The Lower Carniolan dialect group (dolenjska narečna skupina^[1]) is a group of closely related dialects of Slovene. The Lower Carniolan dialects are spoken in most of Lower Carniola and in the eastern half of Inner Carniola.^[2]

Phonological and morphological characteristics

Among other features, this group is characterized by pitch accent, extensive diphthongization (ei, ie, uo), an a-colored semivowel, shift of o > u, and partial akanye.^[3]

Individual dialects and subdialects

• Lower Carniolan dialect (dolenjsko narečje, dolenjščina^[4])
  • Eastern Lower Carniolan subdialect (vzhodnodolenjski govor, vzhodna dolenjščina^[4])
• North White Carniolan dialect (severnobelokranjsko narečje)
• South White Carniolan dialect (južnobelokranjsko narečje, južna belokranjščina^[5])
• Kostel dialect (kostelsko narečje, kostelska belokranjščina,^[5] kostelščina^[6])