Learning Serbian: a practical guide
This is a written companion to the free Serbian course on LanguagePath: what the language is like, how it sounds, the phrases you will use first, how the course is structured, and what to watch out for. Everything here comes from the same lessons you can practise interactively above.
What Serbian is like
Serbian is written in Cyrillic (and often Latin). It is one South Slavic language shared by Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia — often called Serbo-Croatian. It's a cousin of Russian and Polish, so вода (water), хлеб (bread) and брат (brother) look familiar if you know Russian. Spelling is predictable: each letter says one sound, and the stress usually falls on the first syllable, so say it clearly and the rest flows.
Words you may already know
Pronunciation notes
Serbian is very phonetic — every letter says one sound, in both the Cyrillic and Latin alphabets. Learn a handful of special characters and you can read almost any word.
- č — like "ch" as in church, as in човек (čovek) = CHOH-vek.
- ć — softer "ch" — between "ch" and "t", jaw pushed forward, as in хоћу (hoću) = HOH-choo.
- đ — like "j" as in job (softer), as in ђак (đak) = JAHK.
- š — like "sh" as in she, as in школа (škola) = SHKOH-lah.
- ž — like "zh" as in measure, as in жена (žena) = ZHEH-nah.
- r — rolled r, tongue tip against the ridge, as in Србија (Srbija) = SR-bee-yah.
- lj — like "ly" as in million, as in љубав (ljubav) = LYOO-bahv.
- nj — like "ny" as in canyon, as in њега (njega) = NYEH-gah.
First phrases
The pocket phrases below are the ones learners reach for most often. Say each one out loud a few times before moving on.
| Serbian | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Здраво | ZDRAH-voh | Hello |
| Добар дан | DOH-bahr dahn | Good day |
| Добро вече | DOH-broh VEH-cheh | Good evening |
| Довиђења | doh-VEE-dyeh-nyah | Goodbye |
| Како си? | KAH-koh see | How are you? |
| Молим | MOH-leem | Please / you're welcome |
| Хвала | HVAH-lah | Thank you |
| Хвала лепо | HVAH-lah LEH-poh | Thanks a lot |
| Извините | eez-VEE-nee-teh | Excuse me / sorry |
| Да | dah | Yes |
| Не | neh | No |
| Један | YEH-dahn | 1 |
| Два | dvah | 2 |
| Три | tree | 3 |
| Четири | CHEH-tee-ree | 4 |
| Пет | peht | 5 |
| Десет | DEH-seht | 10 |
| Вода | VOH-dah | water |
| Хлеб | hlehb | bread |
| Кафа | KAH-fah | coffee |
| Пиво | PEE-voh | beer |
| Рачун | RAH-choon | the bill |
| Где је...? | gdeh yeh | Where is...? |
| Десно | DEH-snoh | to the right |
| Лево | LEH-voh | to the left |
| Право | PRAH-voh | straight ahead |
| Станица | STAH-nee-tsah | the station |
| Тоалет | toh-AH-leht | the bathroom |
| Колико кошта? | koh-LEE-koh KOSH-tah | how much is it? |
| Дајте ми... | DAI-teh mee | give me... |
How the Serbian course is structured
The course has 16 short lessons that build on each other. Each one introduces a few new pieces and then asks you to construct sentences you have never seen, before revealing the answer:
- Greetings & being polite — здраво · добар дан · хвала · молим
- Numbers 1–10 — један · два · три · десет
- I want" — желим & хоћу — желим · хоћу · волео бих
- Food & drink — вода · хлеб · кафа · рачун
- Getting around — где је · десно · лево · право
- Questions & "do you have…?" — да ли · имате ли · могу ли
- Family & people — породица · мама · тата · пријатељ
- Time, days & weather — данас · сутра · недеља · време
- Introducing yourself — моје име је · како се зовеш · драго ми је
- Health & emergency — упомоћ · лекар · апотека · не разумем
- Describing things — лепо · велико · мало · врло
- Tying it together — a capstone scene in Serbian
- Airport & tickets — аеродром · пасош · карта · лет
- The taxi — такси · ићи · хотел · стани
- The hotel — резервација · соба · кључ · ноћ
- Ask for help — не разумем · спорије · енглески
Inside the lessons
Here is how a few of the lessons explain the language, with worked examples and the word-by-word breakdown the course uses.
Greetings & being polite
Key pieces: здраво · добар дан · хвала · молим
Let's start with the very first word you'll use: здраво — hello. Say it out loud.
- здраво (ZDRAH-voh) — hello
- добар дан (DOH-bahr dahn) — good day (formal)
- хвала (HVAH-lah) — thank you
- молим (MOH-leem) — please / you're welcome
To say “Hello, thank you” in Serbian: Здраво, хвала (ZDRAH-voh, HVAH-lah). Built from здраво = hello; хвала = thank you.
Later in the day use добро вече (good evening). To say goodbye: довиђења .
- добро вече (DOH-broh VEH-cheh) — good evening
- довиђења (doh-VEE-dyeh-nyah) — goodbye
- како си? (KAH-koh see) — how are you? (informal)
- добро, хвала (DOH-broh, HVAH-lah) — well, thanks
To say “How are you? Well, thanks.” in Serbian: Како си? Добро, хвала. (KAH-koh see? DOH-broh, HVAH-lah). Built from како си? = how are you?; добро = well; хвала = thanks.
Numbers 1–10
Key pieces: један · два · три · десет
Numbers are the fastest win. Listen and repeat: један, два, три .
- један (YEH-dahn) — 1
- два (dvah) — 2
- три (tree) — 3
- четири (CHEH-tee-ree) — 4
- пет (peht) — 5
- шест (shest) — 6
- седам (SEH-dahm) — 7
- осам (OH-sahm) — 8
- девет (DEH-veht) — 9
- десет (DEH-seht) — 10
To say “Two coffees, please” in Serbian: Две кафе, молим (dveh KAH-feh, MOH-leem). Built from две = two; кафе = coffees; молим = please.
To ask the price: Колико кошта? — how much does it cost?
To say “How much is it?” in Serbian: Колико кошта? (koh-LEE-koh KOSH-tah). Built from колико = how much; кошта = costs.
To say “It's five dinars” in Serbian: Пет динара (peht DEE-nah-rah). Built from пет = five; динара = dinars.
I want" — желим & хоћу
Key pieces: желим · хоћу · волео бих
To ask for anything, the key word is желим — I want. Say it out loud.
хоћу also means "I want", but a touch stronger and more direct.
To say “I want a coffee” in Serbian: Желим кафу (ZHEH-leem KAH-foo). Built from желим = I want; кафу = coffee (object form).
To say “I want a water” in Serbian: Хоћу воду (HOH-choo VOH-doo). Built from хоћу = I want; воду = water (object form).
To be polite, use волео бих — I would like.
To say “I'd like a tea” in Serbian: Волео бих чај (VOH-leh-oh beekh chai). Built from волео бих = I would like; чај = tea.
Food & drink
Key pieces: вода · хлеб · кафа · рачун
Eating out? Key words: вода (water), хлеб (bread), кафа (coffee).
- вода (VOH-dah) — water Memory hook: ≈ Russian вода.
- хлеб (hlehb) — bread Memory hook: ≈ Russian хлеб.
- кафа (KAH-fah) — coffee Memory hook: ≈ English coffee.
- чај (chai) — tea
- пиво (PEE-voh) — beer
- рачун (RAH-choon) — the bill
To say “Water and bread, please” in Serbian: Воду и хлеб, молим (VOH-doo ee hlehb, MOH-leem). Built from воду = water; и = and; хлеб = bread; молим = please.
To say “I'd like the bill” in Serbian: Волео бих рачун (VOH-leh-oh beekh RAH-choon). Built from волео бих = I would like; рачун = the bill.
Укусно! = delicious. Say it and you'll make the chef's day.
To say “It's delicious!” in Serbian: Укусно! (oo-KOO-snoh). Built from укусно = delicious.
Getting around
Key pieces: где је · десно · лево · право
The most useful question in any city: Где је…? — where is…?
- Где је...? (gdeh yeh) — Where is...?
- десно (DEH-snoh) — to the right
- лево (LEH-voh) — to the left
- право (PRAH-voh) — straight ahead Memory hook: ≈ English point / direct.
- станица (STAH-nee-tsah) — the station
- аутобуска станица (ow-TOH-boos-kah STAH-nee-tsah) — the bus station
To say “Where is the station?” in Serbian: Где је станица? (gdeh yeh STAH-nee-tsah). Built from где је = where is; станица = the station.
To say “Where is the bathroom?” in Serbian: Где је тоалет? (gdeh yeh toh-AH-leht). Built from где је = where is; тоалет = the bathroom.
Десно and лево tell you which way to turn. "Straight ahead" is право .
To say “Straight ahead, then left” in Serbian: Право, затим лево (PRAH-voh, ZAH-teem LEH-voh). Built from право = straight; затим = then; лево = left.
Questions & "do you have…?"
Key pieces: да ли · имате ли · могу ли
To turn a sentence into a yes/no question, Serbian often starts with да ли — or you can just raise your voice.
To say “Do you have a table?” in Serbian: Имате ли сто? (EE-mah-teh lee stoh). Built from имате = you have; ли = question marker; сто = a table.
To ask "is there…?" use има ли…? Very useful.
To say “Is there wifi?” in Serbian: Има ли ви-фај? (EE-mah lee VEE-fai). Built from има ли = is there; ви-фај = wifi.
For polite requests: Могу ли…? — may I…?
To say “May I pay?” in Serbian: Могу ли да платим? (MOH-goo lee dah PLAH-teem). Built from могу ли = may I; да платим = to pay.
Family & people
Key pieces: породица · мама · тата · пријатељ
Family words: породица (family), мама (mom), тата (dad).
- породица (poh-ROH-dee-tsah) — family
- мама (MAH-mah) — mom Memory hook: ≈ English mama.
- тата (TAH-tah) — dad
- брат (braht) — brother Memory hook: ≈ Russian брат.
- сестра (SEHS-trah) — sister Memory hook: ≈ Russian сестра.
- пријатељ (PREE-yah-tehl) — friend
To say “I have a friend” in Serbian: Имам пријатеља (EE-mahm PREE-yah-teh-lyah). Built from имам = I have; пријатеља = a friend.
имам = I have. It's the key verb to say what you've got.
To say “I have a big family” in Serbian: Имам велику породицу (EE-mahm VEH-lee-koo poh-ROH-dee-tsoo). Built from имам = I have; велику = big (object); породицу = family (object).
Time, days & weather
Key pieces: данас · сутра · недеља · време
Today is данас , tomorrow is сутра .
- данас (DAH-nahs) — today
- сутра (SOO-trah) — tomorrow
- јуче (YOO-cheh) — yesterday
- недеља (NEH-deh-lyah) — Sunday / week
- време (VREH-meh) — time / weather
To say “See you tomorrow” in Serbian: Видимо се сутра (VEE-dee-moh seh SOO-trah). Built from видимо се = see you; сутра = tomorrow.
Ask about the weather: Какво је време?
To say “It's raining” in Serbian: Пада киша (PAH-dah KEE-shah). Built from пада = falls; киша = rain.
Introducing yourself
Key pieces: моје име је · како се зовеш · драго ми је
Introduce yourself: Моје име је… = my name is…, and Драго ми је = pleased to meet you.
To say “My name is Alex” in Serbian: Моје име је Alex (MOH-yeh EE-meh yeh Alex). Built from моје име је = my name is; Alex = your name.
To ask someone's name: Како се зовеш?
To say “What's your name?” in Serbian: Како се зовеш? (KAH-koh seh ZOH-vehsh). Built from како = how; зовеш = do you call yourself?.
To say “Pleased to meet you” in Serbian: Драго ми је (DRAH-goh mee yeh). Built from драго ми је = pleased to meet you.
Health & emergency
Key pieces: упомоћ · лекар · апотека · не разумем
The most important words if you need help: Упомоћ! (help!), лекар (doctor), апотека (pharmacy).
- Упомоћ! (oo-POH-moch) — Help!
- лекар (LEH-kahr) — the doctor
- апотека (ah-poh-TEH-kah) — the pharmacy
- Не разумем (neh RAH-zoo-mehm) — I don't understand
- полиција (poh-LEE-tsee-yah) — the police Memory hook: ≈ English police.
To say “Help!” in Serbian: Упомоћ! (oo-POH-moch). Built from упомоћ = help.
To say “I don't understand” in Serbian: Не разумем (neh RAH-zoo-mehm). Built from не = not; разумем = I understand.
To say you need help: Треба ми помоћ .
To say “I need help” in Serbian: Треба ми помоћ (TREH-bah mee POH-moch). Built from треба ми = I need; помоћ = help.
Describing things
Key pieces: лепо · велико · мало · врло
Adjectives are easy: лепо (beautiful/nice), велико (big), мало (small).
- лепо (LEH-poh) — beautiful / nice
- велико (VEH-lee-koh) — big
- мало (MAH-loh) — small
- врло (VR-loh) — very
- добро (DOH-broh) — good
To say “Very nice” in Serbian: Врло лепо (VR-loh LEH-poh). Built from врло = very; лепо = nice.
To say “It's very good” in Serbian: Врло је добро (VR-loh yeh DOH-broh). Built from врло = very; је = is; добро = good.
Tying it together
Key pieces: a capstone scene in Serbian
Great — you've built a real toolbox. This capstone uses only words you've met. Build each line yourself before revealing.
To say “Hello, how are you?” in Serbian: Здраво, како си? (ZDRAH-voh, KAH-koh see). Built from здраво = hello; како си? = how are you?.
To say “I'd like a coffee, please” in Serbian: Желим кафу, молим (ZHEH-leem KAH-foo, MOH-leem). Built from желим = I want; кафу = coffee; молим = please.
To say “Where is the station?” in Serbian: Где је станица? (gdeh yeh STAH-nee-tsah). Built from где је = where is; станица = the station.
To say “How much is it?” in Serbian: Колико кошта? (koh-LEE-koh KOSH-tah). Built from колико кошта? = how much is it?.
Airport & tickets
Key pieces: аеродром · пасош · карта · лет
You have landed. The building is the аеродром . Your document is a пасош .
- аеродром (ah-eh-ROH-drom) — the airport
- пасош (PAH-sosh) — the passport
- карта (KAHR-tah) — the ticket
- лет (leht) — the flight
- гејт (gayt) — the gate
To say “Where is the airport?” in Serbian: Где је аеродром? (gdeh yeh ah-eh-ROH-drom). Built from где је = where is; аеродром = the airport.
To say “Here is my passport” in Serbian: Ево мог пасоша (EH-voh mohg PAH-soh-shah). Built from ево = here is; мог пасоша = my passport.
To say “A ticket, please” in Serbian: Једну карту, молим (YEH-dnoo KAHR-too, MOH-leem). Built from једну карту = a ticket; молим = please.
To say “Where is the gate?” in Serbian: Где је гејт? (gdeh yeh gayt). Built from где је = where is; гејт = the gate.
The taxi
Key pieces: такси · ићи · хотел · стани
The driver is waiting. такси is the word you need. Tell them where to go with желим да идем .
- такси (TAHK-see) — the taxi
- возач (VOH-zahch) — the driver
- желим да идем (ZHEH-leem dah EE-dem) — I want to go
- стани овде (STAH-nee OHV-deh) — stop here
To say “Taxi, please” in Serbian: Такси, молим (TAHK-see, MOH-leem). Built from такси = taxi; молим = please.
To say “I want to go to the hotel” in Serbian: Желим да идем у хотел (ZHEH-leem dah EE-dem oo hoh-TEL). Built from желим да идем = I want to go; у хотел = to the hotel.
To say “Stop here, please” in Serbian: Стани овде, молим (STAH-nee OHV-deh, MOH-leem). Built from стани овде = stop here; молим = please.
To say “How much is it?” in Serbian: Колико кошта? (koh-LEE-koh KOSH-tah). Built from колико = how much; кошта = costs.
The hotel
Key pieces: резервација · соба · кључ · ноћ
At the desk: Имам резервацију — I have a reservation.
- хотел (hoh-TEL) — the hotel
- резервација (reh-zehr-VAH-tsee-yah) — the reservation
- соба (SOH-bah) — the room
- кључ (klyooch) — the key
- једна ноћ (YEH-dnah noch) — one night
To say “I have a reservation” in Serbian: Имам резервацију (EE-mahm reh-zehr-VAH-tsee-yoo). Built from имам = I have; резервацију = a reservation.
To say “A room for one night, please” in Serbian: Собу за једну ноћ, молим (SOH-boo zah YEH-dnoo noch, MOH-leem). Built from собу = a room; за једну ноћ = for one night; молим = please.
To say “The key, please” in Serbian: Кључ, молим (klyooch, MOH-leem). Built from кључ = the key; молим = please.
To say “Where is my room?” in Serbian: Где је моја соба? (gdeh yeh MOH-yah SOH-bah). Built from где је = where is; моја соба = my room.
Ask for help
Key pieces: не разумем · спорије · енглески
When the language is too fast: Спорије, молим — slower, please.
- спорије (SPOH-ree-yeh) — slower
- поново (POH-noh-voh) — again
- енглески (ENG-lehs-kee) — English
- можете ли да помогнете? (MOH-zheh-teh lee dah poh-MOG-neh-teh) — can you help?
To say “I don't understand” in Serbian: Не разумем (neh RAH-zoo-mehm). Built from не = not; разумем = I understand.
To say “Slower, please” in Serbian: Спорије, молим (SPOH-ree-yeh, MOH-leem). Built from спорије = slower; молим = please.
To say “Can you help me?” in Serbian: Можете ли да ми помогнете? (MOH-zheh-teh lee dah mee poh-MOG-neh-teh). Built from можете ли = can you; ми = me; помогнете = help.
To say “Do you speak English?” in Serbian: Говорите ли енглески? (goh-VOH-ree-teh lee ENG-lehs-kee). Built from говорите ли = do you speak; енглески = English.
Common mistakes and things to watch out for
- добар дан (DOH-bahr dahn): formal.
- како си? (KAH-koh see): informal.
Culture and etiquette
Slava — the family saint
Almost every Serbian family celebrates its slava, the feast day of its patron saint. It's the most important day of the year — guests come, a special bread (slavski kolač) is cut, and no one leaves hungry.
Kafana culture
The kafana is Serbia's traditional coffee house: strong coffee, live music and long conversations. Order a domaća kafa (Turkish-style coffee in a small cup) and take your time.
Rakija
Rakija is a strong fruit brandy, usually made from grapes or plums (šljivovica). It's served in tiny glasses and is a symbol of hospitality — being offered one means you're welcome.
Two alphabets
Serbian is written in both ćirilica (Cyrillic) and latinica (Latin). Both are official — signs come in either. Learning Cyrillic unlocks the signs, but Latin will get you by almost everywhere.
Ćevapi & sarma
Ćevapi (grilled minced-meat rolls) and sarma (cabbage rolls) are national favourites, usually served with kajmak (a creamy dairy spread) and fresh bread.
A guest is sacred
Serbian hospitality runs deep: a gost (guest) is treated like family. Offering food, drink and a warm welcome is a point of pride — accept what's offered and you'll earn a friend for life.
Example dialogues
In a kafana
You: Добар дан! Једну кафу, молим. (DOH-bahr dahn! YEH-dnoo KAH-foo, MOH-leem) — Good day! A coffee, please.
Waiter: Одмах. Да ли још нешто? (OD-mahkh. dah lee yosh NEH-shtoh) — Right away. Anything else?
You: Једну воду, молим. (YEH-dnoo VOH-doo, MOH-leem) — A water, please.
Waiter: Изволите. То је двеста динара. (eez-VOH-lee-teh. toh yeh DVEH-stah DEE-nah-rah) — Here you are. That's two hundred dinars.
You: Хвала лепо! (HVAH-lah LEH-poh) — Thanks a lot!
On the tram / bus
You: Извините, где је станица? (eez-VEE-nee-teh, gdeh yeh STAH-nee-tsah) — Excuse me, where's the stop?
Local: Тамо, десно. (TAH-moh, DEH-snoh) — There, on the right.
You: Хвала. Једну карту до центра. (HVAH-lah. YEH-dnoo KAHR-too doh TSEN-trah) — Thanks. One ticket to the centre.
Ticket: Педесет динара. Аутобус иде сваких пет минута. (PEH-deh-seht DEE-nah-rah. OW-toh-boos EE-deh svah-KEECH peht MEE-noo-tah) — Fifty dinars. The bus comes every five minutes.
You: Видимо се! (VEE-dee-moh seh) — See you!
At a restaurant
Waiter: Добро вече! Имате ли резервацију? (DOH-broh VEH-cheh! EE-mah-teh lee reh-zehr-VAH-tsee-yoo) — Good evening! Do you have a reservation?
You: Да, за двоје. (dah, zah DVOH-yeh) — Yes, for two.
You: Мени, молим. (MEH-nee, MOH-leem) — The menu, please.
You: Желим ћевапе и једно пиво. (ZHEH-leem CHEH-vah-peh ee YEH-dnoh PEE-voh) — I'd like ćevapi and a beer.
Waiter: Одличан избор! Пријатно! (od-LEE-chahn eez-BOHR! PREE-yah-tnoh) — Excellent choice! Enjoy!
Written by the LanguagePath editorial team from our own course material. Pronunciation guides are approximate English respellings; tap any phrase in the app above to hear it. Native-speaker review of every course is ongoing — tell us if you spot an error.