Food & Drinks

1. Сто за двоје, молим

   sto za DVO-je, MO-lim

   A table for two, please

   Usage

   Requesting a table for two at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   двоје is the collective numeral for two people. Serbian has 7 cases; сто is nominative here

2. Мени, молим

   ME-ni, MO-lim

   The menu, please

   Usage

   Requesting the menu at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   мени is the loanword "menu." Serbian declines foreign words too; nominative used here

3. Шта препоручујете?

   šta pre-po-RU-ču-je-te

   What do you recommend?

   Usage

   Asking a waiter for their recommendation

   Grammar Note

   препоручујете is the formal second-person plural of the verb "to recommend." Serbian verbs conjugate by person

4. Желим ћевапе

   ŽE-lim ĆE-va-pe

   I'd like ćevapi

   Usage

   Ordering ćevapi — Serbia's iconic grilled minced meat sausages

   Grammar Note

   ћевапе is the accusative plural of ћевапи. Serbian uses accusative case for direct objects

5. Без меса, молим

   bez ME-sa, MO-lim

   Without meat, please

   Usage

   Used by vegetarians or those avoiding meat

   Grammar Note

   без governs the genitive case. месо (meat) → меса (genitive). An example of Serbian's 7-case system

6. Рачун, молим

   RA-čun, MO-lim

   The bill, please

   Usage

   Requesting the check after a meal

   Grammar Note

   рачун is a masculine noun in the nominative case. Serbian noun endings change with each of the 7 cases

7. Веома је укусно

   ve-O-ma je UK-us-no

   It's very delicious

   Usage

   Complimenting the food at a restaurant or home

   Grammar Note

   укусно is the neuter short form used predicatively. Serbian adjectives have long and short forms

8. Имате ли вегетаријанска јела?

   i-MA-te li ve-ge-ta-ri-JAN-ska JE-la

   Do you have vegetarian dishes?

   Usage

   Checking for vegetarian options on the menu

   Grammar Note

   вегетаријанска agrees with јела (neuter plural). Serbian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case

9. Једну кафу, молим

   JED-nu KA-fu, MO-lim

   One coffee, please

   Usage

   Ordering coffee at a café or after a meal

   Grammar Note

   кафу is the accusative of кафа (coffee, feminine). Serbian uses accusative for direct objects

10. Живели!

    ŽI-ve-li

    Cheers! / To your health!

    Usage

    Serbia's classic toast, used when raising glasses for any drink

    Grammar Note

    живели is a past plural form of живети (to live). Essential when toasting with rakija, Serbia's national spirit

11. Хлеб

    Hleb

    Bread

    Usage

    Point at it to order bread or to check for wheat; Serbian eateries usually bring bread automatically

    Grammar Note

    Serbian is "хлеб"; it is a different word from the Croatian "kruh". Baked rolls and pastries are "пецива"

12. Пиринач

    Pi-ri-nač

    Rice

    Usage

    The same word covers cooked and uncooked rice; as a side dish, "пиринач као прилог"

    Grammar Note

    Serbian says "пиринач"; the Croatian word is "riža", and "ориз" is not used in Serbian

13. Тестенина

    Tes-te-ni-na

    Pasta / noodles

    Usage

    Covers wheat pasta in general. Asian-style noodles are usually called "резанци" or "нудле" instead

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun, normally used in the singular as a mass noun

14. Супа

    Su-pa

    Soup

    Usage

    A clear soup. A thick, roux-based soup is a "чорба", listed separately on Serbian menus

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun; "супа од поврћа" is vegetable soup

15. Сир

    Sir

    Cheese

    Usage

    Order cheese or check for dairy; the Serbian staples are white cheese ("бели сир") and "кајмак"

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun

16. Јогурт

    Jo-gurt

    Yoghurt

    Usage

    Serbian yoghurt is normally drinkable and served in a glass alongside burek or pies; the set kind is "чврсти јогурт"

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun

17. Љуто

    Lju-to

    Spicy (chilli hot)

    Usage

    Chilli heat specifically. To avoid it, pair with "Није љуто?" (is it not spicy?). Temperature-hot is a different word, "вруће"

    Grammar Note

    Neuter adjective used adverbially; the classic hot condiments are spicy "ајвар" and "љута паприка"

18. Сирово

    Si-ro-vo

    Raw (uncooked)

    Usage

    Checks that something is uncooked — a food-safety issue in pregnancy or when immunocompromised. Show it as "Да ли је ово сирово?"

    Grammar Note

    Neuter adjective; cooked is "термички обрађено", or "печено"/"кувано" for roasted/boiled

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