Fluent Fiction - Slovenian: From Leaves to Hope: Matej's Journey of Belonging
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/sl/episode/2025-10-02-07-38-20-sl

Story Transcript:

Sl: Matej je sedel v svoji sobi.
En: Matej was sitting in his room.

Sl: Zunaj so listi počasi padali na vrt.
En: Outside, the leaves were slowly falling onto the garden.

Sl: Jesen je ovijala dom za otroke v Ljubljani z mehkimi oranžnimi in rjavimi barvami.
En: Autumn was wrapping the children's home in Ljubljana in soft orange and brown colors.

Sl: Matej je gledal skozi okno.
En: Matej watched through the window.

Sl: Videl je starejše otroke, ki so v vrtu delali kup listja, smejali so se in skakali po njem.
En: He saw older kids making a pile of leaves in the garden, laughing and jumping on it.

Sl: A Matej se ni pridružil.
En: But Matej didn't join them.

Sl: Danes je bil poseben dan.
En: Today was a special day.

Sl: Prišli bodo potencialni posvojitelji.
En: Potential adopters would be coming.

Sl: V domu je zavelo po sveže pečenem kruhu.
En: The smell of freshly baked bread wafted through the home.

Sl: Matej je vdihnil vonj, ki ga je pomiril.
En: Matej breathed in the scent, which calmed him.

Sl: Potem je vzel svojo mapo z risbami in se odpravil v skupni prostor, kjer so čakali Tanja in Irena.
En: Then he took his folder with drawings and headed to the common room, where Tanja and Irena were waiting.

Sl: Bile so nove obraze zanje in zanj.
En: There were new faces for them and for him.

Sl: "Zdravo," je rekla Tanja z nasmehom.
En: "Hello," said Tanja with a smile.

Sl: Sedela je poleg Irene.
En: She was sitting next to Irena.

Sl: Njune oči so toplo sijale.
En: Their eyes shone warmly.

Sl: Matej je pokimal.
En: Matej nodded.

Sl: Njegovo srce je bilo težko.
En: His heart was heavy.

Sl: "Zdravo," je tiho odgovoril.
En: "Hello," he replied quietly.

Sl: Sedli so za mizo.
En: They sat at the table.

Sl: Pogovarjali so se o šoli, Matejevem življenju v domu in njegovih hobijih.
En: They talked about school, about Matej's life in the home, and about his hobbies.

Sl: Matej je sramežljivo odgovarjal.
En: Matej answered shyly.

Sl: Bil je tiho in premišljen, z rahlim nasmehom.
En: He was quiet and thoughtful, with a slight smile.

Sl: Irena je opazila mapo.
En: Irena noticed the folder.

Sl: "Matej, kaj je to?
En: "Matej, what is this?"

Sl: " je vprašala prijazno.
En: she asked kindly.

Sl: "Moje risbe," je rekel Matej.
En: "My drawings," Matej said.

Sl: Bil je okleval.
En: He hesitated.

Sl: Risanje je bilo njegov svet – njegov skriti prostor.
En: Drawing was his world—his hidden space.

Sl: "Bi jih pokazal?
En: "Would you show them to us?"

Sl: " je vprašala Tanja z iskrenim zanimanjem.
En: asked Tanja with genuine interest.

Sl: Matej je pogledal mapo in potem Tanjine oči.
En: Matej looked at the folder and then into Tanja's eyes.

Sl: Odločil se je, da jim pokaže eno risbo.
En: He decided to show them one drawing.

Sl: Bila je slika vrta pozimi z velikimi svetlimi zvezdami na nebu.
En: It was a picture of the garden in winter, with big bright stars in the sky.

Sl: Njegova ljubezen do detajlov in barv je oživela na papirju.
En: His love for details and colors came to life on the paper.

Sl: "To je čudovito!
En: "This is wonderful!"

Sl: " je rekla Irena.
En: said Irena.

Sl: "Imam enako sliko v mislih vsako zimo," je dodala Tanja.
En: "I have the same picture in my mind every winter," added Tanja.

Sl: Matej se je prvič nasmehnil, počutil se je malo bolj upanja polnega.
En: Matej smiled for the first time, feeling a bit more hopeful.

Sl: "Hvala," je rekel.
En: "Thank you," he said.

Sl: Tanja in Irena sta ga občudovali, kot da resnično vidita njegovo srce.
En: Tanja and Irena admired him as if they truly saw his heart.

Sl: "Če se boš kdaj želel naučiti še več o risanju, bomo veseli, da ti pomagamo," je rekla Irena.
En: "If you ever want to learn more about drawing, we would be happy to help," said Irena.

Sl: Matej je čutil, kako mu srce postaja lažje.
En: Matej felt his heart growing lighter.

Sl: Pogledal je svojo risbo in potem Tanjo in Ireno.
En: He looked at his drawing and then at Tanja and Irena.

Sl: Gradila se je zaupanje – nežna, a prisotna.
En: Trust was building—gentle but present.

Sl: Ko so odhajali, je Matej gledal za njimi skozi okno.
En: As they were leaving, Matej watched them through the window.

Sl: Listje je znova padalo, a zdaj ga je napolnil občutek, da bi lahko nekje pripadal – da bi lahko vstopil v novo družino, in kljub strahu, bil sprejet takšen, kot je.
En: The leaves were falling again, but now he was filled with the feeling that he could belong somewhere—that he could join a new family, and despite the fear, be accepted as he is.

Sl: V svoji sobi je ponovno odprl mapo in dodal novo risbo – dom, ki ne nosi le spominov, ampak priložnost za nov začetek.
En: In his room, he opened the folder again and added a new drawing—a home that not only holds memories but also offers a chance for a new beginning.


Vocabulary Words:

• wafted: zavelo
• join: pridružil
• potential: potencialni
• adopters: posvojitelji
• calmed: pomiril
• scent: vonj
• folder: mapa
• common: skupni
• shone: sijale
• hesitated: okleval
• genuine: iskrenim
• details: detajli
• admired: občudovali
• trust: zaupanje
• belong: pripadal
• fear: strah
• accepted: sprejet
• drawings: risbe
• leaves: listi
• wrapping: ovijala
• slowly: počasi
• hearted: težko
• thoughtful: premišljen
• space: prostor
• picture: slika
• bright: svetlimi
• stars: zvezde
• kindly: prijazno
• beginning: začetek
• opportunity: priložnost