So, you’re trying to learn Serbian Vocabulary? This post will provide a great starting point for developing your Serbian vocabulary.
The Serbian vocabulary is the backbone for learning the language. The vocabulary you use will consistently grow and evolve with age. It serves as a fundamental and handy tool for communication and acquiring knowledge. Serbian is a pretty old language, so there are lots of words and phrases for you to learn.
Serbian vocabulary is the set of words you should be familiar with if you plan to visit Serbia or you just have a friend and want to start learning this language because of their mother language.
I picked the most commonly used words and several vocabulary topics that are considered essential for learning Serbian. Try to concentrate on the vocabulary below and notice the pattern that happens each time the word changes its place. It would be great if you could memorize them as it will give you a boost in the Serbian language.
Tip: Learn only the words that you need for basic communication. You can work on expanding your Serbian vocabulary later.
Let’s start with the commonly used vocabulary topic:
Greetings
Dobro jutro! (DOH-broh YOO-troh) – Good morning!
Dobar Dan! (do-BAR dan ) – Hello!
Hello in Serbian and Good morning in Serbian are the 2 most used phrases.
Dobro veče! (do-BRO-veh-che) Good evenig!
Zdravo / Šta ima! (ZDRAH-voh / SHTA-ee-ma) – Serbian Hello (informal)/ What’s up! (Only use “Šta ima!” around friends as it could cause a little consternation in formal circles)
Doviđenja! (doh-vee-JEH-nyah) – Goodbye!
Ćao! (CH-ow) Hi!
Laku noć! (LAH-kuh noch) —Good night!
Basics
Hvala (HVAH-lah) – Thank you in Serbian
Hvala lepo. (HVAh-lah LEH-po) – Thank you very much
Nema na čemu (NEH-mah na CHEH-moo)or Molim (MO-leem) – You’re welcome.
Dobro (DOH-broh) – Good
Da (DA) – Yes
Ne (NE) – No
Izvini / Izvinite (EEZ-vee-nee / EEZ-vee-nee-teh) – Excuse me (sg)/ Excuse me (pl)
You can also use “Izvinite” for getting attention when talking to an
an older person as a sign of respect or informal communication.
Oprosti mi. (oh-PROHS-tee-teh)– Forgive me
Žao mi je. (zhow mee yeh) – I’m sorry. (expressing condolence)
Kako si? / Kako ste? (KAH-ko steh?/Kh-ko si?) — How are you? (sg)/ How are you? (pl)
The same as the previous word, “Kako ste?” is used when talking in formal situations or with older people.
Dobro sam, hvala. (DOH-broh sahm, HVAH-lah) – I’m fine, thank you.
Essential words in Serbian Vocabulary
Govorite li engleski? (formal) (goh-VOH-ree-teh lee EN-gless-kee);
Govoriš (li) engleski? (informal) (goh-VOH-reesh (lee) EN-gless-kee) – Do you speak English?
Govori li ovde netko engleski? (GOH-voh-ree lee OHV-deh NEH-tkoh EN-gless-kee) – Is there someone here who speaks English?
Razumem. (rah-ZOO-mehm) – I understand.
Ne razumem (neh rah-ZOO-mehm) – I don’t understand
Koliko je sati? (KOH-lee-koh ye SAH-tee?) – What time is it?
Gde je… (GD-yeh yeh…) – Where is…
Gde se nalazi toalet? (GD-yeh-se-na-la-zee-toalet) – Where is the toilet?
Introduction
Kako se zovete? (formal) (KAH-koh seh ZOH-veh-teh) – What is your name?
Kako se zoveš? (informal) (KAH-koh seh ZOH-vehsh) – What is your name?
Zovem se ______. (ZOH-vehm seh____.) – My name is ______ .
Ja sam ______. (yah sahm____.) – I am _____.
Drago mi je. (DRAH-goh mee yeh) – Nice to meet you.
Gospođa (GOS-poh-jah) – Mrs.
Gospodin (gos-POH-deen) – Mr.
Gospođica (GOS-poh-jee-tsah) – Miss
Problems or Emergency vocabulary
Hitna pomoć (khitna pomoć) – Ambulance
Lekar/doktor (lyekar) Doctor
Bolnica (bolnitza) – Hospital
Apoteka (apotyeka) – Pharmacy
Policija (politziјa) – Police
Time Expressions
Ponedeljak (ponyedyeljak) – Monday
Utorak (ootorak) – Tuesday
Sreda (sryeda) – Wednesday
Četvrtak (chyetvrtak) – Thursday
Petak (pyetak)- Friday
Subota (soobota) – Saturday
Nedelja (nyedyelja) – Sunday
Sada (sada) – Now
Juče (јoochye) – Yesterday
Danas (danas) – Today
Večeras (vyechyeras) – Tonight
Sutra (sootra) – Tomorrow
Most popular terms when traveling
Taksi (taksi) – Taxi
Autobus (aootoboos) – Bus
Hotel (khotyel) – Hotel
Rezervacija (ryezyervatziјa) – Reservation
Aerodrom (ayerodrom) – Airport
Pasoš (pasosh) – Passport
Restaurant and bar
Doručak (doroochak) – Breakfast
Ručak (roochak) – Lunch
Večera (vyechyera) – Dinner
Srpska kuhinja (srpka kuh-eenya) – Serbian Cuisine
Mogu da dobim… (MOH-goo da DOH-beem…) – Can I get…
Pivo (PEE-voh) – Beer
Crno/belo vino (TSER-noh/BYEH-loh VEE-noh) – Red/White wine
Rakija (Rak·i·ja) – Brandy or Schnapps
Votka(VOHT-kah) – Vodka
Viski (VEES-kee) – Whiskey
Rum (room) – Rum
Mineralna voda (MEE-neh-rahl-neh VOH-dah) – Mineral or sparkling water
Kafa (KAH-feh) – Coffee
Čaj (chai) – Tea (drink)
Tonik voda (TOH-neek VOH-dah) – Tonic water
Sok (SOH-kh) – Juice;
Sok od narandže (sohk ohd NAH-rahn-cheh) – Orange juice
Sok od jabuke (sohk- ohd- jabh-ukeh) – Apple juice
Gazirani napitak (gah-ZEE-rah-nee nah-PEE-tahk) – Soda
Voda (VOH-dah) – Water
Čaša (CHAH-shah) – Glass
Krigla (KREE-glah) – Mug
Flaša (Flash-ah) – Bottle
Živeli (Zhee-ve-lee) – Cheers
Koliko košta? (KOH-lee-koh KOH-shta?) – How much does it cost?
Račun (RAH-choon) – Bill or Check
Most popular fruits and vegetables
Voće (voćye) -Fruits
Jabuke (јabookye) – Apples
Banane (bananye) – Bananas
Povrće (po-vr- ćye) – Vegetables
Paradajz (paradaјz) – Tomatoes
Krompir (krompir) – Potatoes
Luk (look) – Onions
Most important Colors
Crvena (tzrvyena) – Red
Zelena (zyelyena) – Green
Plava (plava) – Blue
Bela (byela) – White
Crna (tzrna) – Black
Siva (siva) – Grey
Weather terms and temperature
Sunčano (soonchano) – Sunny
Vetrovito (vyetrovito) – Windy
Kišovito (kishovito) – Rainy
Snežne padavine (snyeʐnye padavinye) – Snowy
Hladno (khladno) – Cold
Vruće (vrooćye) – Hot
Words related to family and relatives
Dečak (dyechak) – Boy
Devojčica (dyevoјchitza) – Girl
Sin (sin) – Son
Ćerka (ćyerka) – Daughter:
Brat (brat) – Brother
Sestra (syestra) – Sister
Muškarac (mooshkaratz) – Man
Žena (ʐyena) – Woman
Otac ( otatz) – Father
Majka (maјka) – Mother
Deda (dyeda) – Grandfather
Baba (baba) – Grandmother
Locations in the house
Kuća (kooća) -House
Toalet (toalyet) – Toilet
Soba (soba) – Room
Spavaća soba ( spa-va-ćya soba) – Bedroom
Kuhinja (kookhiњa) – Kitchen
Sto (sto) – Table
Animals and pets that are popular in Serbia
Mačka (machka) – Cat
Pas (pas) – Dog
Miš (mish) – Mouse
Ptica (ptitza) – Bird
Krava (krava) – Cow
Konj (konj) – Horse
The clothes are most worn by people
Čarape (charapye) – Socks
Cipele (tzipyelye) – Shoes
Pantalone (pantalonye) – Trousers/Pants
Košulja (koshoolja) – Shirt
Džemper (dʒyempyer) – Sweater
Kaput (kapoot) – Coat
As you can see, this essential Serbian vocabulary is something you will need every day if you come to Serbia or just want to learn the language. You can use the Ling App to help you learn and memorize these words. After learning about the most common words in Serbian, you can move on to find out more about Serbian numbers.
