Getting By in Serbian
Свакодневне фразе — Find your way, ask the price, keep the conversation alive.
Where is…?
«Где је…?» opens every search: Где је хотел? Где је тоалет? Где је станица? Point-and-ask works wonders.
Где је станица?
Where is the station?
How much?
«Колико кошта?» — how much does it cost? At the pijaca, add a smile; haggling is a social sport.
Колико кошта ово?
How much is this?
When you're lost
«Не разумем» — I don't understand. «Говорите ли енглески?» — do you speak English? «Полако, молим» — slowly, please.
Не разумем. Полако, молим.
I don't understand. Slowly, please.
The universal «може»
«Може» — literally “it can” — is Serbian's all-purpose yes: Може кафа? Може! Deal, sure, OK, sounds good.
— Може кафа? — Може!
— Coffee? — Sure!
Put It Together
Keep the lesson goal in view: Find your way, ask the price, keep the conversation alive. Revisit the examples, then test yourself in practice.