Vehicles

1. Аутомобил

   A-u-to-mo-bil

   Car

   Usage

   The formal word on documents and signs; in speech people say "ауто" or "кола"

2. Аутобус

   A-u-to-bus

   City bus

   Usage

   The city bus; the stop is "станица". In Belgrade you ride with a transit card (БусПлус) or a ticket

3. Међуградски аутобус

   Me-đu-grad-ski a-u-to-bus

   Intercity coach

   Usage

   The workhorse for travel around Serbia, faster and more frequent than the train. Stowing a bag underneath costs extra

4. Ноћни аутобус

   Noć-ni a-u-to-bus

   Night bus

   Usage

   Belgrade runs buses through the night — useful for getting home after a night out

5. Комби

   Kom-bi

   Minibus / Van

   Usage

   A word shared across the former Yugoslavia. Small towns are often served by these vans rather than full coaches, leaving from the bus station

6. Трамвај

   Tram-vaj

   Tram

   Usage

   Belgrade is the only Serbian city with trams, and line 2 loops around Kalemegdan — a sightseeing ride in itself

7. Тролејбус

   Tro-lej-bus

   Trolleybus

   Usage

   A bus drawing power from overhead wires; in Belgrade it links the centre with Slavija and Voždovac

8. Воз

   Voz

   Train

   Usage

   In Serbian the word is "воз". The new high-speed line puts Novi Sad half an hour from Belgrade, and the Belgrade–Bar line into Montenegro is famous for its views

   Grammar Note

   Croatian uses an entirely different word for the same thing, "vlak"

9. Такси

   Tak-si

   Taxi

   Usage

   Insist on the meter, the "таксиметар". At Belgrade airport you take a fixed-price voucher from the desk in arrivals

10. Мотор

    Mo-tor

    Motorcycle

    Usage

    The everyday word; the formal term is "мотоцикл". The same word also means an engine

11. Бицикл

    Bi-cikl

    Bicycle

    Usage

    Belgrade has good riverside paths along the Sava and the Danube, and the long-distance EuroVelo 6 route passes through

12. Тротинет

    Tro-ti-net

    Scooter (kick / electric)

    Usage

    The electric kind is "електрични тротинет"; share schemes operate in Belgrade

13. Авион

    A-vi-on

    Airplane

    Usage

    There are essentially no domestic flights, so in practice the word comes up for travel to neighbouring countries

14. Брод

    Brod

    Ship

    Usage

    The word for a large vessel; Danube cruise ships call at Belgrade and sightseeing boats run from the quay

15. Чамац

    Ča-mac

    Small boat

    Usage

    A rowing or small motor boat, the kind used for trips through the Đerdap gorge or on the Uvac

16. Скела

    Ske-la

    River ferry

    Usage

    The flat ferry that crosses the Danube, Sava or Tisa where there is no bridge; some take cars

17. Трајект

    Tra-jekt

    Car ferry

    Usage

    A sea-going car ferry. Serbia is landlocked, so the word matters when you head for the Adriatic — the Kamenari–Lepetane crossing in Montenegro, for instance

18. Хитна помоћ

    Hit-na po-moć

    Ambulance

    Usage

    Literally "urgent help", meaning both the vehicle and the service. Dial 194, or 112 for the common European number. Pair it with "Позовите хитну помоћ, молим" from the Health & Hospital category

19. Изнајмљени аутомобил

    Iz-najm-lje-ni a-u-to-mo-bil

    Rental car

    Usage

    Shop signs usually just say "rent-a-car". Taking the car into Kosovo or some neighbouring countries needs extra insurance — check when you sign

20. Камион

    Ka-mi-on

    Truck

    Usage

    The word you will hear when a border queue or a mountain road is jammed

21. Жичара

    Ži-ča-ra

    Cable car / Ski lift

    Usage

    The same word as in "Где је жичара?" in the Skiing & Winter Sports category — the lifts at Kopaonik and Zlatibor

22. Гондола

    Gon-do-la

    Gondola lift

    Usage

    The enclosed cabin type; Zlatibor's "Gold Gondola" is among the world's longest and runs for sightseeing in summer too

23. Запрега

    Za-pre-ga

    Horse cart

    Usage

    A harnessed horse and cart; the vehicle itself can be spelled out as "запрежна кола". Still in daily use in the countryside — and on main roads, so drive carefully

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