50 Serbian Phrases Every Newcomer Should Know, With Easy Pronunciation

Short answer: These 50 short Serbian phrases cover greetings, shopping, buses, work, the doctor, your landlord and emergencies, with both alphabets and an easy way to say each one.

Serbian is the main language of Serbia. You do not need to be fluent to live here. But 50 good phrases will help you at the shop, on the bus, at work, at the doctor and with your landlord. People in Serbia are usually very happy when a foreigner tries a few words, even with mistakes.

This guide gives each phrase in three ways: the Latin spelling, the Cyrillic spelling, and a simple pronunciation written like English. The CAPITAL part of the pronunciation is the stressed part of the word.

Two alphabets, one language

Serbian is written in two alphabets: Cyrillic (ћирилица) and Latin (latinica). Both are correct, and every Serbian word can be written in either one. The Constitution names Cyrillic as the official script, so many government forms and some official signs use it. In daily life, Latin is very common: shop signs, menus, apps, text messages and ads often use Latin.

What this means for you:

1. Learn to read Latin first. You will see it everywhere.
2. Learn Cyrillic letters slowly, over a few weeks. You will need it for documents, some bus stops and official offices.

Cyrillic has been used in Serbia for many centuries, since the time of the medieval Nemanjić kings and Saint Sava. Read the story of Serbia for a short history. 3. Use a translation app with camera mode for signs and letters you cannot read yet.

How to pronounce Serbian letters

Serbian has a simple rule: one letter, one sound. Most letters sound almost like English. Learn these special ones:

Do not worry about the small difference between č and ć, or dž and đ. People will understand you.

Greetings and polite words (1 to 10)

Tip: use "Dobar dan" with older people, officials and shop staff. Use "Zdravo" with friends and coworkers your age. "Molim" is a magic word: it means please, you are welcome, and "say again?".

At the shop and market (11 to 18)

Phrase 18 is very useful if you eat halal. Also learn the word "svinjsko" (SVEEN-sko), which means "pork" on labels. Read more in our guide to halal food in Belgrade and our grocery shopping guide.

On the bus and getting around (19 to 26)

For tickets, lines and night buses, read our Belgrade public transport guide.

At work (27 to 34)

Serbian verbs change for men and women in the past tense. A man says "završio sam", a woman says "završila sam". People will understand either one.

At the doctor and pharmacy (35 to 42)

For where to go and what your health insurance covers, see our guide to emergency numbers and health care in Serbia.

With your landlord (43 to 46)

Phrase 46 is a pattern. "Ne radi" means "does not work". Put any thing after it: "Ne radi bojler" (the water heater does not work), "Ne radi internet".

Emergencies (47 to 50)

In Serbia, police is 192, fire is 193 and ambulance is 194. Write your full address in Serbian on a paper or in your phone notes. In an emergency you may be too stressed to remember it.

How to practise every day

You do not need a class to start. Try these simple habits:

1. Learn five phrases a day. In ten days you will know all 50.
2. Say "Dobar dan" and "Hvala" every time you enter and leave a shop. It is normal and polite in Serbia.
3. Read signs aloud on the bus and on shop windows. Serbian spelling is regular, so reading aloud trains your mouth.
4. Switch one app to Serbian for a week, for example your map app. You will learn words like "ulica" (street) and "trg" (square) fast.
5. Ask coworkers to teach you one word each day. Most people like to help.
6. Use a translator for long texts only. For short daily talk, try the phrase first.

The Hello Serbia app can translate Serbian messages and signs into your language when a phrase is not enough.

Numbers you will hear every day

Prices, bus numbers and addresses all use numbers. Learn these:

The money in Serbia is the dinar (dinar, динар). In shops you will often hear "hiljadu dinara" (one thousand dinars).

Last checked: November 2026.

Official sources

• Welcome to Serbia (Government of Serbia portal for foreigners)
• Constitution of the Republic of Serbia (Article 10, language and script)

This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Rules, prices and phone numbers can change. We last checked it in November 2026. Always confirm with the official source before you act.