Writing an email in any language often seems like a daunting task at first, especially if you’re not a native speaker. Suddenly you find yourself stuck on the desert island of questions and there’s not a droplet of answers. Who do I address and how? Am I being too formal? Am I not being formal enough? And so the list of questions goes on and on.
The reason for this is the fact that behind a succinct and well composed email there’s a whole world of culture and email code of conduct usually unknown to new language learners. However, once you get a clear understanding of the standard structure, commonly used phrases, and the differences between formal and informal email communication, you will be sending well-crafted emails in no time.
In this blog we will cover everything from the general email rules to specific types of emails, as well as provide some practical examples to help you get started.
Standard email structure
Luckily for all language learners, the purpose and essence of emailing is not too dependent on culture. Emails are meant to be brief, informative and direct, and such is the case in the Serbian language as well. Let’s explore the basic elements every well-organised email typically includes.
- Firstly, there is the subject of the email (naslov mejla) – a concise summary of your email’s purpose, for example:
- “Prijava za posao” (Job application)
- “Molba za informacije” (Request for information)
- “Žalba – Neisporučena usluga” (Complaint – Undelivered service)
- “Pozivnica na sastanak” (Meeting invitation)
The subject line is your email’s first impression. Therefore, it should be made as clear and reflective of the email content as possible.
- A greeting or a salutation (pozdrav) is the first thing in the body of your email. There are several ways to address the recipient and they are used depending on the needed degree of formality:
- Formal: the most common salutation is “Poštovani gospodine/gospođo (add surname),” or just “Poštovani/Poštovana,” depending on the gender of the recipient.
- Informal: a simple Hello or Hi “Zdravo/Ćao (add name),” or a good old Dear “Dragi/Draga (add name),” would suffice when greeting a friend or an acquaintance.
- The main body of the email should state the purpose of your email. If the letter is lengthy, don’t be afraid of the bullet points and paragraphs – this all helps with overall clarity. Also, if you have any attachments, don’t forget to mention them. Let’s see some general phrases that could come in handy:
- “Pišem Vam u vezi sa…” (I am writing to you regarding…)
- “Javljam Vam se po dogovoru…” (I am contacting you as agreed…)
- “U prilogu Vam šaljem/dostavljam…” (Attached please find…)
- Finally, you should summarise your request or message and include a call to action or express gratitude – depending on the context. Here’s what it could look like in Serbian:
- “Unapred zahvalan/na na Vašem vremenu.” (Thank you in advance for your time.)
- “Hvala na razumevanju/saradnji.” (Thank you for your understanding/cooperation.)
- “S poštovanjem, (add your full name)” (Sincerely yours,)
- “Veliki/Lep pozdrav, (add your first name)” (Best regards,)
- “Srdačno,” (Cordially,)
Types of emails
Are you writing about a holiday destination to a friend or applying for a job opening in a hotel? We can agree the tone of your email would be completely different in these two cases, as it depends on the recipient rather than the language you write in.
Seeing that different types of emails require a slightly adapted tone or structure, let’s try to cover some of the fixed phrases that you can use in certain situations:
- Application Emails (Prijava):
Use a clear subject, mention the position or opportunity, and attach your CV.
Example Opening: “Prijavljujem se ovim putem za poziciju (naziv pozicije) u vašoj kompaniji.”
- Request Emails (Molba):
Be polite and concise when asking for information or assistance.
Example Opening: “Ljubazno bih Vas zamolio/la da mi dostavite informacije o…”
- Complaint Emails (Žalba):
Clearly state the issue, include relevant details, and remain respectful.
Example Opening: “Obraćam Vam se u vezi sa problemom koji sam iskusio/la…”
- Meeting Invitations (Pozivnica na sastanak):
Include the time, date, and location of the meeting along with any agenda details.
Example Opening: “Pozivam Vas na sastanak koji će se održati…”
Formal vs. Informal emails
Understanding the difference between formal and informal emails is crucial in Serbian, where politeness and respect are conveyed through specific language forms. For example, in official emails you might want to use the polite form of addressing: Vi (rest of the forms: Vama/Vas/Vaš), as we did in the examples so far in the blog. Note that Vi is just a common personal pronoun for the second person singular, though always capitalised out of respect.
Of course, if you are writing an email to your friend or family member, you will not be using this form. You can use a more relaxed tone with “ti.” For example: “Molim te da mi pošalješ…” or “Hvala ti puno!”
Now that we are fully equipped with knowledge, let’s check out an example of the same email in Formal and Informal style:
Formal Version:
Poštovani gospodine Simiću,
Pišem Vam u vezi sa vašim oglasom za poziciju menadžera. Prijavljujem se ovim putem i u prilogu Vam dostavljam svoj CV.
Unapred zahvalna na Vašem vremenu,
S poštovanjem,
Ana Petrović
Informal Version:
Zdravo Marko,
Pišem ti u vezi s oglasom za menadžera. Prijavljujem se ovim putem i u prilogu ti šaljem svoj CV.
Hvala ti unapred,
Lep pozdrav,
Ana
As you could see, writing an email in Serbian is a great way to learn the language on an even deeper level. With each new email you write, you will discover a different set of vocabulary or degree of formality that can enrich your piece of text. Feel free to use the given examples for practice – write a complaint sample to your boss for fun or an email expressing gratitude to your cousin. After a few good exercises, you will be ready to craft your own emails that resonate with Serbian recipients—however formal or informal they are.
