličje | lice | lice | face | |
| liki | toda, ampak | nego | međutim, ali | but | |
| loški | divji | divji | divlji | wild (plant) | |
| lübezen | ljubezen | ljubav, lubav | ljubav | love | |
| mejšati | mešati | mešati | miješati | mix | |
| meša | maša | meša | misa | mass | |
| metül | metulj | metul, metulj | leptir | butterfly | |
| mouč | moč | jakost | jakost | power | |
| modroust | modrost | mudrost | mudrost | wisdom | |
| Möra, Müra | Mura | Mura | Mura | Mura (river) | |
| mrejti | umreti | hmreti, vumreti | umreti | die | |
| mrlina | mrhovina, crkovina | mrcina | lešina | corpse | |
| miditi | muditi | muditi | kasniti | be late | |
| müja | muha | muha | muha | fly | |
| nači(k) | drugače | inače | inače | other | |
| natelebati | natepsti | nabobotati, namlatiti | istuči | beat | |
| nedela | nedelja | nedela | nedjelja | Sunday | |
| nigdar | nikoli | nigdar | nikada | never | |
| nigi | nikjer | nigde, nigdi | nigdje | nowhere | |
| nikak | nikakor | nikak | nikako | no way | |
| nojet | noht | nohet | nokat | nail | |
| norija | norost, neumnost | norost, norija | glupost | foolishness | |
| obed, obid, oböd | kosilo | obed | ručak | lunch | |
| oditi | hoditi | hoditi | hoditi | move | |
| odzaja | odzadaj, zadaj | odzaj | odostraga | from behind | |
| ograd | vrt | vrt | vrt | garden | |
| ovak | drugače | inače | inače | other | |
| öček | sekirica | sekirica | sjekira | ax | |
| pajžli | parkelj | parkel | kopita | hoof | |
| paroven | pohlepen, požrešen | paraven | proždrljiv | gluttonous | |
| paska | pazljivost | paska | skrbljenje | prudence | |
| pejati | bosti | pehati | ubosti | prod | |
| pejsek | pesek | pesek | pijesak | sand | |
| pesen | pesem | pesem | pjesma | song | |
| pondejlek | ponedeljek | pondelek | ponedjeljak | Monday | |
| pitati, pitanje | vprašati, vprašanje | pitati, pitanje | pitati, pitanje | ask, question | |
| plantavi | šepav | šantavi, plantavi | šepav, šantav | lame | |
| plastič | kopica, kopa | stok | plast sena | haycock | |
| plüča | pljuča | pluča | pluća | lung | |
| plüskati | klofutati | pluskati | ošamariti | slap | |
| poboukšati | poboljšati | pobolšati | poboljšati | improve | |
| pogača | potica | pogača | pogača | scone | |
| pojeb, pojbič | fant, fantič | dečec | dečak | boy | |
| pokapanje | pokop | pokapanje | pogreb | burial | |
| pozoj | zmaj | pozoj | zmaj | dragon | |
| pükša | puška | puška, pušak | puška | riffle | |
| praviti | reči | reči | reći | say | |
| püščava | puščava | pustina | pustinja | desert | |
| radost | veselje | radost | radost | joy | |
| ranč tak, gli tak | prav tako | ravno tak | isto tako | alike | |
| rasoje, rašoške | vile, vilice | rasohe | vile, viljuška | pitchfork, fork | |
| rejč | beseda | reč | riječ | word | |
| sklejca | skleda, krožnik | zdela | zdjela | dish | |
| sledi, sledkar | kasneje | stopram | kasnije | later | |
| slejpi | slep | slepi | slijep | blind | |
| smej | smeh | smeh | smijeh | laugh | |
| spitavati | izpraševati, spraševati | spitavati | ispitavati | interrogate | |
| sprejvod | pogreb | sprevod, pogreb | pogreb | funeral | |
| spuniti | izpolniti | spuniti | ispuniti | fulfil | |
| stüdenec | vodnjak | zdenec | bunar | well | |
| sunce | sonce | sunce | sunce | sun | |
| svaja | prepir | svaja | svađa | conflict | |
| ščava | kislica | ščava | štavelj | sorrels | |
| šinjek | vrat, tilnik | šinjak | vrat | neck | |
| šoula, škola | šola | škola | škola | school | |
| školnik | učitelj | školnik | učitelj | teacher | |
| škrampeu | krempelj | krampel | pandža | claw | |
| taca | šapa | taca | šapa | paw | |
| telko | toliko | tulko, tuliko | toliko | that much | |
| tejlo | telo | telo | tijelo | body | |
| tenja | senca | senca | zasenak | shadow | |
| tou | to | to, ovo | to, ovo | this | |
| trplenje | tprljenje | muka | muka | pain | |
| trüd | trud | trud | napor | effort | |
| türen, tören | stolp | turem | toranj | tower | |
| ugorka | kumara | vugorek | krastavac | cucumber | |
| vaga | tehtnica | vaga | vaga | scales | |
| veleti | ukazati | veleti | naređivati | instruct | |
| vejnec | venec | venec | vjenac | wreath | |
| vonjati | smrdeti | smrdeti | smrdeti | smell | |
| vonjüga | smrad | smrad | smrad | stench | |
| vüpati, vüpanje | upati, upanje | vufati, vufanje | ufati, ufanje | hope, trust | |
| vživati | uživati | vživati | uživati | enjoy | |
| zajtra | zjutraj | vjutro | ujutro | morning | |
| zoubar | zobozdravnik | zobar | zubar | dentist | |
| zveličanje | zveličanje | zveličenje | spasenje | redemption | |
| žalec | želo | žalec | žaoka | sting | |
| žmeten | težek | teški | teški | heavy | |
| žnjec | žanjec | žnjač | žetelac | harvester | |
| žuč | žolč | žuč | žuč | bile | |
| žuna | žolna | žuna | detlić | woodpecker | |
| župa | juha | juha | supa | soup |
Prekmurian Slovene has also today many foreign words of mostly German and Hungarian origin. The German loanwoards German mainly come from the Austro-Bavarian dialect. There is still a strong German influence in Goričko dialect.
| Prekmurian Slovene | Hungarian | Standard Slovene | English | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| beteg, betežen | betegség, beteg | bolezen, bolan | illness, ill | |
| čonta, čunta | csont | kost | bone | |
| engriš | egres | kosmulja | gooseberry | |
| gezero, jezero | ezer | tisoč | thousand | |
| pajdaš | pajtás | kamerad | buddy | |
| laboška | lábas, lábos | kozica | pot | |
| ugorka | uborka | kumara | cucumber | |
| koudiš | koldus | berač | beggar | |
| valon | való | veljaven | suitable | |
| varaš | város | mesto | city, town |
| Prekmurian Slovene | German | Standard Slovene | English | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| brütif, brütof | Friedhof | pokopališče | cemetery | |
| cajgar | Zeiger | kazalec | hand of watch | |
| cigeu | Ziegel | opeka | brick | |
| cimprati | zimmparon(Bav.) | graditi | build (with wood) | |
| cug | Zug | vlak | train | |
| cvek | zwëc(Middle High German) | žebelj | spike | |
| dönok, denok | dennoch(Middle High German) | vendar | however | |
| fabrika | Fabrik | tovarna | factory | |
| fašenek | Fasching | pust | carnival | |
| farba | Farbe | barva | color | |
| farar | Pfarrer | duhovnik | Protestant pastor | |
| fejronga | Vorhang | zavesa | curtain | |
| förtoj | Fürtuch(Bavarian) | predpasnik | woman apron | |
| glaž | Glas | steklo | glass | |
| gratati | geraten | postati, nastati | to arise | |
| gvant | Gewand | obleka | clothes | |
| lampe | Lippen | usta | mouth | |
| pejgla | Bügeleisen | likalnik | clothes iron | |
| plac | Plaz | trg | square | |
| rafankeraš, rafankerar | Rauchfangkehrer | dimnikar | chimney-sweep | |
| šalica | Schale(Bavarian) | skodelica | cup | |
| šker | geschirre(Middle High German) | orodje | tool | |
| špilati | spielen | igrati | play | |
| šrajf | Schrafe(Bavarian) | vijak | screw | |
| šraklin | Schürhakel | žarač, grebača | fire rake | |
| žajfa | Seife | milo | soap |
We also find Latin loanwords: bauta, bunta (storage, Lat. voluta, Stand. Slov. trgovina), cintor (cemetery, Lat. coementerium, Stand. Slov. pokopališče), kanta (can, Lat. canna, Stand. Slov. ročka), oštarija (inn, Italian osteria, Stand. Slov. gostilna), upkaš (hoopoe, Lat. upupa, Stand. Slov. smrdokavra) etc.
Loanwords adopted from the Serbo-Croatian during Yugoslavia: dosaden (tedious, Serbo-Croatian dosadan, Stand. Slov. dolgočasen), novine (newspaper, Serbo-Croatian novine, Stand. Slovene časopis), život (live, Serbo-Croatian život, Stand. Slov. življenje).
See main article: Wendish question. The issue of how Prekmurje Slovene came to be a separate tongue has many theories. First, in the 16th century, there was a theory that the Slovenes east of the Mura were descendants of the Vandals.[31]
In 1627, was issue the Protestant visitation in the country Tótság, or Slovene Circumscription (this is the historical name of the Prekmurje and Raba March, Prekmurje Slovene: Slovenska okroglina).
According to the Hungarian dissenters, the Wendish (Prekmurje Slovene) language was of Danish, Sorbian, Germanic, Celtic, Eastern Romance or West Slavic extraction. But this was often false, political or exaggerated affirmations.
According to extremist Hungarian groups, the Wends were captured by Turkish and Croatian troops who were later integrated into Hungarian society. Another popular theory created by some Hungarian nationalists was that the speakers of the Wendish language were "in truth" Magyar peoples, and some had merged into the Slavic population of Slovenia over the last 800 years.
In 1920, Hungarian physicist wrote a number of books about Slovene inhabitants of Hungary and the Wendish language: the Wendish-Celtic theory. Accordingly, the Wends (Slovenians in Hungary) were of Celtic extraction, not Slavic. Later Mikola also adopted the belief that the Wends indeed were Slavic-speaking Hungarians. In Hungary, the state's ethnonationalistic program tried to prove his theories. Mikola also thought the Wends, Slovenes, and Croatians alike were all descendants of the Pannonian Romans, therefore they have Latin blood and culture in them as well.
During the Hungarian revolution when Hungarians rebelled against Habsburg rule, the Catholic Slovenes sided with the Catholic Habsburgs. The Lutheran Slovenians, however, supported the rebel Lajos Kossuth siding with Hungary and they pleaded for the separation of Hungary from Habsburg Austria which had its anti-Protestant policy. At that time, the reasoning that the inhabitants of the Rába Region were not Slovenes but Wends and "Wendish-Slovenes" respectively and that, as a consequence, their ancestral Slavic-Wendish language was not to be equated with the other Slovenes living in the Austro-Hungarian Empire was established. In the opinion of the Lutheran-Slovene priest of Hodoš, the only possibility for the Lutheran Slovenes emerging from the Catholic-Slovenian population group to continue was to support Kossuth and his Hungarian culture. Thereafter, the Lutheran Slovenes used their language in churches and schools in the most traditional way in order to distinguish themselves from the Catholic Slovenes and the Slovene language (i.e., pro-Hungarian or pan-Slavic Slovene literature). The Lutheran priests and believers remained of the conviction that they could only adhere to their Lutheran faith when following the wish of the Hungarians (or the Austrians) and considering themselves "Wendish-Slovenes". If they did not conform to this, then they were in danger of being assimilated into Hungarian culture.
In the years preceding World War I, the Hungarian Slovenes were swept into the ideology of Panslavism, the national unity of all Slavic-speaking peoples of Eastern Europe. The issue was volatile in the fragmented Austro-Hungarian empire, which was defeated in the war. In the 1921 Treaty of Trianon, the southern half (not the whole) of the Prekmurje region was ceded to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.
The Hungarian government in Budapest after 1867 tried to assimilate the Prekmurje Slovenes. In Somogy in the 19th century, there was still a ban on using Prekmurje Slovene. József Borovnyák, Ferenc Ivanóczy, and other Slovenian politicians and writers helped safeguard the Prekmurje Slovene and identity.
In the late 20th century and today, the new notion for Prekmurian Slovenes is to conceive Prekmurian is in fact the Slovene language, but not dialect. Prekmurians and other Slovenes have common national and ethnic identity but Prekmurians have also their special separate language identity, literature, grammar and spelling. Literature in Prekmurian Slovene is linguistically clearly distinguished from the literature in standard Slovene or other Slovene dialectical traditions. Prekmurian literature is always variegated, multifarious and not only a repository of religious books, as Slovene linguistics and literary history once claimed.
In Communist Yugoslavia, Prekmurje Slovene was looked down upon because numerous writers, such as József Klekl, were anti-communists.[32]
A comparison of the Lord's Prayer in standard Slovene, Old Prekmurje Slovene, new Prekmurje Slovene, Kajkavian Croatian, and standard Croatian. The Prekmurje Slovene versions is taken from a 1942 prayer book (Zálozso János Zvér, Molitvena Kniga, Odobrena od cérkvene oblászti, Murska Sobota, 1942, third edition) and from a 2022 prayer book Jezuš tovariš moj.[33] The original Hungarian orthography has been transliterated into Gaj's Latin alphabet, as used in the other versions, for easier comparison.