Stanislava Zivojinov at If you want to wish a happy birthday in Serbian (to your friend or family member) or to write a small note on a birthday card, this blog post will help you with that.
For many of us, birthday celebrations are important days of the year, which we celebrate with family, friends or we organize a big party. The tradition of celebrating birthdays dates back to ancient times, and many customs are associated with this event, which is often celebrated differently in different countries.
It can be said that each nation has developed its own tradition of birthday giving over time. For example, in Italy, it is practiced to open presents immediately after the reception, in front of all guests, unlike in Thailand, where it is considered rude.
Also, if you are in Japan, you are expected to put special effort into gift wrapping, while in India gifts are never given with the left hand.
The traditions mentioned above have remained somewhere. Serbian people have a Birthday tradition as well but they are most respected in rural areas (small towns and villages). However, the advantage of the 21st century is that today we are not conditioned and we do not have to give gifts to a dear person following certain rules. What is really important is to make a certain effort, surprise the dear person and show him a sign of attention. That is (kind of) a newer Serbian tradition that I really like.
18th birthday is really special for Serbians since it represents the time when a person becomes an adult (legal age). That fact makes the celebration of that birthday very special and for some even the most important. It can be celebrated in klubu (club), kafani (in a cafe), or in some more creative place. Certainly, wherever, it is almost guaranteed to be a crazy party time.
It represents a great turning point in life because then a person becomes an adult and is responsible for their actions. Everyone chooses where to celebrate their 18th birthday based on their financial status and how they will celebrate their birthday. If you ask me, it is better to have fun in a kafana because it is in a way traditional in our country. I think that this tradition should be preserved, but I don’t have anything against parties in clubs. Either way, it’s all about spending a great time with people you love and respect.
If you want to wish Happy Birthday in Serbian to someone, you should say “Srećan rođendan! (Срећан рођендан!)
Here are some other suggestions:
Želim da budem prva osoba koja će ti čestitati rođendan. (I wish to be the first person to wish you a Happy Birthday.)
Želim ti sve najbolje za tvoj rođendan! (I want you all the best for your Birthday!)
Srećan rođendan i sve najbolje! Neka se tvoji snovi ostvare! (Happy birthday and all the best wishes! May all your dreams come true!)
Srećan rođendan (ime)!
Želim da tvoj rođendan bude specijalan dan za tebe. Hvala ti na podršci koju si mi pružila kad mi je najviše trebala.
(tvoje ime)
Happy Birthday (name)!
I want to wish you a happy birthday on this very special day of yours. Thank you for your support during my struggles.
(your name)
The Serbian song goes like this:
Danas nam je divan dan, divan dan, divan dan (Today is wonderful, wonderful, wonderful day)
Našem Luki / Našoj Jeleni je rođendan, rođendan, rođendan (It’s a birthday to our Luka / Jelena)
Živeo, živeo i srećan nam bio / Živela, živela i srećna nam bila (May he/she live and be happy) 2x
Živeo/la! – May he/she live
And after the song you need to say “Živeliiiiiiii!” and have a drink! 🙂 (Cheers)
| Serbian (Cyrillic / Latin) | Pronunciation | English Translation |
| Све најбоље! / Sve najbolje! | sv-eh nay-boh-lyeh | All the best! |
| Честитaм! / Čestitаm! | ch-eh-st-ee-tam | Congratulations! |
| Срећно! / Srećno! | sr-eh-ts-noh | Good luck! |
| Христос се роди! / Hristos se rodi! | Hree-stos seh roh-dee | Merry Christmas |
| Срећан Божић! / Srećan Božić! | sr-eh-ts-ahn boh-zee-ts | Merry Christmas |
| Срећан Васкрс! / Srećan Vaskrs! | sr-eh-ts-ah vas-crs | Happy Easter! |
| Срећна Нова година! / Srećna Nova godina! | sr-eh-ts-nah no-vah goh-dee-nah | Happy New Year! |
| Срећна Слава! / Srećna slava! | sreh-tsnah slah-vah | Happy Slava* |
| свим срцем / svim srcem | sv-eem sr-ts-em | with all my heart |
*family’s annual ceremony and veneration of their patron saint
| Serbian (Cyrillic / Latin) | Pronunciation | English Translation |
| рођендан / rođendan | roh-jeh-dan | birthday |
| забава / zabava журка / žurka | zah-bah-vah zy-oor-ca | party [Sg] |
| забаве / zabave журка / žurka | zah-bah-veh zy-oor-ceh | parties [Pl] |
| рођенданска забава / rođendanska zabava | roh-jeh-dahn-skahzah-bah-vah | birthday party |
| позивница / pozivnica | poh-zeev-nee-ts-ah | invitation [Sg] |
| позивнице / pozivnice | poh-zeev-nee-ts-eh | invitations [Pl] |
| Позивам те на забаву!Pozivam te na zabavu! | poh-zee-vam teh nahzah-bah-vuh | I invite you to the party! |
| жеља / želja | zy-eh-ly-ah | wish [Sg] |
| жеље/ želje | zy-eh-ly-eh | wishes [Pl] |
| Шта желите? / Šta želite? | sh-tah zyeh-ly-teh | What would you like? |
| Шта хоћеш? / Šta hoćeš? | sh-tah hoh-ts-ehsh | What do you want? |
| изненађење / iznenađenje | eez-neh-nah-djeh-nyeh | surprise [Sg] |
| изненађења / iznenađenja | eez-neh-nah-djeh-nyah | surprises [Pl] |
| поклон / poklon | poh-clone | present / gift [Sg] |
| поклони / pokloni | poh-clon-ee | presents / gifts [Pl] |
| Serbian (Cyrilly / Latin) | Pronunciation | English Translation |
| позвати / pozvati | poh-zvah-tee | (to) invite |
| желети / želeti | zy-eh-leh-tee | (to) wish |
| спремити поклон / spremiti poklon | spreh-meet-ee poh-clone | (to) make a gift |
| добити / dobiti | doh-bee-tee | (to) get |
If you have a friend or family member who is from Serbia, it would be a great thing if you learn how to wish a happy birthday in Serbian. Trust me, that person would appreciate it very much. I hope that this blog post helped you with that. If you want to learn more Serbian words and phrases, you should consider using the Ling app and get some basic knowledge of this beautiful language while having fun.
| Serbian (Cyrillic / Latin) | Pronunciation | English Translation |
| рођендан / rođendan | roh-jeh-dan | birthday |
| Божић / Božić | boh-zy-ts | Christmas |
| Бадње вече / Badnje veče | bah-dnyeh veh-ch-eh | Christmas Eve |
| Васкрс / Vaskrs | Vah-sk-rs | Easter |
| Васкршњи празници / Vaskršnji praznici | Vah-sk-rsh-ny prah-znee-cee | Easter holidays |
| Новогодишња ноћ/ Novogodišnja noć | no-voh-goh-dish-nyah no-ts | New Year’s Eve |
| Нова година /Nova godina | no-vah goh-dee-nah | New Year |
| венчање / venčanje | vehn-chah-nyeh | wedding |
| Дан заљубљених / Dan zaljublenih | dahn zah-lyoo-blyeh-neeh | Valentine’s Day |
| годишњица / godišnjica | goh-dee-sh-nyca | anniversary |
| Serbian (Cyrillic / Latin) | Pronunciation | English Translation |
| рођендан / rođendan | roh-jeh-dan | birthday |
| забава / zabava журка / žurka | zah-bah-vah zy-oor-ca | party [Sg] |
| забаве / zabave журка / žurka | zah-bah-veh zy-oor-ceh | parties [Pl] |
| рођенданска забава / rođendanska zabava | roh-jeh-dahn-skahzah-bah-vah | birthday party |
| позивница / pozivnica | poh-zeev-nee-ts-ah | invitation [Sg] |
| позивнице / pozivnice | poh-zeev-nee-ts-eh | invitations [Pl] |
| Позивам те на забаву!Pozivam te na zabavu! | poh-zee-vam teh nahzah-bah-vuh | I invite you to the party! |
| жеља / želja | zy-eh-ly-ah | wish [Sg] |
| жеље/ želje | zy-eh-ly-eh | wishes [Pl] |
| Шта желите? / Šta želite? | sh-tah zyeh-ly-teh | What would you like? |
| Шта хоћеш? / Šta hoćeš? | sh-tah hoh-ts-ehsh | What do you want? |
| изненађење / iznenađenje | eez-neh-nah-djeh-nyeh | surprise [Sg] |
| изненађења / iznenađenja | eez-neh-nah-djeh-nyah | surprises [Pl] |
| поклон / poklon | poh-clone | present / gift [Sg] |
| поклони / pokloni | poh-clon-ee | presents / gifts [Pl] |
| Serbian (Cyrilly / Latin) | Pronunciation | English Translation |
| позвати / pozvati | poh-zvah-tee | (to) invite |
| желети / želeti | zy-eh-leh-tee | (to) wish |
| спремити поклон / spremiti poklon | spreh-meet-ee poh-clone | (to) make a gift |
| добити / dobiti | doh-bee-tee | (to) get |
If you have a friend or family member who is from Serbia, it would be a great thing if you learn how to wish a happy birthday in Serbian. Trust me, that person would appreciate it very much. I hope that this blog post helped you with that. If you want to learn more Serbian words and phrases, you should consider using the Ling app and get some basic knowledge of this beautiful language while having fun.
