Serbian sayings are short yet powerful expressions that capture Serbia’s heart and soul. They may seem like a strange string of words initially, but they carry wisdom, humor, and insight from generations, so they can help you better connect with your Serbian family roots.
However, translating these expressions into English can be tricky, even when mastering them allows you to communicate like a native with your family. In this guide, you’ll find Serbian sayings that will not only deepen your heritage ties but also become conversation starters with your grandparents.
Essential Serbian Sayings That Carry Traditions
In a nutshell, Serbian sayings are traditional proverbs and idiomatic expressions used to express life lessons, humor, and wisdom in daily conversations. Often drawn from everyday life, family values, and even animals, these sayings have been passed down through generations in stories, songs, and everyday conversations.
I want to learn even more languages with Ling!
Download now!
To make these Serbian sayings stick better, we have grouped them by theme:
Animal-Themed Serbian Sayings
These expressions use animals to describe human behavior cleverly or exaggeratedly, warning about unchanging habits. These Serbian sayings are rooted in rural life, where people lived closely with animals, often drawing lessons from their behavior.
| English | Serbian | Literal Translation |
|---|---|---|
| A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. | Bolje vrabac u ruci, nego golub na grani. | Better a sparrow in the hand than a pigeon on the branch. |
| Man is man’s wolf. | Čovek je čoveku vuk. | Man is man’s wolf. |
| One swallow does not make a spring. | Jedna lasta ne čini proleće. | One swallow does not make a spring. |
| Beating around the bush. | Kao mačka oko vruće kaše. | Like a cat around hot porridge. |
| Speak of the devil. | Mi o vuku, a vuk na vrata. | We’re talking about the wolf, and the wolf is at the door. |
| Don’t buy a cat in a bag. | Ne kupuj mačka u džaku. | Don’t buy a cat in a bag. |
| To make a mountain out of a molehill. | Praviti od muve slona. | To make an elephant out of a fly. |
| Flattery will get you anywhere. | Umiljato jagnje dve ovce sisa. | A gentle lamb suckles two sheep. |
| A leopard can’t change its spots. | Vuk dlaku menja, ali ćud nikada. | A wolf changes its fur, but never its nature. |
| A thief does not steal from another thief. | Vrana vrani oči ne vadi. | A crow doesn’t poke out another crow’s eyes. |
| A dog that barks doesn’t bite. | Pas koji laje ne ujeda. | A dog that barks doesn’t bite. |
Serbian Sayings About Personality
This group of Serbian sayings reveals how good or bad character traits are viewed in daily Serbian culture, highlighting values like pride, stubbornness, honesty, and resilience that are both poetic and brutally honest.
| English | Serbian | Literal Translation |
|---|---|---|
| What goes around, comes around. | Ko drugome jamu kopa sam u nju pada. | Who digs a trap for others ends up in it himself. |
| Absent-minded people do the work twice. | Ko nema u glavi, ima u nogama. | Absent-minded people do the work twice. |
| Who doesn’t have in his head what he has in his feet. | Ko rano rani, dve sreće grabi. | One who gets up early is doubly lucky. |
| A skilled worker is paid double. | Ko ume, njemu dve. | The one who’s able gets two. |
| In trouble, you know a hero. | Na muci se poznaju junaci. | In trouble, you know a hero. |
| You can’t tell a book by its cover. | Odelo ne čini čoveka. | |
| Still waters run deep. | Tiha voda breg roni. | Still water wears down mountains. |
| A lie has no legs. | U laži su kratke noge. | In lies, one has short legs. |
| If you want to get things done, do it yourself. | Uzdaj se u se i u svoje kljuse. | Trust yourself and your horse. |
| An apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. | Iver ne pada daleko od klade. | A splinter doesn’t land far from the trunk. |
Serbian Sayings About Time
Serbian sayings about time reflect the Serbs’ deep respect for wise time management and its rewards, reminding us that time is fleeting—how you value and use it says a lot about you.
| English | Serbian | Literal Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Better now than later. | Što možeš danas, ne ostavljaj za sutra. | What you can do today, do not leave for tomorrow. |
| Time is money. | Vreme je novac. | Time is money. |
| Haste makes waste. | Sve što je brzo je i kuso. | Quickly doing things results in a poor ending. |
| Money hangs around money. | Novac se na novac lepi. | Money sticks to money. |
| All good things come to an end. | Sve što je dobro kratko traje. | All that’s well lasts short. |
| Better late than never. | Bolje ikad nego nikad. | Better ever than never. |
| What goes around, comes around. | Sve se vraća sve se plaća. | Everything has to be returned, everything has to be paid for. |
| You can’t eat your cake and have it too. | Ne možeš imati i jare i pare. | You can’t have both lamb and money. |
Serbian Sayings About God
Serbian sayings about God are part of daily conversation, especially in greetings and expressions about hope or uncertainty. They reflect both the country’s Orthodox roots and long-standing Serbian traditions that strongly shape the Serbs’ cultural identity.
| English | Serbian | Literal Translation |
|---|---|---|
| God first created a beard for himself. | Bog je prvo sebi bradu stvorio. | God first created a beard for himself. |
| Man proposes, but God disposes. | Čovek sanja, Bog određuje. | Man dreams, God determines. |
| God helps those who help themselves. | Pomozi sam sebi pa će ti i Bog pomoći. | God is in heaven, on earth, the kum (godfather). |
| God is high up, and Russia is far away. | Bog visoko, a Rusija daleko. | God is high up, and Russia is far away. |
| First help yourself, and then God will help you. | Bog je na nebu, na zemlji kum. | God is in heaven, on earth the kum (godfather). |
Other Serbian Sayings You Need To Know
Beyond the classic Serbian sayings, here are lesser-known wise sayings that will add flavor and versatility to your daily conversations with your family, along with some Serbian slang.
| English | Serbian | Literal Translation |
|---|---|---|
| No pain, no gain. | Bez muke nema nauke. | Without suffering, there is no learning. |
| Better safe than sorry. | Bolje sprečiti nego lečiti. | Better to prevent than to have to cure. |
| Out of sight, out of mind. | Daleko od očiju, daleko od srca. | Far from the eyes, far from the heart. |
| Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. | Gde ima dima ima i vatre. | Three days for any guest is plenty. |
| Strike while the iron is hot. | Gvožđe se kuje dok je vruće. | Iron is worked when it’s still hot. |
| Think before you speak. | Ispeci pa reci. | Bake it and then say it. |
| When pigs fly. | Kad na vrbi rodi grožđe. | When willows bear grapes. |
| Easy come, easy go. | Kako došlo, tako prošlo. | The way it came is the way it will go. |
| Blood is thicker than water. | Krv nije voda. | Blood is not water. |
| Don’t jump the gun. | Ne trči pred rudu. | Don’t run in front of a carriage. |
| You cannot make omelets without eggs. | Nema hleba bez motike. | There’s no bread without a hoe. |
| Where there’s smoke, there is fire. | Nema vatre bez dima. | There is no fire without smoke. |
| When it rains, it pours. | Nesreća nikad ne dolazi sama. | Misfortune never comes alone. |
| With friends like those, who needs enemies? | Pored takvih prijatelja što će mi neprijatelji. | With such friends, one doesn’t need enemies anymore. |
| As easy as pie. | Prosto ko pasulj. | As simple as beans. |
| Look before you leap. | Prvo skoči pa reci hop. | First leap, and then say “hop”! |
| You scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours. | Ruka ruku mije. | One hand washes the other. |
| There’s no place like home. | Svuda pođi, kući dođi. | Go everywhere, but come back home. |
| Fish and visitors stink after three days. | Svakog gosta tri dana dosta. | Three days of any guest is plenty. |
How Do You Say ‘Sayings’ In Serbian?
“Sayings” in Serbian is poslovice (pos-LOH-vee-tseh), specifically referring to folk sayings or proverbs.
But, in casual contexts or if you want to include expressions or idioms, use izreka (EEZ-reh-keh) instead.
Serbian Sayings Vocabulary List
Want to boost your knowledge on Serbian sayings? Master the meaning of these words to help you understand proverbs faster and use them naturally in family chats.
| English | Serbian | Sound | Sample Serbian Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Love | Ljubav | Srce ima svoje razloge. – The heart has its reasons. | |
| Soul | Duša | Duša mi je slatka. – My soul is sweet. | |
| Family | Porodica | Porodica je sve. – Family is everything. | |
| Grandmother/Grandma | Baka | Baka zna najbolje. – Grandma knows best. | |
| Grandfather/Grandpa | Deda | Deda priča istinu. – Grandpa tells the truth. | |
| Life | Život | Život je kratak. – Life is short. | |
| Luck | Sreća | Sreća pomaže hrabrima. – Luck helps the brave. | |
| Truth | Istina | Istina uvek izađe na videlo. – Truth always comes out. |
5 Tips To Learn Serbian Sayings Better
To better connect with your Serbian heritage, you need to master as many Serbian sayings as you can. Here are some actionable steps to take that will help immerse yourself better in the culture:
- Practice speaking these Serbian sayings out loud with rhythm, like a chant or saying. Information sticks better when you hear yourself say it, according to a University of Waterloo study.
- Serbian sayings come from everyday wisdom. Try using them in real situations, like saying ‘Bez muke nema nauke’ (No pain, no gain) after a long study session to make them more relatable and fun.
- Serbian sayings reflect deep truths from the culture. Picture what they mean, like someone catching two fortunes at sunrise for “Ko rano rani, dve sreće grabi” to make them stick.
- Grouping the Serbian sayings by theme, like effort, honesty, or time, mirrors how Serbian people use them in daily conversations when giving advice or making a point.
- Use a language-learning app. With apps like Ling, you’ll learn everyday vocabulary that often shows up in sayings, like sreća (luck), vreme (time), or bol (pain), for easier and more natural learning of Serbian sayings.
Frequently Asked Questions About Serbian Sayings
What Is A Common Serbian Saying?
A common Serbian saying is Ko rano rani, dve sreće grabi, which means “Who wakes up early grabs two fortunes.” It’s the Serbian equivalent of “The early bird catches the worm,” highlighting the importance of being proactive and hardworking.
What Is The Serbian Orthodox Saying?
One of the most common Serbian Orthodox sayings is Pomaže Bog (God helps), often used as a traditional greeting in rural areas or during religious holidays. The usual response is Bog ti pomogao (May God help you).
What Is The Saying Known As The Serbian Motto?
The most well-known Serbian motto is Samo sloga Srbina spasava, which means “Only unity saves the Serbs.” It’s a powerful phrase tied to national identity and the idea that sticking together is key. You’ll often see it on the Serbian cross, a reminder of the values that matter most in Serbian culture: unity, strength, and resilience.
Serbian Sayings: A Wrap Up
We’ve just gone through a mix of Serbian sayings that touch on everything from faith to time, money, and human nature. Some are serious, others playful, but they all come from everyday life and reflect how people in Serbia make sense of the world around them.
Learning Serbian sayings with the Ling app can help you better understand how the Serbs think, joke, give advice, and relate to each other. You can easily craft a reply whenever your grandparents remind you that Krv nije voda (Blood is thicker than water).
Speak Serbian Sayings Like A Native With Ling!
These Serbian sayings might’ve made you smile. That just means you’re already picking up on how the language really works. And with Ling, you can learn more than just sayings!
Similar to how these Serbian sayings are categorized, the Ling app groups lessons by learning level and themes for better retention. Native-speaker audio will help you perfect your pronunciation, while its gamified lessons make learning vocabulary in 15 minutes fly by.
Want to pick up real-life Serbian? Download Ling today, and learn Serbian the relaxed and practical way!
