Slovenes

Slovenes are a South Slavic ethnic group native to the Alpine country of Slovenia, where they form the majority of the population. Substantial Slovenes also live in neighboring regions of Italy, Austria, Croatia and Hungary, along with diaspora communities in North America, Australia and elsewhere.

The Slovene language, one of the South Slavic languages, has a standard literary form and numerous regional dialects. It is the official language of Slovenia, with minority language rights in border regions of neighboring countries.

The ethnogenesis of Slovenes began with Slavic settlement in the Eastern Alpine region during the 6th century. In the Middle Ages the territory was ruled by various duchies under the Holy Roman Empire and later under the Habsburg Monarchy. After World War I, Slovenian lands became part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia; Slovenia gained independence in 1991 and joined the European Union and NATO in 2004, and adopted the euro in 2007.

Culturally, Slovenia has a rich tradition in literature, architecture and arts. Notable Slovenes include the poet France Prešeren, writer Ivan Cankar and architect Jože Plečnik. The country is known for alpine scenery, folk music and crafts.

Today Slovenia is a parliamentary republic and member of the European Union and NATO. Minority rights and regional languages are recognized, particularly for Italian and Hungarian communities within Slovenia.