Have you ever wondered what foreigners think about living in Belgrade? This listening exercise is one of my favourites - real people, real opinions, and a wonderful window into everyday Serbian life. Whether you are a complete beginner or already at an intermediate level, listening to authentic speech is one of the fastest ways to train your ear and pick up natural vocabulary.
Grab a notebook, press play, and do not worry if you do not catch everything the first time. That is completely normal - and that is exactly why I have prepared twelve questions to guide your listening. Enjoy!
What is this listening about?
In this video, several foreigners who live in Belgrade share their honest impressions of the city and its people. They talk about what they love most about Belgrade - the energy of the city, the warmth of Serbian people, the feeling of freedom, and the unique atmosphere that is hard to find anywhere else in Europe. You will hear speakers from Italy, Spain, and France, among others. Their Serbian is clear and natural, making this an excellent resource for learners at the A2-B1 level.
Listen carefully for key words and phrases: otvoreni (open, welcoming), energija (energy), slobodan (free), opušten (relaxed), egzotično (exotic), stranci (foreigners). Once you can pick those out, the meaning of each sentence will start to click into place.
Watch and answer
Below are twelve comprehension questions in Serbian, each with a short English gloss in brackets so you know what to listen for. Write your answers in Serbian if you can - even a name is a great start!
- Ko je iz Italije? (Who is from Italy?)
- Ko je iz Španije? (Who is from Spain?)
- Ko je iz Francuske? (Who is from France?)
- Čija žena je iz Srbije? (Whose wife is from Serbia?)
- Ko radi u osnovnoj i srednjoj školi? (Who works in primary and secondary school?)
- Ko sve drži časove jezika? (Who gives language lessons?)
- Ko sve misli da Beograd svaki dan ima nešto novo da ponudi? (Who thinks Belgrade has something new to offer every day?)
- Ko sve misli da Srbi vole strance? (Who thinks Serbians love foreigners?)
- Ko se oseća egzotično? (Who feels exotic?)
- Ko sve misli da su ljudi u Srbiji otvoreni? (Who thinks people in Serbia are open/welcoming?)
- Kome Beograd daje energiju? (Who does Belgrade give energy to?)
- Ko misli da je život u Beogradu opušteniji i slobodniji? (Who thinks life in Belgrade is more relaxed and more free?)
Tip: pause the video after each speaker and jot down the name you heard. Then rewind and check. You will be surprised how much you catch on the second listen!
Hear it
Watch the video here. I recommend watching it once without the questions, just to get a general feel for the speakers and the topic, and then watching it a second time with the questions in front of you.
More Serbian you will hear
Here are some of the kinds of sentences you are likely to hear in the video, and more examples to help you build vocabulary around the topic. Read them aloud after you watch - imitation is one of the most powerful tools in language learning.
"Beograd je divan grad."
Belgrade is a wonderful city."Ljudi su otvoreni i prijateljski."
People are open and friendly."Sviđa mi se život u Beogradu."
I like life in Belgrade."Srbi vole strance i uvek su ljubazni."
Serbians love foreigners and are always kind."Beograd mi daje puno energije svakog dana."
Belgrade gives me a lot of energy every day."Ovde se osećam slobodno i opušteno."
Here I feel free and relaxed."Svaki dan ima nešto novo da se vidi u ovom gradu."
Every day there is something new to see in this city."Živim u Beogradu vec dve godine i ne žalim."
I have been living in Belgrade for two years already and I do not regret it."Moja žena je iz Srbije i ona me je naučila da volim ovaj grad."
My wife is from Serbia and she taught me to love this city."Držim časove engleskog u osnovnoj školi u Beogradu."
I give English lessons in a primary school in Belgrade.
Try covering the English translations and see how many sentences you can understand from the Serbian alone. That is a great exercise for building confidence!
Key vocabulary from the video
| Serbian | English |
|---|---|
| otvoreni | open, welcoming |
| opušten / opušteniji | relaxed / more relaxed |
| slobodan / slobodniji | free / more free |
| stranci | foreigners |
| egzotično | exotic |
| energija | energy |
| casovi jezika | language lessons |
| osnovna škola | primary school |
| srednja škola | secondary school / high school |
| ponuditi | to offer |
FAQ
Is this video suitable for complete beginners?
It is best suited for learners at the A2 level or above - that is, people who have some basic vocabulary and can follow simple sentences. However, even if you are a complete beginner, watching it once just to get used to the sound and rhythm of spoken Serbian is genuinely useful. Do not worry about understanding every word.
Why are the questions written in Serbian?
Because answering comprehension questions in Serbian - or even just reading them in Serbian - is part of the practice. When you read "Ko je iz Španije?" you are practicing question formation and the genitive case ("iz Španije" - from Spain) at the same time. Two birds, one stone!
What level of Serbian is spoken in the video?
The speakers are foreigners whose Serbian is clear and not too fast. This actually makes the video easier to follow than a video of native Serbian speakers talking among themselves. You will hear a natural but accessible register - perfect for listening practice.
Should I try to understand every single word?
No - and please do not put that pressure on yourself. Focus on answering the twelve questions. If you can do that, you have understood the core of the video. Everything else is a bonus.
Can I use this video to practice speaking too?
Absolutely. Once you have watched it, try summarizing in Serbian what one of the speakers said. For example: "Oni misli da su Srbi otvoreni i ljubazni." It does not have to be perfect - just have a go.
Thank you so much for working through this exercise - I hope it made you smile as well as think! Listening to real people talk about why they love Serbia is, in my opinion, one of the most motivating things you can do as a learner of Serbian. It reminds you that there is a whole, warm, living world waiting for you in this language.
Keep going, keep listening, and remember: every minute of exposure adds up.
With warmth,
Marina Petrovic
Ready for more? Head over to More listening practice to find all the listening comprehension exercises on the blog.