A Serbian joke often hides its grammar inside a misunderstanding and saves the cultural clue for the punchline.

Vic in Serbian means a joke.

Telling easy jokes makes learning a language fun and easy. That's why I am sharing with you the first two parts of a very long joke which has some of the most frequently used verbs:
  1. otvoriti = to open
  2. zatvoriti = to close
  3. staviti = to put
  4. izvaditi = to take out
In the first video you can watch the Present tense version of this story with an explanation and translation:



In the second video lesson you can see how you can change the same joke, so it has the same meaning, but you practice the Accusative and Genitive cases without noticing it :D


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Five Lines That Could Begin a Joke

Serbian Language with Vicevi is expanded here through Finding grammar and cultural assumptions inside Serbian jokes. Start with the original post, then use the new material to notice form, meaning and the situation in which a Serbian speaker would naturally choose it.

For active practice, change one meaningful detail in each model while preserving the target structure. Say the altered line aloud, write it in the other Serbian script and explain what changed. This turns the focus of Serbian Language with Vicevi into language you can retrieve independently.

Why Is This Vice Funny?

Read these five sentences horizontally to compare Latin, Cyrillic and English. Then read only the Serbian columns vertically. Every example belongs specifically to the subject of Serbian Language with Vicevi, so keep that context when you adapt it.

Read the Setup, Wait for the Twist

Latin scriptCyrillic scriptEnglish
Mujo pita konobara za najjeftiniji ručak.Мујо пита конобара за најјефтинији ручак.Mujo asks the waiter for the cheapest lunch.
Policajac zastaje jer ne razume pitanje.Полицајац застаје јер не разуме питање.The policeman stops because he does not understand the question.
Perica krije ocenu od strogog oca.Перица крије оцену од строгог оца.Perica hides his grade from his strict father.
Doktor daje savet koji pacijent pogrešno shvata.Доктор даје савет који пацијент погрешно схвата.The doctor gives advice that the patient misunderstands.
Komšija se smeje neočekivanom odgovoru.Комшија се смеје неочекиваном одговору.The neighbour laughs at the unexpected answer.

Retell the Punchline in Serbian

Translate each prompt as part of the situation explored in Serbian Language with Vicevi. Give the Latin and Cyrillic forms before comparing your work with the key.

  1. Mujo asks the waiter for the cheapest lunch.
  2. The policeman stops because he does not understand the question.
  3. Perica hides his grade from his strict father.
  4. The doctor gives advice that the patient misunderstands.
  5. The neighbour laughs at the unexpected answer.

Answers for Serbian Language with Vicevi

  1. Mujo pita konobara za najjeftiniji ručak.
    Мујо пита конобара за најјефтинији ручак.
  2. Policajac zastaje jer ne razume pitanje.
    Полицајац застаје јер не разуме питање.
  3. Perica krije ocenu od strogog oca.
    Перица крије оцену од строгог оца.
  4. Doktor daje savet koji pacijent pogrešno shvata.
    Доктор даје савет који пацијент погрешно схвата.
  5. Komšija se smeje neočekivanom odgovoru.
    Комшија се смеје неочекиваном одговору.