Planning a trip to Serbia? Learning some basic Serbian can greatly enhance your travel experience, allowing you to communicate with locals, understand signs and menus, and delve deeper into the culture of this fascinating country. In this article, we’ll cover some essential phrases and vocabulary that every traveler should know when visiting Serbia.

Greetings and Basic Politeness

It’s always polite to begin any interaction with a greeting. In Serbia, both formal and informal greetings are commonly used, depending on the situation.

Dobro jutro (Добро јутро) – Good morning
Dobar dan (Добар дан) – Good afternoon
Dobro veče (Добро вече) – Good evening

When leaving, you might want to say:

Doviđenja (Довиђења) – Goodbye
Laku noć (Лаку ноћ) – Good night

Please and thank you are also essential in any language:

Molim (Молим) – Please
Hvala (Хвала) – Thank you
Izvinite (Извините) – Excuse me

Getting Around

Navigating through a new city can be challenging. Here are some phrases that can help you find your way or get the assistance you need.

To ask for directions, you might say:

Izvinite, gde je …? (Извините, где је …?) – Excuse me, where is …?

If you need a specific location, you could add:

…hotel? (…хотел?) – …hotel?
…banka? (…банка?) – …bank?
…stanica? (…станца?) – …station?

In case you’re lost:

Izgubio sam se. (Изгубио сам се.) – I am lost. (male speaker)
Izgubila sam se. (Изгубила сам се.) – I am lost. (female speaker)

At a Restaurant

Ordering food is a great way to practice your Serbian. Here are some phrases to help you order and enjoy your meal.

To get the menu:

Možete li mi doneti meni? (Можете ли ми донети мени?) – Could you bring me the menu?

If you’re ready to order:

Želeo bih da naručim… (Желео бих да наручим…) – I would like to order… (male speaker)
Želela bih da naručim… (Желела бих да наручим…) – I would like to order… (female speaker)

To ask for the bill:

Možemo li dobiti račun? (Можемо ли добити рачун?) – Can we get the bill?

Shopping

Whether you’re at a market or a boutique, knowing how to ask for prices and sizes is very useful.

To ask how much something costs:

Koliko košta ovo? (Колико кошта ово?) – How much does this cost?

If you need a different size:

Trebate li drugu veličinu? (Требате ли другу величину?) – Do you need another size?

Emergencies

In case of emergency, it’s crucial to know some basic phrases to ask for help or immediate assistance.

To call for help:

Upomoć! (Упомоћ!) – Help!

If you need a doctor:

Trebam doktora. (Требам доктора.) – I need a doctor.

To report a crime or seek police assistance:

Trebam policiju. (Требам полицију.) – I need the police.

Conclusion

Learning these basic Serbian phrases will not only make your trip more enjoyable but also help you connect with the local culture and people. Don’t worry about making mistakes; the effort to speak the local language is always appreciated. Have a great trip and enjoy everything Serbia has to offer!