Whether you’re planning a trip to Serbia or simply want to connect with Serbian friends, knowing how to articulate plans in Serbian can be incredibly useful. This guide will walk you through various phrases and questions that will help you make plans like a native speaker. Understanding these phrases will not only improve your conversational skills but also enhance your understanding of the Serbian culture.

1. Suggesting an Outing

When you want to suggest going out, it’s common to start with a question to gauge interest. In Serbian, you might ask:

“Da li bi želeo/želela da izađemo večeras?” (Would you like to go out tonight?)

If you’re suggesting a specific activity or location, you could say:

“Hajde da idemo u bioskop.” (Let’s go to the cinema.)

Another friendly approach can be:

“Šta kažeš na kafu sutra popodne?” (How about coffee tomorrow afternoon?)

2. Discussing Time and Place

Once you’ve agreed on an activity, the next step is to decide when and where. To ask “When shall we meet?” you can say:

“Kada ćemo se naći?”

If you want to suggest a specific time, you might say:

“Možemo se naći u 20h.” (We can meet at 8 PM.)

Discussing the location is equally important. To ask “Where shall we meet?” in Serbian, you would say:

“Gde ćemo se naći?”

And to suggest a specific place, perhaps:

“Nađimo se ispred bioskopa.” (Let’s meet in front of the cinema.)

3. Confirming Plans

Confirmation is key to ensuring that both parties have understood the plans correctly. To confirm plans, you might ask:

“Da li smo se dogovorili za sutra u 20h?” (Have we agreed on tomorrow at 8 PM?)

Or to confirm the activity and time together, you could say:

“Dakle, vidimo se sutra na večeri u restoranu u 19h, je l’ tako?” (So, we’ll see each other for dinner at the restaurant at 7 PM tomorrow, right?)

4. Changing Plans

Sometimes plans change, and it’s useful to know how to communicate this. To inform someone that you need to reschedule, you might say:

“Moram da promenim planove. Možemo li da se nađemo drugi dan?” (I need to change plans. Can we meet another day?)

If you need to cancel altogether, you could express:

“Nažalost, moram da otkažem naše druženje.” (Unfortunately, I have to cancel our meeting.)

5. Responding to Invitations

Knowing how to respond to invitations is just as important as knowing how to make them. If you want to accept an invitation, you can simply say:

“Sa zadovoljstvom, vidimo se tada!” (With pleasure, see you then!)

If you’re unsure and need to check your schedule, you might respond:

“Moram da proverim svoj raspored, javiću ti uskoro.” (I need to check my schedule, I will let you know soon.)

And if you must decline an invitation, it’s polite to explain briefly:

“Žao mi je, ali već imam druge planove za taj dan.” (I’m sorry, but I already have other plans for that day.)

6. Making Plans Over the Phone

Making plans over the phone requires clarity to avoid misunderstandings. Here’s how you might handle a phone conversation about plans:

“Zdravo, Marko! Da li si za tenis ovog vikenda?” (Hello, Marko! Are you up for tennis this weekend?)

Listen carefully and respond accordingly. If the plan is set, you can end the call with:

“Odlično, vidimo se u subotu!” (Great, see you on Saturday!)

Conclusion

Mastering these phrases will not only help you in making plans with ease but will also give you a deeper insight into the Serbian way of communication. Remember, practice is key in language learning, so try using these phrases as often as you can. With time and practice, you’ll be making plans like a native Serbian speaker in no time!