Name and address in Serbian
Let's start with vocabulary covering the most essential phrases:LIČNI PODACI = personal data
IME = first name
PREZIME = surname
DEVOJAČKO PREZIME = maiden name
LIČNA KARTA = identity card
PASOŠ = passport
MESTO ROĐENJA = place of birth
DATUM ROĐENJA = date of birth
STALNA ADRESA = permanent address
POŠTANSKA ADRESA = postal address
OŽENJEN = married (for men)
NEOŽENJEN = single (for men)
UDATA = married (for women)
NEUDATA = single (for women)
RAZVEDEN = divorced (for men)
RAZVEDENA = divorced (for women)
UDOVAC = widower
UDOVICA = widow
POL = sex
MALE = muški
FEMALE = ženski
How do I say my name and address in Serbian?
Forms reduce a person to empty boxes. Serbian puts the person back into them: a name becomes Zovem se..., a birthplace becomes Rođen sam... or Rođena sam..., and an address becomes a complete answer.
Turn labels on a form into spoken answers
A label such as ime asks for a piece of information; in conversation, answer with a sentence. Men say rođen sam and women say rođena sam. For an address, Stanujem u... is often more natural than translating “My address is...” word for word. Give private data only where it is safe and necessary.
Five answers at a reception desk
| Latinica | Ćirilica | English |
|---|---|---|
| Zovem se Ana Jovanović. | Зовем се Ана Јовановић. | My name is Ana Jovanović. |
| Rođen sam petog maja. | Рођен сам петог маја. | I was born on the fifth of May. (male) |
| Stanujem u Novom Sadu. | Станујем у Новом Саду. | I live in Novi Sad. |
| Moja poštanska adresa je ista. | Моја поштанска адреса је иста. | My postal address is the same. |
| Po zanimanju sam prevodilac. | По занимању сам преводилац. | I am a translator by profession. |
Rehearse without revealing real details
Invent a character and complete an imaginary form for that person. Then close the form and answer five spoken questions. Fictional information lets you concentrate on Serbian endings without sharing anything private.
The clerk needs five details
- Answer: Kako se zovete?
- Choose for a woman: rođen sam / rođena sam.
- Translate: I live in Belgrade.
- What does prezime mean?
- Complete: Moja ______ adresa je drugačija. (postal)
Completed fields and full replies
- Possible answer: Zovem se Mila Petrović.
- rođena sam
- Stanujem u Beogradu. / Станујем у Београду.
- surname
- poštanska