Do you know the difference between Prekmurje, Prlekija and Pomurje?
If you are a little confused by this question, you are not alone. The names of the regions in northeastern Slovenia are a source of confusion for lots of visitors. To make sure that you know exactly which corner of the “hen’s head” you are heading to on your next visit, continue reading and find out about the correct use of all three names. This will make planning easier and greatly reduce the chance of upsetting any locals by using the wrong name! ;)
Pomurje – the life along the Mura River
When your journey takes you to the northeast of Slovenia, you find yourself in a region called Pomurje. As its name suggests, it stretches along both banks of the Mura River. For those who like a little joke, we could say that it occupies both the head and neck of our “hen.” In the north, it reaches all the way to the Austrian border, in the east it is bordered by Hungary and Croatia, and in the west the borders are somewhat more blurred.
And before it gets interesting, here’s a warning: like many places in the world, regional and dialectal divisions are still the subject of much debate in our little corner of Slovenia. Therefore, we will do our best to present the main facts as objectively as possible, sparing you all the boring details. Agreed? Excellent, let’s move on to the next lesson!
Where worlds meet
The Pomurje region is a confluence of several historical regions that are similar in many ways, although each of them has its own specific character and linguistic traits. The situation on the left bank of the Mura River is straightforward, as this area belongs entirely to Prekmurje. The situation on the right bank is more complex, as it includes Prlekija and, according to some sources, also a part of Štajerska.
Above all, many Slovenians mistakenly classify Prlekija as part of Prekmurje, which annoys many its inhabitants. To avoid making the same mistake, first let’s take a closer look at where Prlekija is located and what it is famous for.
Prlekija: a picturesque landscape between two rivers
Prlekija is a region nestled between the dreamy Pomurje Valley and the picturesque hills of Slovenske gorice. It is also bordered by two rivers: in the east, it is separated from Prekmurje by the Mura River, and in the southwest, it extends all the way to the Drava River, which separates Prlekija from the neighboring Croatia. The northern and western borders are unclear – the area of Radenci is most often mentioned as the northern border, while some also include Gornja Radgona in Prlekija. In the east, it extends all the way to Cerkvenjak, Dornava and Ormož.
Do the people of Prlekija speak the Prekmurje dialect?
Just as in Prekmurje, you will be enchanted by the hilly landscape of Prlekija, full of vineyards, and warm, hospitable people. But if you listen carefully, you will quickly realize that you are not among the Prekmurje inhabitants – Prlečke and Prleki, as the inhabitants of Prlekija are called, will quite strictly warn you of this.
However, they share some similarities with their neighbors across the Mura River in that they also speak a distinctive dialect rather than standard Slovenian. And even though the Prekmurje and Prlekija dialects share a great deal of vocabulary, there are also many differences between them.
If you are curious about what these dialects sound like, we have great news for you: they are both presented in this blog. Learn about Prekmurje and Prlekija dialects to make communication a little easier during your stay.
The heart and sun of Prlekija
The heart and largest city of Prlekija is Ljutomer, also known as the “metropolis” of Prlekija, known for its harness racing, the first Slovenian film recording, and the first assembly of artists, where people demanded the official use of the Slovenian language and the unification of Slovenians.
Another important city is Ormož, also known as the sun of Prlekija. Ormož is also home to a rich cultural heritage, the “guardian” of which is a magnificent castle from the 13th century. Today, it houses a museum where you can see everything from archaeological finds to objects from the times of the former Yugoslavia.
And now that you know that Prekmurje is not part of Prlekija…
...we can take a closer look at the world on the other side of the Mura River. The Pannonian Plain reigns here, meeting the idyllic hills of Goričko in the north. Due to its remote location, Prekmurje has developed quite differently from other Slovenian regions throughout history, as it has been exposed to various foreign influences, especially Hungarian. It was only annexed to the rest of Slovenian territory in 1919, when the name Prekmurje also came into use.
The region’s colorful history is still reflected today in its unique cultural and linguistic features. Bilingualism has always prevailed here, as the Hungarian language is also in use. At the same time, the Prekmurje dialect is rich in Hungarian loanwords, such as pajdaš (friend), gezero (thousand) or varaš (city).
The capital of Prekmurje and Pomurje
Murska Sobota is the largest and most important city in Prekmurje, as well as in the Pomurje statistical region, which encompasses both Prekmurje and part of Prlekija. Murska Sobota is home to several important regional cultural institutions. For example, the beautiful Baroque castle houses the Pomurje Museum, the region’s central museum institution. The second largest city is Lendava, the easternmost Slovenian city with a large proportion of Hungarian-speaking population.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between the terms Prekmurje, Prlekija and Pomurje?
The term Pomurje is used for the area on both banks of the Mura River, which includes both the Prekmurje region on the left bank of the Mura River and Prlekija in one part of the right bank. Among other things, the two regions are similar in terms of their picturesque wine-growing hills and certain cultural and linguistic characteristics, but each has its own dialect and other distinctive features.
2. What dialects are spoken in Prekmurje and Prlekija?
The Prekmurje dialect is used in Prekmurje, which is considered the easternmost Slovenian dialect with many specific features – among other things, it contains many expressions that originate from Hungarian. The Prlekija dialect is used in Prlekija, which is similar to that of Prekmurje, but also significantly different from it.
3. Where is Prekmurje located?
Prekmurje is located on the left bank of the Mura River, which forms its western border. It borders Austria to the north and northwest, Hungary to the east, and Croatia to the southeast.
4. Where is Prlekija located?
The borders of Prlekija are somewhat more blurred. In the east, it is separated from Prekmurje by the Mura River, in the north, the area of Radenci is often mentioned as the border, in the south it extends all the way to the Drava River, and in the west, it reaches Cerkvenjak, Dornava, and Ormož. Some Slovenians even mention Ptuj as part of the Prlekija region, although the inhabitants there mostly consider themselves Styrians, i.e. belonging to Štajerska.
