IZRAZI UČTIVOSTI NA SRPSKOM

1. MOLIM? I beg your pardon?
2. OPROSTITE I am sorry.
3. ŽAO MI JE I am sorry.
4. IZVINITE Excuse me.
5. MOLIM VAS, RECITE MI...Please, tell me...
6. MOLIM VAS, POKAŽITE MI... Please, show me...
7. MOLIM VAS, DAJTE MI... Please, give me...
8. DA LI BISTE, MOLIM VAS... Would you, please...
9. ŽELEO-ŽELELA BIH ... I would like...
10. HVALA Thank you.
11. HVALA LEPO Thank you very much.
12. HVALA UNAPRED Thank you in advance.
13. HVALA TAKOĐE Thank you, too.
14. NEMA NA ČEMU Don't mention it.
15. VEOMA SAM ZAHVALAN I am very grateful.
16. VRLO STE LJUBAZNI You are very kind.
17. NE LJUTITE SE NA MENE Don't be angry with me.
18. NE BRINITE ZA TO Don't worry about it.
19. NADAM SE DA ĆETE MI OPROSTITI I hope you will forgive me.

Politeness is not a list of magic words; it changes with the situation. Molim? asks someone to repeat, izvinite gets attention, and žao mi je expresses genuine regret.

Match the courteous phrase to the moment

Use the plural/formal verb form with strangers and in formal situations: recite, pokažite, dajte. With friends, the corresponding singular forms are reci, pokaži, daj. A woman says zahvalna sam; a man says zahvalan sam. Tone and eye contact often make a simple hvala warmer than an unnecessarily elaborate sentence.

Five polite exchanges in everyday Serbia

LatinicaĆirilicaEnglish
Izvinite, da li je ovo mesto slobodno?Извините, да ли је ово место слободно?Excuse me, is this seat free?
Molim vas, govorite malo sporije.Молим вас, говорите мало спорије.Please speak a little more slowly.
Hvala vam što ste mi pomogli.Хвала вам што сте ми помогли.Thank you for helping me.
Žao mi je što kasnim.Жао ми је што касним.I am sorry I am late.
Nema na čemu, bilo mi je drago.Нема на чему, било ми је драго.You are welcome; it was my pleasure.

Change your tone, not just your words

Read each line once as a warm request and once as an impatient demand. Notice how intonation changes the message. Then choose the courteous version and place it in a short two-line dialogue.

Save five awkward situations politely

  1. Ask a stranger to speak more slowly.
  2. Respond to Hvala lepo.
  3. Apologise for being late.
  4. Choose for a woman: zahvalan / zahvalna sam.
  5. Make Daj mi mapu formal and polite.

Courtesy restored

  1. Molim vas, govorite malo sporije.
  2. Nema na čemu.
  3. Žao mi je što kasnim.
  4. zahvalna sam
  5. Molim vas, dajte mi mapu.