Let’s Learn 50 Useful Serbian Vocabulary

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

serbian vocabulary
A horizontal shot of a person holding a white card with a Today print with the background of green Bay laurels

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.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

What makes learning with Ling special

Interactive exercises

Improve your pronunciation by starting a conversation with our app’s interactive chatbot

Engaging activities

Practice your skills with mini-games and track your progress with fun quizzes

Mix of languages

Choose from over 60 languages, both big and small, and listen to audio from native speakers

Proven results

Backed by linguistic research, our learning methods can help you achieve fluency in record time