Slovenes

The Slovenes, Slovene people, Slovenians, or Slovenian people (Slovene: 'Slovenci', /sloˈʋeːntsi/, dual Slovenca, singular Slovenec, feminine Slovenke, dual Slovenki, singular Slovenka) are the northernmost South Slavic ethnic group living in historical Slovene lands, surrounded by German-speaking Austrians on the north, Italian-speaking and Friulan-speaking neighbours on west, Hungarian-speaking population on east, and Croatian-speaking Slavic relatives on south. The autochthonous Slovene minority in Italy is estimated at 83,000 – 100,000, Slovene minority in southern Austria at 24,855, in Croatia at 13,200, and Slovene minority in Hungary at 3,180 and a significant Slovene expatriate communities live in the United States and Canada, in other European countries, in Argentina, and in Australia. The language the Slovenes speak is Slovene, a South Slavic language with significant similarities to the West Slavic languages.