Serbian Greetings & First Phrases

Ten phrases carry a whole first conversation. Serbian, like its Slavic neighbours, splits them into two registers: informal (ти — friends, family, people your age) and formal (Ви — strangers, shops, anyone older). Choose the right one and you already sound polite.

Serbian is written in both Cyrillic and Latin, and every table below shows both. If the Cyrillic is new to you, spend ten minutes with the two Serbian scripts first — thirty letters, one sound each, no surprises.

Saying Hello

Добар дан is your default. It works at the bakery, at the kiosk, with your landlord, and with your friend's grandmother. When in doubt, добар дан.

Please, Thank You, Sorry

Молим is the hardest-working word in Serbian: it means please, answers хвала, and — said with rising intonation — asks someone to repeat themselves.

Introducing Yourself

Зовем се… is literally "I call myself…" — the same reflexive pattern you'll meet across the Slavic family. Seal any introduction with драго ми је ("it's dear to me").

Ти or Ви?

Serbian has two words for you, and the choice matters:

The verb changes with the pronoun: Како си? to a friend, Како сте? to your professor. Answer either with Добро сам, хвала — I'm fine, thanks.

Saying Goodbye

Довиђења is literally "until seeing (each other)" — the exact twin of Russian до свидания and French au revoir.