Say “Domaćin dočekuje gosta kafom i slatkim.” before looking at its translation. Then test the same language choice against “Porodična slava prenosi se sa kolena na koleno.” and notice what the new context changes.
One of the customs in Serbia is to tear (cepati / pocepati) the shirt worn by the father who is celebrating his baby's birth. If you watched "Jutro će promeniti sve", you'll surely remember the scene with two fathers in torn shirts or t-shirts (pocepan(im) košulja(ma) ili majica(ma)).One must wonder what is the origin of such a funny custom and I am sharing today with you a few answers to this question, which is of course in the form of an exercise. You just need to fill in the gaps with missing prepositions and enjoy reading the text. If you are not sure about the answers, you can first read the same text on Blic.
Slava, Kumstvo and Other Cultural Clues
Begin aloud with “Domaćin dočekuje gosta kafom i slatkim.”. The key is advanced cultural vocabulary and the social meaning of Serbian customs; “Porodična slava prenosi se sa kolena na koleno.” gives you a second context in which meaning and form must stay connected.
| Latin script | Cyrillic script | English |
|---|---|---|
| Domaćin dočekuje gosta kafom i slatkim. | Домаћин дочекује госта кафом и слатким. | The host welcomes a guest with coffee and fruit preserve. |
| Porodična slava prenosi se sa kolena na koleno. | Породична слава преноси се са колена на колено. | The family patron-saint day is passed down through generations. |
| Kum na venčanju ima posebno mesto među zvanicama. | Кум на венчању има посебно место међу званицама. | The best man has a special place among the wedding guests. |
| Za poklonjeni nož običaj je dati simboličan novčić. | За поклоњени нож обичај је дати симболичан новчић. | The custom is to give a symbolic coin for a knife received as a gift. |
| Gosti često nazdravljaju zdravlju i sreći domaćina. | Гости често наздрављају здрављу и срећи домаћина. | Guests often toast the host’s health and happiness. |
Customs That Make Sense from the Inside
Copy “Kum na venčanju ima posebno mesto među zvanicama.” in the other Serbian alphabet from memory. After correcting the spelling, extend the thought with a reason or contrast.
Five Traditions Explained in Natural Serbian
Without looking, dictate “Za poklonjeni nož običaj je dati simboličan novčić.” to yourself in Latin script and “Gosti često nazdravljaju zdravlju i sreći domaćina.” in Cyrillic. Check the forms, then use both ideas in a compact spoken summary.
Tell a Guest What to Expect
Translate the meanings without copying. When every line is complete in both scripts, compare your third answer with “Kum na venčanju ima posebno mesto među zvanicama.” and correct the remaining forms.
- The host welcomes a guest with coffee and fruit preserve.
- The family patron-saint day is passed down through generations.
- The best man has a special place among the wedding guests.
- The custom is to give a symbolic coin for a knife received as a gift.
- Guests often toast the host’s health and happiness.
Solutions prepared for Advanced Serbian - Fun Serbian Customs
- Domaćin dočekuje gosta kafom i slatkim.
Домаћин дочекује госта кафом и слатким. - Porodična slava prenosi se sa kolena na koleno.
Породична слава преноси се са колена на колено. - Kum na venčanju ima posebno mesto među zvanicama.
Кум на венчању има посебно место међу званицама. - Za poklonjeni nož običaj je dati simboličan novčić.
За поклоњени нож обичај је дати симболичан новчић. - Gosti često nazdravljaju zdravlju i sreći domaćina.
Гости често наздрављају здрављу и срећи домаћина.