Its So Good to See You Again in Serbian

Learning to greet people in a new language is i of the first important hurdles for learners.

Since you're here I assume yous are interested in how to properly address people in Serbian. In that location is no simple answer. Depending on the situation, interlocutors and their human relationship, at that place are many ways to say hullo in Serbian apart from Ćao. Which expression we cull depends on the fourth dimension of day, formality and the speakers' age.

Before we get to the Serbian greetings, still, I have some tips and explanations that give a bit of context. Read on for a few guidelines on grammar, sociopolitical problems and gestures that accompany saying hullo in Serbian.

If y'all're hither simply for the greetings, feel free to bound over to those. Permit's go! Idemo!

Grammatical considerations

Serbian has complex grammar. Let me illustrate. In English in that location is a single discussion for "expert" and it never changes regardless of the noun that goes with it.

E.g., Good morning. Skilful dog. Proficient house.

Easy-peasy.

In Serbian, however, we accept grammatical cases. What this translates to is the following:

Dobar pas = Good domestic dog (Masculine case)

Dobra kuća = Adept firm (Feminine example)

Dobro jutro = Good morning (Neuter example)

Then skillful can be either dobar, dobra or dobro. At present you shouldn't be too confused that "adieu" translates to Dobar dan and "good morning" to Dobro jutro. I hope this clarifies some things, despite it beingness a mere scratch at the surface.

Countries that speak or sympathize Serbian

One time upon a time, Serbian used to be part of Serbo-Croation, the official language of Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia, which comprised Slovenia, Croatia, Republic of bosnia and herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and Macedonia, is now long gone. Merely apart from Slovenia and Macedonia that have very distinct mother tongues, all the other countries still speak fairly similarly. How we call these languages is a political issue, but speakers of Serbian, Montenegrin, Bosnian and Croation can communicate very easily. Learning Serbian therefore opens more than 1 door.

Nevertheless, these are still touchy subjects for most Balkan nations and y'all should try and avoid making presumptions about your interlocutor's female parent tongue. For example, in my home country Montenegro some volition tell you they speak Serbian, others Montenegrin. The bodily difference in voice communication is so slight that advice is effortless. But for historical reasons people might be aggravated if you presume they speak Serbian, and they consider information technology Montenegrin or Bosnian for example. To stay on the safe side, ask native speakers what their call their mother tongue and respect their response.

A handshake or a kiss? Or 3?

Saying hello in Serbian is normally accompanied past a handshake or a kiss on the cheek. When meeting someone for the first time and in formal occasions, handshake is mostly the fashion to become. Make it firm, but non bone-crunching.

With friends, immature people more often than not go for a single air kiss. Men are less probable to embrace every bit a greeting, just it'due south adequately mutual. To play it safe, get for a handshake and later observe what everyone else does.

For older people, particularly in formal occasions, such as feasts or family unit gatherings, iii kisses on the cheek are the norm. And then if yous're invited over for dinner, don't be surprised if you lot become a warmer welcome than expected.

Enough with the prelude. Let's move on to the main flake – the Serbian greetings!

ane. "Hi" in Serbian – Ćao

To say hi in Serbian yous just need a simple Ćao. This Italian borrowing is your go-to phrase for greeting friends and acquaintances in informal situations.

In that location are more ways you tin can respond to hi in Serbian. If nosotros respond to Ćao with the same greeting, we oft double it. So y'all tin reply with Ćao ćao. Another way to go about it is to utilize an interjection, like for instance, say Ee ćao. This doesn't change the meaning, just will make you sound more spontaneous. Or oft, we respond with a different phrase birthday, like what'southward up.

2. "Hello" in Serbian – Dobar dan or Zdravo

Dobar dan is what y'all volition hear the most from apex until sundown. It's the gold standard and y'all can't go wrong with information technology. Another way to say hello in Serbian is Zdravo – which literally means healthy. In terms of formality, Zdravo comes across equally less formal.

3. "Good morning" in Serbian – Dobro jutro

If you lot work the morning shift, utilise Dobro jutro to wish your colleagues a good forenoon. Or whatever other acquaintance yous run into. This is the standard salutation until apex, when about people switch to Dobar dan.

Keep in heed, though, for informal encounters, immature people especially are more probable to stick to Ćao at any time of mean solar day. If you fall into this category, brand certain to adopt this practise with your peers. Otherwise, you lot might be a bit too formal.

4. "Good evening" in Serbian – Dobro veče

When sun starts to prepare, switch to Dobro veče . You can use this expression until bedtime.

5. "Good night" in Serbian – Laku noć

Before heading off to bed, you should wish your family unit or flatmates Laku noć. In response, you might hear the shortened form 'noć. You can as well wish some other person sweetness dreams with Lijepo spavaj. To reply to Lijepo spavaj say I ti isto pregnant "(sweetness dreams) to you besides".

six. "What'due south up" in Serbian – Šta ima? Or De si? / Đe si?

In most informal situations, you're likely to have a bit of small talk when y'all run into an acquaintance or friend. If you lot spot a person you know and greet them, information technology's customary to ask Šta ima? The immediate response is usually Ništa meaning nix, regardless of your current activities. Then later on proverb "nothing", we talk over the news and things that are actually "up". Weird, I know.

Alternatively you tin can enquire De si? to achive the same effect. Note that this is a less formal of the two. De si? literally means "where are you lot", but nosotros use it to ask for news and greet somebody nosotros haven't seen for a while. In Montenegro you will hear Đe si?, a regional variant with the same pregnant.

7. "How are y'all?" – Kako si or Kako ste?

To ask about someone'south full general wellbeing, employ Kako si? for a person of your age. Use Kako ste? in formal situations or when talking to a group of people.

8. "Goodbye" in Serbian – Doviđenja or Prijatno

Upon departure, greet your interlocuters with Doviđenja, which literally ways until nosotros meet each other again. In the store, the staff volition usually run into yous off with Prijatno, wishing you lot a pleasant (prijatan) residuum of the mean solar day. Respond likewise.

ix. "Bye" in Serbian – Ćao

With friends and close ones, autumn back to Ćao . Use it in other informal situations as well, with your peers, colleagues or acquaintances.

ten. See you (soon) – Vidimo se (uskoro)

If you're going to come across somebody soon, you can say Vidimo se . Literally pregnant "we'll encounter each other", this greeting is the equivalent of English "run into you presently". Truth be told, you can use it even when you lot're not planning to see that person before long. It'south merely a useful expression to end a chat.

eleven. It's overnice to meet you – Drago mi je

To express pleasure at having met somebody, employ the unproblematic Drago mi je . It works in all situations.

12. "How-do-you-do" on the phone in Serbian – Halo?

Once yous start responding to phone calls in Serbian, y'all will need to apply Halo? So do ahead. It'south usually the first thing you hear when the connection is established, followed past some other greeting, typically – Dobar dan.

13. "Dear Sir or Madam" in Serbian – Poštovani/ Poštovana

To get-go your emails formally in Serbian, you need to proceed in mind the gender of your interlocutor. For men, write Poštovani gospodine (Dear Mr.) followed by his last name. For ladies use Poštovana gospođo (Beloved Mrs.) once more followed by last proper noun.

If you don't know who is at the other end of line, best go for Poštovani which denotes respect to i or more individuals.

fourteen. "All-time regards" in Serbian – Due south poštovanjem or Srdačan pozdrav

For emails in Serbian, go for one of the following: Southward poštovanjem or Srdačan pozdrav . Both mean best regards and express a degree of formality. For less formal emails, you can utilise Pozdrav meaning greeting.

Note that Pozdrav is also heavily used online, especially when y'all greet members of a grouping on social media. To sound hip, shorten it to Pozz. Teenagers and immature adults oft turn this into Poyy, and even use it equally a spoken greeting. Beware though, it does contain a hint of irony.

xv. "Welcome" in Serbian – Dobrodošli

To welcome somebody to your habitation in Serbian, put a grin on your face and greet your guests with Dobrodošli. Or in plough, this is how you're likely to be welcomed when a Serb invites y'all over for drinks or dinner.

16. "It'due south been ages since I concluding saw you" in Serbian – Nema te sto godina

To express surprise and pleasure at seeing somebody subsequently a long time, you can say Nema te sto godina! More often than not, we add an interjection for emphasis. For case, Pa nema te sto godina. In contrast to English language, instead of ages, we go on it precise and say a hundred years (sto godina) have passed since I saw you. Yous'll oft hear it shortened to – Sto godina!

17. "May God be with you" in Serbian – Pomoz' Bog or Pomaže bog

If you happen to detect yourself at a religious gathering, y'all might hear people greet one another with Pomoz' Bog or Pomaže bog . These are close to "may God be with you", only they are very sometime and reserved but for special occasions and traditional people. It's good to know they be, but yous volition probably never utilise them.

18. "I miss you" in Serbian – Nedostaješ mi

The terminal expression should come in handy if you lot are apart from the person you love. If you feel the called-for demand to allow them know you miss them and that you care, the words y'all demand are – Nedostaješ mi.

These were the greetings I prepared for you. Y'all should by now know non but how to say hello in Serbian, merely as well a host of other salutations. I hope they will help you build confidence about speaking in Serbian.

Should yous wish to progress beyond Serbian greetings, showtime with this listing 30+ apps, books, podcasts, courses and resources to learn Serbian. Also, learn how to say "thank you" in Serbian!

This isn't an exhaustive list and if you feel something is missing, make sure to write it downwardly in the comments below. I am specially looking forward to any regional variants you want to mention. I look frontward to hearing from you!

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Source: https://learnlanguagesfromhome.com/hello-in-serbian/