Cooking & Markets

1. Ово јело се прави са свежим зачинима

   O-vo JE-lo se PRA-vi sa SVE-žim za-ČI-ni-ma

   This dish is made with fresh spices

   Usage

   Used when explaining ingredients or cooking methods

   Grammar Note

   са + instrumental plural expresses "made with." зачин (spice, masculine) takes instrumental plural -има

2. Ћевапчићи су традиционалан српски специјалитет

   će-VAP-či-ći su tra-di-ci-O-na-lan SRP-ski spe-ci-ja-li-TET

   Ćevapčići are a traditional Serbian specialty

   Usage

   Used to introduce Serbian traditional cuisine

   Grammar Note

   ћевапчићи is used in the plural form only. традиционалан is the masculine nominative adjective agreeing with специјалитет

3. Да ли знате рецепт за сарму?

   da li ZNA-te RE-cept za SAR-mu

   Do you know the recipe for sarma?

   Usage

   Used to ask about a specific recipe

   Grammar Note

   знати (to know) conjugates as знате for 2nd plural. сарма (stuffed cabbage, from Turkish) is a feminine noun

4. Загрејте рерну на двеста степени

   za-GREJ-te RER-nu na DVE-sta STE-pe-ni

   Preheat the oven to 200 degrees

   Usage

   Used as a cooking instruction when using an oven

   Grammar Note

   загрејте is the formal plural imperative of загрејати (to heat). рерна (oven, feminine) takes accusative -у

5. Мешајте лагано да се не залепи

   ME-ša-jte LA-ga-no da se ne za-LE-pi

   Stir gently so it does not stick

   Usage

   Used as a cooking instruction to prevent burning or sticking

   Grammar Note

   да се не залепи is a negative subjunctive expressing purpose. залепити (to stick) → subjunctive залепи

6. Додајте со по укусу

   DO-daj-te so po U-ku-su

   Add salt to taste

   Usage

   Used in recipes to indicate seasoning should be adjusted to preference

   Grammar Note

   по + locative means "according to." укус (taste, masculine) takes locative ending -у

7. Кувајте на тихој ватри двадесет минута

   KU-vaj-te na TI-hoj VA-tri DVA-de-set mi-NU-ta

   Cook on low heat for twenty minutes

   Usage

   Used to give cooking instructions regarding heat level and time

   Grammar Note

   кувајте is the polite/plural imperative of кувати (to cook). тихој ватри is locative, literally "on quiet fire"

8. Ова чорба мирише одлично

   O-va ČOR-ba MI-ri-še od-LIČ-no

   This soup smells wonderful

   Usage

   Used to compliment the smell of a dish while cooking

   Grammar Note

   мирисати (to smell) conjugates as мирише for 3rd singular. одлично is an adverb meaning "excellently"

9. Треба ми кашика и даска за сечење

   TRE-ba mi KA-ši-ka i DAS-ka za SE-če-nje

   I need a spoon and a cutting board

   Usage

   Used to request cooking utensils

   Grammar Note

   треба ми is impersonal for "I need." даска за сечење is a compound: даска (board) + за (for) + сечење (cutting, gerund)

10. Јело је спремно за служење

    JE-lo je SPREM-no za SLU-že-nje

    The dish is ready to serve

    Usage

    Used to announce that a dish is ready to be served

    Grammar Note

    спремно is the neuter predicative form of спреман, agreeing with neuter јело. служење is the gerund of служити

11. Со

    So

    Salt

    Usage

    Ask for or check salt at the table or in a market; for less salt, "мање соли"

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun with the genitive "соли"; Serbian is "со" where Croatian has "sol"

12. Шећер

    Še-ćer

    Sugar

    Usage

    Checks for sugar — important for diabetics; "без шећера" means sugar-free

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; in a café you will be asked "са шећером / без шећера"

13. Бибер

    Bi-ber

    Black pepper

    Usage

    For black pepper. "Паприка" means capsicum or chilli and is a different thing — do not confuse them

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun of Turkish origin; Serbian "бибер" against the Croatian "papar"

14. Уље

    U-lje

    Cooking oil

    Usage

    Checks for cooking oil; olive oil is "маслиново уље" and sunflower oil "сунцокретово уље"

    Grammar Note

    Neuter noun; lard is a separate word, "маст" — usually pork-derived, so it matters for religious restrictions

15. Сирће

    Sir-će

    Vinegar

    Usage

    Ask for or check vinegar; Serbian salads are dressed with vinegar and oil by default

    Grammar Note

    Neuter noun; Serbian says "сирће" where Croatian has "ocat"

16. Путер

    Pu-ter

    Butter

    Usage

    Checks for butter — relevant for dairy allergies and vegans; "маслац" is an understood synonym

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; margarine is "маргарин"

17. Мед

    Med

    Honey

    Usage

    Ask for or check honey — relevant for vegans and for infant feeding

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; beekeeping is widespread in Serbia and "домаћи мед" is sold at markets

18. Тофу

    To-fu

    Tofu

    Usage

    Tofu is essentially absent from ordinary Serbian eateries. Use this word when looking in a big-city health-food shop ("продавница здраве хране") or a vegetarian restaurant

    Grammar Note

    An indeclinable loanword, treated as masculine

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