When learning Serbian, one of the essential vocabulary categories you need to master is family-related words. Understanding these words not only helps in daily conversations but also gives insights into the culture and values of Serbian-speaking communities. In this article, we will explore various family-related terms, their pronunciation, and usage in context through Serbian sentences.

Basic Family Terms

The foundation of family vocabulary begins with immediate family members. Let’s start with the basics:

– Mother: majka (мајка)
– Father: otac (отац)
– Sister: sestra (сестра)
– Brother: brat (брат)

Here’s how you might use these words in a sentence:
– Moja majka je kuvarica. (My mother is a cook.)
– Moj otac voli ribolov. (My father enjoys fishing.)
– Imam jednu sestru i dva brata. (I have one sister and two brothers.)

Extended Family

In Serbian, extended family members are also commonly mentioned in daily conversations. Some important terms include:

– Grandmother: baka (бака)
– Grandfather: deda (деда)
– Aunt: tetka (тетка)
– Uncle: ujak (ујак)

Using these words in sentences:
– Moja baka pravi najbolje kolače. (My grandmother makes the best cakes.)
– Deda mi je pričao priče iz mladosti. (My grandfather told me stories from his youth.)
– Moja tetka je učiteljica. (My aunt is a teacher.)
– Idemo u posetu mom ujaku. (We are visiting my uncle.)

Marital Status and Relations

When discussing family, terms related to marital status and in-laws are essential. Some of these include:

– Wife: supruga (супруга) or žena (жена)
– Husband: suprug (супруг) or muž (муж)
– Mother-in-law: svekrva (свекрва)
– Father-in-law: svekar (свекар)

Sentences with these words might look like:
– Moja supruga je inženjerka. (My wife is an engineer.)
– Moj suprug radi kao doktor. (My husband works as a doctor.)
– Moja svekrva voli da gaji cveće. (My mother-in-law loves to grow flowers.)
– Svekar mi pomaže da popravim auto. (My father-in-law helps me fix the car.)

Children and Descendants

Discussing children and other descendants is common in family conversations. Key terms include:

– Son: sin (син)
– Daughter: ćerka (ћерка)
– Grandson: unuk (унук)
– Granddaughter: unuka (унука)

Examples of these in sentences:
– Moj sin studira medicinu. (My son is studying medicine.)
– Moja ćerka voli da pleše. (My daughter loves to dance.)
– Moj unuk je još uvek beba. (My grandson is still a baby.)
– Unuka mi dolazi za vikend. (My granddaughter is coming for the weekend.)

Cousins, Nephews, and Nieces

Finally, let’s look at terms for cousins, nephews, and nieces, which are often mentioned in larger family gatherings:

– Cousin: rođak (рођак) for male, rođaka (рођака) for female
– Nephew: nećak (нећак)
– Niece: nećaka (нећака)

Using these in context:
– Moj rođak je odličan u matematici. (My cousin is excellent at math.)
– Nećak mi je završio fakultet prošle godine. (My nephew graduated from college last year.)
– Idemo u šetnju sa mojom nećakom. (We are going for a walk with my niece.)

Understanding and using these family-related terms correctly can significantly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in Serbian. Remember, practicing these words in context helps in better retention and also gives you a glimpse into the family-oriented culture of Serbian speakers.