For more phrases, visit the Serbian Phrases Course with video explanations and exercises like this one.

PHRASES IN SERBIAN 

GREETINGS: POZDRAVI  when arriving

  1. Hello  = Zdravo !
  2. Hi  = Ćao !
  3. Good morning   = Dobro jutro! (until 9 or 10 a.m.)
  4. Good afternoon  = Dobar dan !
  5. Good evening   = Dobro veče ! (from dusk onwards)

POZDRAVI ---> when leaving

  1. Goodbye  = Doviđenja !
  2. Bye  = Ćao!  Zdravo !
  3. Good night  =  Laku noć  !

ADDITIONAL PHRASES  when leaving

  1. See you!  = Vidimo se !
  2. Say my regards to your family! = Pozdravi svoju porodicu.
  3. Have a safe journey!  = Srećan put!
  4. Good luck!   = Srećno!        

Choose the greeting that fits the doorway

Dobro jutro, dobar dan and dobro veče follow the time of day. Zdravo and ćao are informal, while doviđenja works safely in polite and neutral situations.

Laku noć is said when someone is going to bed or the night is ending, not as an ordinary evening arrival greeting.

Five encounters from dawn to bedtime

LatinicaЋирилицаEnglish
Dobro jutro, komšija; poranili ste danas.Добро јутро, комшија; поранили сте данас.Good morning, neighbour; you are up early today.
Dobar dan, izvolite, koga tražite?Добар дан, изволите, кога тражите?Good afternoon, come in; whom are you looking for?
Ćao, vidimo se posle treninga!Ћао, видимо се после тренинга!Bye, see you after training!
Pozdravi roditelje i srećan put!Поздрави родитеље и срећан пут!Give my regards to your parents, and have a safe journey!
Laku noć, čujemo se sutra ujutru.Лаку ноћ, чујемо се сутра ујутру.Good night, we will speak tomorrow morning.

Match voice, time and relationship

Stand beside an imaginary door. Step in and greet; step out and say goodbye. Change the time and relationship each round.

  1. A polite goodbye?
  2. Greeting after dusk?
  3. Translate Have a safe journey!
  4. Write Ćao in Cyrillic.
  5. Complete: Vidimo ___!

The door closes with the right phrase

  1. Doviđenja!
  2. Dobro veče!
  3. Srećan put!
  4. Ћао!
  5. se

Pronunciation improves when the phrase has a destination—towards someone arriving or someone leaving.
Marina Petrović