Adjectives

1. Велики

   Ve-li-ki

   Big

   Usage

   For stating size, e.g. clothes or rooms

   Grammar Note

   Headwords are masculine singular: велика (fem.), велико (neut.). Serbian also distinguishes indefinite велик from definite велики.

2. Мали

   Ma-li

   Small

   Usage

   The opposite of big; use it to ask for another size

3. Тежак

   Te-žak

   Heavy

   Usage

   Describe a heavy bag, often before asking for help

4. Лак

   Lak

   Light (weight)

   Usage

   Light in weight — a different word from "bright"

5. Скуп

   Skup

   Expensive

   Usage

   Opens a price negotiation

6. Јефтин

   Jef-tin

   Cheap

   Usage

   Use it when hunting for a cheaper option

7. Врућ

   Vruć

   Hot

   Usage

   Hot to the touch — distinct from hot weather

   Grammar Note

   "врућ" is hot to the touch; for weather use the neuter "вруће" (Вруће је).

8. Хладан

   Hla-dan

   Cold

   Usage

   Cold to the touch — distinct from cold weather

9. Нов

   Nov

   New

   Usage

   For asking for a new item or a different room

10. Стар

    Star

    Old (thing)

    Usage

    Old as in an object — not used for people here

    Grammar Note

    Use "стар" for things; "постарији" is gentler for an elderly person.

11. Млад

    Mlad

    Young

    Usage

    For talking about a person's age

12. Постарији

    Pos-ta-ri-ji

    Old (person)

    Usage

    The word used for people; keep it apart from "old thing"

13. Чист

    Čist

    Clean

    Usage

    For the cleanliness of a room or of water

14. Прљав

    Pr-ljav

    Dirty

    Usage

    For complaints, e.g. asking to change rooms

15. Добар

    Do-bar

    Good

    Usage

    The most general word for a positive judgement

16. Лош

    Loš

    Bad

    Usage

    For reporting something faulty or unwell

17. Близак

    Bli-zak

    Near

    Usage

    Comes up constantly as an answer about distance

18. Далек

    Da-lek

    Far

    Usage

    Check it to decide between walking and taking transport

19. Рани

    Ra-ni

    Early

    Usage

    Early in time — this entry is about the clock, not speed

    Grammar Note

    "рани" is early in time; fast in speed is "брз".

20. Касни

    Kas-ni

    Late

    Usage

    Late in time; also used to report a delay

    Grammar Note

    "касни" is late in time; slow in speed is "спор".

21. Много

    Mno-go

    Many

    Usage

    A large quantity; handy for adjusting an order

22. Мало

    Ma-lo

    Few

    Usage

    A small quantity; use it to ask for less

23. Вруће

    Vru-će

    Hot (weather)

    Usage

    Hot weather; many languages use a different word than for hot objects

    Grammar Note

    Weather uses the neuter "вруће" (Данас је вруће = it is hot today).

24. Хладно

    Hlad-no

    Cold (weather)

    Usage

    Cold weather; many languages use a different word than for cold objects

    Grammar Note

    Weather uses the neuter "хладно" (Хладно је). A cold drink is "хладан".

25. Сладак

    Sla-dak

    Cute

    Usage

    A versatile compliment for people, objects, or animals

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "слатка"; the same word also means "sweet" — context makes it "cute".

26. Кул

    Kul

    Cool

    Usage

    Mainly for complimenting the look of a person or object

    Grammar Note

    A loanword from English; invariable in colloquial use

27. Укусан

    U-ku-san

    Delicious

    Usage

    The most common compliment to give at the table

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "укусна"

28. Невероватан

    Ne-ve-ro-va-tan

    Amazing

    Usage

    Expresses surprise or admiration

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "невероватна"

29. Забаван

    Za-ba-van

    Fun

    Usage

    Used to react to an experience itself

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "забавна"

30. Више

    Vi-še

    More

    Usage

    Ask for more of something. In a negative sentence "више не" means "no longer", so show it on its own for the positive sense

    Grammar Note

    The comparative of "много" (a lot); when ordering, "Још, молим" (another, please) is often more natural

31. Само мало

    Sa-mo ma-lo

    Just a little

    Usage

    Caps the portion; stronger than the plain "Мало" — it says "this much and no more"

    Grammar Note

    "Само" (only) plus "мало" (a little); pair it with a raised palm to stop a pour

32. Пола

    Po-la

    Half

    Usage

    Asks for half as much; "пола порције" is a half portion

    Grammar Note

    Indeclinable. Note that in telling time "пола три" means half past two (half *to* three), not half past three

33. Све

    Sve

    All / everything

    Usage

    Marks "all of it" — settling the whole bill or taking everything that is left

    Grammar Note

    Neuter form; "Све заједно" (all together) and "То је све" (that's everything)

34. Довољно је

    Do-vo-ljno je

    That's enough

    Usage

    Stops a pour or a serving spoon mid-action; polite as a refusal

    Grammar Note

    "Довољно" (enough) plus the copula "је"; "Хвала, довољно је" softens it further

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