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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