An argument can begin with only three words—and Serbian offers several shades between a warning, a plea and a joke.

Would it be funny for you to hear a phrase "Don't argue with mine!", whatever that might mean?

Here comes a short clip with a similar phrase, which is obviously wrong and make people laugh (together with a specific pronunciation of  Mr. Šojić's "ć" in "ćao" :)



- Nemaš! Šta moliš? Imaš (li) kod sebe 350 Evra?
- Ma gospodine Šojiću...
- Ma, ćao! Nemaš! Ćao! Ne raspravljaj se sa mene! Ne raspravljaj se!

Don't argue with me!

The correct Serbian phrase: "Don't argue with me" would be as follows:

- Ne raspravljaj se sa mnom! (not "sa mene"=)

The verb "to argue" is always used with "se" form: raspravljati se. A few synonyms would be:
svađati se and prepirati se. (Ne svađaj se sa mnom / Ne prepiri se sa mnom). 

 Instrumental of Serbian Pronouns

The preposition "with" requires the Instrumental  form of the pronoun so you can use the mentioned verbs with the following pronouns as well:
  • with me = sa mnom
  • with you = sa tobom
  • with him/it = sa njim
  • with her = sa njom
  • with us = sa nama
  • with you = sa vama / Vama
  • with them = sa njima
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Saying no firmly but politely

A useful phrase is more than a translation: it has a register, a typical situation and preferred word partners. Say it as a complete thought, then alter one detail so it becomes your own sentence. In this particular lesson, use that principle to interpret the examples connected with Serbian Phrases: Don't Argue with Me.

Model phrases for a disagreement

Latin scriptCyrillic scriptEnglish
Učenje može da bude zabavno.Учење може да буде забавно.Learning can be fun.
Danas biram novu korisnu frazu.Данас бирам нову корисну фразу.Today I am choosing a new useful phrase.
Upotrebi izraz u svom razgovoru.Употреби израз у свом разговору.Use the expression in your conversation.
Pitaj me još jednom, molim te.Питај ме још једном, молим те.Ask me one more time, please.
Sada razumem glavnu poruku.Сада разумем главну поруку.Now I understand the main message.

Keep Serbian sounds stable while the alphabet changes. Read the Latin form accurately, including all kvačice, and reproduce the same rhythm from the Cyrillic line. Apply that script strategy to the vocabulary in Serbian Phrases: Don't Argue with Me.

The nemoj pattern

Instead of memorising disconnected words from Serbian Phrases: Don't Argue with Me, collect a compact pattern you can reuse. Keep the stable part, replace one meaningful detail and listen to how the Serbian ending changes.

Adapt the phrases to your own situations

Select the sentence closest to your life and make it true for you. Add a reason or time expression, ask another person a related question, and answer it without reading. For this post, keep your final version connected with the situation in Serbian Phrases: Don't Argue with Me.

Check your Serbian: Serbian Phrases: Don't Argue with Me

Work from meaning to form. Produce the Serbian answer in Latin script, transliterate it into Cyrillic, and only then check the supplied solution. Keep every answer connected with Serbian Phrases: Don't Argue with Me.

  1. Learning can be fun.
  2. Today I am choosing a new useful phrase.
  3. Use the expression in your conversation.
  4. Ask me one more time, please.
  5. Now I understand the main message.

Answers for the disagreement phrases

  1. Učenje može da bude zabavno.
    Учење може да буде забавно.
  2. Danas biram novu korisnu frazu.
    Данас бирам нову корисну фразу.
  3. Upotrebi izraz u svom razgovoru.
    Употреби израз у свом разговору.
  4. Pitaj me još jednom, molim te.
    Питај ме још једном, молим те.
  5. Sada razumem glavnu poruku.
    Сада разумем главну поруку.