Useful Serbian

Words, idioms and Balkan slang from our blog. More cards on Instagram @nisam_stranac and on our Telegram channel @nisam_stranac.

Each card shows a Serbian word or phrase in Latin script, its Russian translation and a short note on how it sounds in real speech and when to use it. You'll find basic vocabulary, sleep idioms like “spava kao top” and untranslatable concepts — “polako” and “haj-huj”. Click a card to open it at full size.

Words and vocabulary

Basic Serbian words with translations: verbs, insects, describing appearance.

A few useful words
Four verbs you'll need in summer — outdoors and in the street.
zujati
— to buzz
leteti
— to fly
ujesti
— to bite, to sting
sleteti
— to land, to settle
Insects in Serbian — part 1
Six insects you're sure to meet in Serbia — and what they're called.
mrav
— ant
skakavac
— grasshopper
vilin konjic
— dragonfly
bogomoljka
— praying mantis
svitac
— firefly
bubašvaba
— cockroach
Insects in Serbian — part 2
The set continues: from bee to caterpillar.
pčela
— bee
muva
— fly
komarac
— mosquito
bubamara
— ladybird
leptir
— butterfly
gusenica
— caterpillar
What can a nose be like?
Serbian words for describing the shape of a nose. Opens a mini-series: Roman and Greek noses.
Rimski (orlovski) nos
Roman or aquiline nose: a high, pronounced bridge with a noticeable bump in the middle.
Ima izražen rimski nos. — He has a pronounced Roman nose.
Grčki (ravan) nos
Greek or straight nose: the bridge forms an almost straight line from the top to the tip.
On ima ravan nos. — He has a straight nose.

Idioms and expressions

Everyday Serbian expressions — with literal translations and what they really mean.

Spava kao anđeo
Literally: sleeps like an angel. Said of someone who sleeps very quietly and peacefully and looks serene.
Spava kao beba
Literally: sleeps like a baby. Describes calm, sweet, untroubled sleep — almost the same as the English expression.
Spava kao top
Literally: sleeps like a cannon. A very popular expression for deep sleep: a cannon could go off nearby and they still wouldn't wake up.

Slang and mentality

Balkan slang and concepts with no exact translation: polako, haj-huj and more.

Haj-huj — who is that?
A look at the most colourful Balkan slang, which has no exact translation.
Don't confuse it with the famous “polako”
Polako is a conscious, respectful slowing down of life — Balkan zen and hedonism. Haj-huj is mild carelessness, chaos and bustle where nobody is responsible for anything. Polako is a philosophy; haj-huj is a way of acting.
Test your level of Balkan relaxation
Pick a number from 1 to 3: 1 — I'm a strict time manager; 2 — I keep a balance; 3 — I'm total haj-huj, let it all burn!

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Useful Serbian

Words and vocabulary

A few useful words

Insects in Serbian — part 1

Insects in Serbian — part 2

What can a nose be like?

Rimski (orlovski) nos

Grčki (ravan) nos

Idioms and expressions

Spava kao anđeo

Spava kao beba

Spava kao top

Slang and mentality

Haj-huj — who is that?

Don't confuse it with the famous “polako”

Test your level of Balkan relaxation

Want to speak, not just read?

Words and vocabulary

A few useful words

Insects in Serbian — part 1

Insects in Serbian — part 2

What can a nose be like?

Rimski (orlovski) nos

Grčki (ravan) nos

Idioms and expressions

Spava kao anđeo

Spava kao beba

Spava kao top

Slang and mentality

Haj-huj — who is that?

Don't confuse it with the famous “polako”

Test your level of Balkan relaxation