Essential Serbian Phrases

Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.

Here are the bare minimum of Serbian words and phrases you need to know to survive.

Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

If you need help with pronunciation,
please see the Pronunciation Guide below.

Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ...

The Top 10 ...

Zdravo.

Hello.
Zbogom.
Goodbye.
Govorite li engleski?
Do you speak English?
Ja ne razumem.
I don't understand.
Malo.
A little.
Da. Ne.
Yes. No.
Koliko košta?

How much is it?
Preskupo. U redu.
Too expensive. OK.
Molim.
Please.
Hvala vam (lepo).
Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ... The Top 20 ...
	Kako se zovete? What is your name? Zovem se ... My name is ... Kako ste? How are you? Dobro. A vi? Fine. And you? Gde je ...? Where is ...? Gde je toalet? Muški/Ženski Where is the toilet? Men/Women Izvinite. Oprostite. Sorry. Excuse me (to get attention). Nema problema. No problem. Želim ... I want ... Ne želim ... I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ...

The Top 30 ...

Odakle ste?
Where are you from?
Ja sam iz Australije.*
I am from Australia.
Račun, molim.
The bill, please.
Izgubljen sam.
I'm lost.
Stanite! Pričekajte!
Stop! Wait!
Ovde, tamo.
Here, there.
Taksi. Hotel. Aerodrom. Stanica.
Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station.
Volim ...
I like ...
Ne volim ...
I don't like ...

jedan, dva, tri, četiri, pet.
one, two, three, four, five.
šest, sedam, osam, devet, deset.
six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

*Or choose your country:
iz Amerike - from America
iz Kanade - from Canada
iz Engleske - from England
iz Irske - from Ireland
iz Novog Zelande - from New Zealand

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ...

Useful Extras ...

Živeli!
Cheers!

dobro / loš
good / bad
velik / mali
big / small
blizu / daleko
near / far
manje / više
less / more
drugi / dosta
another / enough

Ja sam vegetarijanac. (man)
Ja sam vegetarijanka. (woman)
I am vegetarian.
Ja ne jedem meso.
I don't eat meat.
... piletinu.
... chicken.
... ribu.
... fish.

Ja sam alergičan na razne orahe. (man)
Ja sam alergična na razne orahe. (woman)
I am allergic to nuts.
... kikiriki.
... peanuts.
... ribe.
... fish.
... morske plodove.
... seafood.
... jaja.
... eggs.

Pronunciation Guide

Consonants:
c is pronounced ts as in cats
č is pronounced as ch as in church (tʃ)
ć is pronounced as a ch as in church, but with the tongue more forward touching behind the bottom teeth (ʨ)
dž is pronounced as j as in judge (dʒ)
đ is pronounced as a j as in judge, but with the tongue more forward touching behind the bottom teeth (ʥ)
h is pronounced as kh as in loch or Bach (x)
j is pronounced as y as in yell (IPA j)
š is pronounced as sh as in shop (ʃ)
ž is pronounced as zh as in pleasure (ʒ)