Learn some words and phrases that might come handy during your visit to Belgrade and Serbia:
Basic letter differences
The Serbian language has two alphabets, Cyrillic and Latin.
The Cyrillic is similar to other Cyrillic Slavic alphabets, such as the Russian, Bulgarian or Macedonian. We’ve compiled a chart that could help you understand the Serbian Cyrillic alphabet.
The Latin alphabet contains most of the standard letters (except Q, W, X, Y,) along with several letters unique to Serbian and western Slavic languages. Here they are, with an explanation how they’re pronounced.
- Č – Similar to English CH
- Ć – Like Italian CC or CI
- Ž – Like French G or J
- Dž – Like English G or J
- Đ – Like Italian GI
- Š – Like English SH, or German SCH
- Lj – Like Spanish LL, or Italian GL
- Nj – Like spanish Ñ, or French/Italian GN
Greetings
- Ćao – Hi, Bye
- Zdravo – Hello, Bye
- Dobro jutro – Good Morning
- Dobar dan – Good Day (Greetings, Hello – polite)
- Dobro veče – Good evening
- Laku noć – Good Night
- Doviđenja – Good bye (polite)
Polite words
- Molim (vas) – Please
- Hvala – Thank you
- Nema na čemu – You’re welcome
- Izvinite / Oprostite – Excuse me, I’m sorry, Pardon me
- Dozvolite … – Allow me …
Useful words and phrases
- Da – Yes
- Ne – No
- Možda – Maybe, Perhaps
- Ne razumem – I don’t understand
- Ne razumem Srpski – I don’t understand Serbian
- Ja govorim … – I speak … (jump to Top languages in Serbian)
- Gladan (male) / Gladna (female) sam – I’m hungry
- Žedan (male) / Žedna (female) sam – I’m thirsty
- Boli me … – … hurts me (jump to Main body parts)
- Spava mi se – I want to sleep
- Želim… – I want/wish…
- Volim… – I love…, I like…
People & Family
- Ljudi, Narod – People
- Čovek – Man, Human
- Žena / Žene – Woman / Women
- Muškarac – Man (Male)
- Muško – Male
- Žensko – Female
- Dete / Deca – Child / Children
- Žena – Wife
- Muž – Husband
- Ćerka – Daughter
- Sin – Son
- Sestra – Sister
- Brat – Brother
- Majka / Mama – Mother / Mom
- Otac / Tata – Father / Dad
- Baba – Grandmother
- Deda – Grandfather
- Devojčica – Girl (young)
- Dečak – Boy (young)
- Devojka, Cura – Girl (teen & older)
- Dečko, Momak, Mladić – Boy (teen & older)
Top languages in Serbian
- Engleski – English
- Španski – Spanish
- Nemački – German
- Francuski – French
- Italijanski – Italian
- Ruski – Russian
- Kineski – Chinese
- Japanski – Japanese
- Turski – Turkish
- Arapski – Arabian
- Holandski – Dutch
- Mađarski – Hungarian
- Grčki – Greek
- Latinski – Latin
- Srpski – Serbian
Main body parts
Head
- Glava – Head
- Oko / Oči – Eye / Eyes
- Uvo / Uši – Ear / Ears
- Kosa – Hair
- Nos – Nose
- Usta – Mouth
- Usne – Lips
Torso
- Vrat – Neck
- Rame – Shoulder
- Leđa – Back
- Kičma – Spine
- Grudi – Chest, Breasts
- Sise – Tits
- Pluća – Lungs
- Stomak – Stomach
- Creva – Intestines
- Bešika – Bladder
- Penis/Vagina – same
- Guza, Dupe – Butt, Ass
Arms
- Ruka/Ruke – Arm /Arms
- Lakat – Elbow
- Šaka – Hand, Fist
- Prst – Finger, Toe
- Dlan – Palm
Legs
- Noga – Leg
- Koleno – Knee
- Stopalo – Foot
Other
- Mišić(i) – Muscle(s)
- Kost(i) – Bone(s)
- Zub(i) – Tooth (Teeth)
- Krv – Blood