slovenci

Slovenci, or Slovenes, are a South Slavic ethnic group native to present-day Slovenia. They primarily speak Slovene, a South Slavic language with a standardized written form used in education, media, and public life. The Slovene language includes a range of dialects, with standard Slovene largely based on central dialects.

Most Slovenians live in Slovenia, where they form the dominant ethnic group. Smaller Slovenian communities are found in neighboring countries—Italy (Friuli-Venezia Giulia), Austria (Carinthia and Styria), Hungary, and Croatia—and in the Slovenian diaspora abroad, notably in the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Historically, Slovene-speaking communities emerged in the early Middle Ages in regions such as Carniola, Styria, and parts of Carinthia. They later became subjects of the Habsburg Monarchy and, after the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, joined the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia). Slovenia gained independence in 1991 and subsequently joined the European Union in 2004, adopted the euro in 2007, and joined the Schengen Area in 2007.

Culturally, Slovenia has a rich literary and artistic heritage, including figures such as the poet France Prešeren. The traditional religious landscape has been predominantly Roman Catholic, though secularization and religious pluralism have grown. In the contemporary period, Slovenia is a democratic republic and a member of international organizations such as the European Union and NATO.

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