Basic Serbian Words That Everyone Should Know

Most Serbs know English well and will help you find the Temple of Saint Sava in Belgrade. Or the Petrovaradin fortress in Novi Sad. But why don’t you learn a few basic Serbian words beforehand? You’ll connect faster with locals and be able to have more effective communication.

Talking with locals in their language is exciting. Believe us, you’ll learn many everyday words and phrases you cannot find in a coursebook . This makes everything more special and exciting. Do you agree?

In this blog, we have made a list of five different categories of words that will help you make a basic conversation.

  1. Greetings
  2. Spatial orientation
  3. Family
  4. Days of the week
  5. Numbers

All these categories also help you build a strong language foundation in the long run. By expanding your vocabulary, you become fluent and comfortable in everyday conversations. Remember to avoid some common mistakes  to speed up your language process.

How to Learn Basic Serbian Words

This is the best way to learn basic Serbian words:

  1. Find the phrases or words and listen to them
  2. Repeat them at least four times in different contexts
  3. Use them in communication as much as possible
  4. Ask your speaking partner about meaning and pronunciation
  5. Translate them and find synonyms

We have written an entire blog on the best ways to learn Serbian conversation. Click here to get to get the latest tips and tricks.

Let’s take a look at all the categories of words in detail.

How to Start a Conversation in Serbian

The number one category of the common Serbian words to know is greetings. You greet someone every time you see them. So you definitely want to:

  1. Make a positive first impression
  2. Show that you are friendly
  3. Set the tone of the conversation

It is important to note some basic communication rules in Serbian. If you talk with someone you don’t know or elders, use the 2nd person plural form of the verb, aka formal language. In this way, you keep things professional and show politeness.

If you communicate with friends or someone younger than you, use informal language. We use the 2nd person singular form of the verb in these situations.

Greetings Pozdravi
Hello Zdravo
Hi Ćao
Good morning Dobro jutro
Good day Dobar dan
Good evening Dobro veče
Goodbye Doviđenja
Good night Laku noć
See you later Vidimo se kasnije

 

Knowing how to greet people helps you show respect and cultural awareness. You’ll see how important it is when you visit us in Serbia.  

Spatial Orientation in Serbian

Popular Serbian words to know are those connected to orientation in space. When you come to Serbia, you’ll have many attractive places to visit:

  1. Golubac Fortress
  2. Novi Sad Synagogue
  3. Sremski Karlovci
  4. Uvac Special Nature Reserve
  5. Đerdap National Park

Asking for directions is important. “Where is Dunavski Park?” is one of the most important questions when you visit Novi Sad.

Orientation in Space Orijentisanje u prostoru
Left Levo
Right Desno
Forward Napred
Backward Unazad
Go straight ahead. Idi pravo.
Turn. Skreni.
Here Ovde
Where is it? Gde je?
It is near. Blizu je.
It is far. Daleko je.

 

Knowing these terms helps you follow directions and understand answers. This makes it a valuable skill for everyday life and exploring new places.

Family in Serbian

Have you come to Serbia to meet your family? Would you like to impress your uncle? Or connect with a grandad you see for the first time? Learn these easy Serbian words that show family relations.

In many cultures, family plays a central role in social interactions,, including Serbian. Talking about family, traditions, and gatherings helps you build connections and make friends. You’ll also understand cultural values and customs related to family life better.

Family Porodica
Mother Majka
Mom Mama
Father Otac
Dad Tata
Brother Brat
Sister Sestra
Son Sin
Daughter Ćerka
Grandmother Baba
Grandfather Deda
Uncle Ujak
Aunt Tetka
Is this your…? Da li je ovo tvoja…? Less formal

Da li je ovo vaša…? More formal

 

Knowing these words helps you talk about your background and relationships. It also lets you ask about others’ families and start conversations.

Days of the Week in Serbian

The next on the list of most-used Serbian words in daily communication is days of the week.

Understanding them is the basis for effective communication in any language, including Serbian. Learn the days of the week if you want to:

  1. Make travel plans
  2. Discuss activities
  3. Arrange a gathering

People often talk about days when discussing routines and work in daily conversations. It is important to know how to answer: “What day is it today?” or “Are you free on Sunday?”

(Days of the Week) Dani u nedelji
Monday Ponedeljak
Tuesday Utorak
Wednesday Sreda
Thursday Četvrtak
Friday Petak
Saturday Subota
Sunday Nedelja
Week Nedelja
Are you free on…? Da li si slobodna u…?
What day is it today? Koji je dan danas?
Yesterday Juče
Tomorrow Sutra

 

Knowing the days of the week also improves your vocabulary and helps you understand time-related phrases. We think it’s a basic skill that everyone should know, do you agree?

Numbers in Serbian

The last on the list of the basic Serbian words to know are numbers. They are important for practical daily interactions, including:

  1. Shopping
  2. Dining
  3. Traveling

Knowing numbers helps you talk about age, phone numbers, and addresses. It also helps you understand things like money, time, and measurements essential in everyday life.

(Numbers) Brojevi
One Jedan
Two Dva
Three Tri
Four Četiri
Five Pet
Six Šest
Seven Sedam
Eight Osam
Nine Devet
Ten Deset
Hundred Sto
Thousand Hiljada
How much is it? Koliko košta?
I want… Ja želim…

 

Learning numbers also prepares you for more advanced topics like idioms and expressions.

Before you go

Knowing these words will improve your language skills and help you understand Serbian culture and social customs. So don’t skip them if you want to connect with your Serbian friends and relatives and communicate confidently.

Of course, there are many other phrases that we use in daily communication. If you want to see more details, click here .

Do you want to learn more useful phrases and words? Let’s connect on Instagram.

Written by Sanja Dulovic

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