Greetings

1. Здраво

   ZDRA-vo

   Hello

   Usage

   The most common Serbian greeting, used with friends and acquaintances

   Grammar Note

   Serbian uses both Cyrillic (Ћирилица) and Latin scripts. здраво = zdravo in Latin script

2. Добар дан

   DO-bar dan

   Good day / Good afternoon

   Usage

   Formal daytime greeting, common in shops and formal settings

   Grammar Note

   добар is the masculine nominative form agreeing with дан. Serbian has 7 grammatical cases

3. Добро јутро

   DOB-ro JU-tro

   Good morning

   Usage

   Standard morning greeting used until around noon

   Grammar Note

   добро is the neuter form agreeing with јутро. Serbian adjectives agree in gender, number, and case

4. Добро вече

   DOB-ro VE-če

   Good evening

   Usage

   Evening greeting used after sunset

   Grammar Note

   вече is neuter, so добро is used. Serbian has complex case system but greetings are fixed expressions

5. Хвала

   HVA-la

   Thank you

   Usage

   The most common way to say thank you in Serbian

   Grammar Note

   хвала is derived from the noun "gratitude." хвала пуно (hvala puno) means "thank you very much"

6. Молим

   MO-lim

   Please / You're welcome

   Usage

   Used both as "please" when requesting and "you're welcome" in response to thanks

   Grammar Note

   First-person singular of the verb молити (to request). Context determines its exact meaning

7. Како сте?

   KA-ko ste

   How are you? (formal)

   Usage

   Polite inquiry used with strangers or superiors

   Grammar Note

   сте is the plural of "to be." Serbian uses plural verb forms as a politeness strategy, like many Slavic languages

8. Пријатно

   pri-JAT-no

   Nice to meet you / Have a pleasant time

   Usage

   A versatile expression used both when meeting someone and when wishing them well

   Grammar Note

   пријатно is the neuter predicative adjective. Widely used as both a greeting and a farewell

9. Довиђења

   do-vi-ĐE-nja

   Goodbye

   Usage

   Standard farewell in most situations

   Grammar Note

   виђења is the genitive of виђење (seeing). This shows Serbian's case system — до + genitive means "until"

10. Извините

    iz-vi-NI-te

    Excuse me / I'm sorry

    Usage

    Used to get attention or to apologize

    Grammar Note

    извините is the formal plural imperative of извинити (to forgive). Informal: извини

11. Где је тоалет?

    GDE je TO-a-let?

    Where is the toilet/bathroom?

    Usage

    Essential phrase for finding a toilet in any public place

    Grammar Note

    Serbian uses both Cyrillic and Latin scripts. "где/gde" is the interrogative adverb "where"

12. Не могу да говорим српски

    ne MO-gu da go-VO-rim SRP-ski

    I can't speak Serbian

    Usage

    Used to let someone know you don't speak Serbian

    Grammar Note

    Serbian also uses "да + present" instead of an infinitive. "да говорим" = "to speak"

13. Опет ћу доћи.

    O-pet ću do-ći.

    I'll come again

    Usage

    Said when leaving a shop — a friendly way to signal you enjoyed it

14. Јако сам се добро провео.

    Ja-ko sam se do-bro pro-ve-o.

    I had a great time

    Usage

    Said when parting, to share how much you enjoyed it

    Grammar Note

    Female speakers say "провела" instead

15. Хвала, видимо се!

    Hva-la, vi-di-mo se!

    Thanks, see you

    Usage

    A casual farewell for someone you've become friendly with

16. Лаку ноћ.

    LA-ku noć.

    Good night

    Usage

    Said just before going to sleep — not a farewell, but a bedtime greeting

17. Излазим.

    IZ-la-zim.

    I'm heading out

    Usage

    Said when leaving your lodging for a while

18. Ево ме.

    E-vo me.

    I'm back

    Usage

    Said upon returning to your lodging; literally "here I am"

19. Извините, морам да идем.

    iz-vi-NI-te, MO-ram da I-dem.

    I'll be going now

    Usage

    A polite phrase for excusing yourself when leaving before others

20. Нема на чему.

    NE-ma na ČE-mu.

    You're welcome

    Usage

    An alternative to "Молим" for replying to thanks

Browse all TravelPhrases languages