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Sunday, February 22, 2009

Verb Conjugations in Serbian

Serbian belongs to a group of (highly) flective languages, and as such its verbs have conjugations. This means that you have to pay attention to the suffixes which are added to the stem of each verb. If you have a dictionary of Serbian, you will notice that infinitive endings are -iti, -ati, -eti, or simply -ti and sometimes -ći. In order to learn the conjugations, it is wise to know that the suffixes for each person singular or plural are added to the verb stem (base verb without infinitive endings). 

The conjugation system of Serbian verbs is rather complex. There are several classes of regular verbs distinguished according to certain features the verbs within a class share. (I copied this sentence from Wikipedia, so you can follow the link to see the conjugations of the verb 'RADITI' (to work) to get the idea how it looks like in different tenses.)

As you could see, it is not only the present tense, but we need also to learn how to use the verbs in different tenses. Therefore, I made a playlist which will in time grow and help you learning Serbian verb conjugations:



Let me jot down a few examples:

infinitive: živETI
verb stem: živ

I live = ja živim
you live = ti živ
You live = Vi živite
He,she,it live = on, ona ono živi
We live = mi živimo
You live = vi živite
They live = oni, one, ona žive

The verbs belonging to the same group are as follows:
GOVORITI to talk, HVALITI to praise, UČITI to learn, MRZETI to hate, VOLETI to love, RADITI to work, ŽELETI to want, BROJATI to count, POSTOJATI to exist


The most useful website listing various forms and numerous verbs is LogosConjugator. I am sure it will help!





Saturday, February 21, 2009

Internet phrases in Serbian

Internet fraze na srpskom

MOGU LI DA KORISTIM INTERNET ODAVDE? = Can I use the Internet from here?
KAKO DA SE PRIKLJUČIM = How can I connect?

KOJI JE VAŠ / TVOJ IMEJL = Which is your e-mail?
IMATE LI SVOJ VEB SAJT? = Do you have your own website?

ZAŠTO KONEKTOVANJE TRAJE TAKO DUGO? = Why does connecting take so much time?
DA LI U BLIZINI IMA INTERNET KAFE? = Is there an internet cafe near here? KOLIKO KOŠTA SAT VREMENA NA INTERNETU? = How much is it per hour for the Internet?

Saturday, February 14, 2009

St Valentine's Day in Serbia

Sveti Trifun
Arhaični tekst

Sveti Trifun je rođen u selu Kampsadi u Frigiji. Roditelji su mu bili siromašni, pa je odmalena čuvao guske. Još od detinjstva na njemu je bila velika blagodat Božja, te je mogao isceljivati bolesti na ljudima i stoci, i izgoniti zle duhove. U to vreme zavlada Rimskim carstvom car Gordijan III, čija ćerka Gordijana siđe s uma, i time baci svoga oca u veliku žalost. Svi lekari ne mogahu ludoj Gordijani ništa pomoći. Tada zli duh iz lude devojke progovori i reče da njega niko ne može isterati osim Trifuna. Car naredi da se na dvor dovedu svi Trifuni iz carstva. Posle mnogih, i ovaj mladi Trifun bio je pozvan po Božjem Promislu. Doveli su ga u Rim gde je iscelio carevu ćerku. Car mu podari mnoge darove, koje Trifun pri povratku razdeli siromasima. U svom selu produži ovaj sveti mladić da čuva guske i moli se Bogu. Kada se zacari hristoborni Decije Trajan, sveti Trifun je bio ljuto mučen za Hrista. No on podnese sva mučenja s radošću velikom, govoreći: "O kad bih se mogao udostojiti, da ognjem i mukama skončam za ime Isusa Hrista Gospoda i Boga moga!" Sve muke ništa mu ne naškodiše, i mučitelji ga osudiše najzad na posečenje mačem. Pred smrt Trifun se pomoli Bogu i predade dušu svoju Tvorcu svome 250. godine.
U pravoslavnoj crkvi praznuje se 14. februara po novom, odnosno 1. februara po starom kalendaru.
Savremeni tekst iz novosadskog lista Dnevnik:

Danas se slavi nezvanični Svetski dan zaljubljenih. Pominje se kao Valentin day ili sveti Valentin, po zapadnjačkoj tradiciji, koji se poslednjih godina, zajedno s imenom odomaćio i kod nas. Sveti Valentin je, po predanju, pre 1759godina ljubavlju izlečio slepu kćerku uglednog plemića. Ne zna se tačno ko je bio, ali se smatra da je reč o biskupu koga je 14. februara 270. godine pogubio rimski imperator Klaudio Gotika. NJemu je smetala narodna vera u ljubav i čuda koju je Valentin budio svojim upornim molitvama i ljubavlju.

Sunday, February 01, 2009

10, 20, 30 ... 100

10 - deset 20 - dvadeset 30 - trideset 40 - četrdeset 50 - pedeset 60 - šezdeset 70 - sedamdeset 80 - osamdeset 90 - devedeset 100 - sto

****************

21 - dvadeset (i) jedan

**************** As you see the rule is very simple, just add 20 + 1. As for writing, the two numbers are written separately, either with 'and' or without it in between, while for administrative purposes, ie. in documents, the numbers are written together eg. 'dvadesetjedan'.

**************** Practise saying the numbers below, and then listen to the answers in the GCast Widget on the right, under the Post named 'Tens-exercise'.

29
34
67
98
61
23
35
53
47
78
82
93
130
169
174

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Numbers in Serbian

Brojevi na srpskom

0 - nula - нула
1 - jedan
- један
2 - dva - два
3 - tri - три
4 - četiri - четири
5 - pet - пет
6 - šest
- шест
7 - sedam - седам
8 - osam
- осам
9 - devet - девет
10 - deset - десет
11 - jedanaest - једанаест
12 - dvanaest
- дванаест
13 - trinaest - тринаест
14 - četrnaest - четрнаест
15 - petnaest - петнаест
16 - šesnaest
- шеснаест
17 - sedamnaest - седамнаест
18 - osamnaest
- осамнаест
19 - devetnaest - деветнаест
20 - dvadeset - двадесет

Many thanks to the blog follower who added the reply to the question about the numbers from 20-100! Hope this AUDIO helps as well!
---
Numbers like 21 are written separately, for example: dvadeset jedan (except when filling in cheques and similar)

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Breakfast in Serbian

DORUČAK

  1. ČAJ - tea
  2. JAK ČAJ - strong tea
  3. SA LIMUNOM - with lemon
  4. SA RUMOM - with rum
  5. JAJA - eggs
  6. OMLET - omlette
  7. JAJA NA OKO - eggs sunny-side-up
  8. OMLET SA ŠUNKOM - ham and eggs
  9. KAJGANA - scrambled eggs
  10. KAFA - coffee
  11. SA MLEKOM - with milk
  12. KAKAO - cocoa
  13. HLEB - bread
  14. PEKMEZ / DŽEM - jam
  15. MED - honey
  16. MASLAC - butter
  17. SIR - cheese
  18. PAVLAKA - sour cream
  19. PAHULJICE - flakes
  20. JOGURT - youghurt


Thursday, January 15, 2009

Let's practise asking questions in Serbian

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Characteristics in context

TO BE & ADJECTIVES for different genders


Adjectives describing Masculine nouns in Sg (Singular) take no endings (on je bogat), while the same adjectives describing Fem. Sg nouns take -a (ona je bogata), while with Sg. Neuter nouns the ending is -o (bogato selo). Plural, masc. adj. take an -i ending (ljudi su bogati), fem. adj. take -e (žene su lepe), and neuter adj. take -a (deca su visoka). In some cases, there are some changes in pronunciation, with adjectives ending in -N, or -K, for example (on je gladan - ona je gladna) - but there will be a special post on that subject.

For the sake of clarity, let's do a simple exercise with adjectives which have no pronunciation changes. The answer key is in the comment. If you want me to record the answer, just drop me a line.

A Short Adjective Story:

Andrew is tall. He is very handsome. His wife Lilly is also tall and pretty.
They have a son, called Tom. He is very good. They are now at home. Their house is big, because they are rich. Their dog Ava is very old and lazy.

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Children's songs in Serbian


Listen to the song and write the appropriate form of the word in brackets. Good luck = Srećno!

Vuče, vuče, bubo lenja



Neko pliva u ____________
(Sava - one of the longest rivers in Serbia)
Neko živi u ____________
(Ruma - name of a city in Vojvodina)
Neko raste u ____________
(trava - grass)
A vuk živi u ____________
(šuma - forest)


U __________ (škola - school) ga ne vide
__________ (nemati - doesn't have) ni maturu
U muzeje ne _________ (ići - go)
Prezire kulturu


Vuuuče vuučue bubo leenjaa
Štaa će reeći pokoleenjaa
Vodio si život buuuraan
Pa ostao nekultuuuuraaaan


Usta su _________
(his) snažna
Duša _________
(his) je drumska
Obećanja lažna
A ćud ________
(his) je šumska


Kad _________
(is) srećan leži
Kad _________
(is) ljut on reži
Ka zverstvima teži
_______
(when) ga vidiš beži

Vuuuče vuučue bubo leenjaa
Štaa će reeći pokoleenjaa
Vodio si život buuuraan
Pa ostao nekultuuuuraaaan!

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Serbian Tongue Twisters

BRZALICE I PESMICE (poems and tongue twisters)

(in the photo ODŽAČAR - ОЏАЧАР)



R ---- na vrh brda vrba mrda

LJ--- ljubim Ljubu i ljubicu i ljujam se

Č ---- čuči čavka na čađavom čotu, pričajte nam priče o životu

NJ--- njegova njuška njuška li njuška

Ž ---- od jednoga žira, pa do neke ruže puž dva dana puže, a možda i duže

H --- hvala lepo, lepo hvala, šala mala

Ć --- po dvorištu ćuran šeće, vazda pućka i blebeće

vs.
Đ razvedri se nebo sivo, prevari se vrabac Dživo, pa izete iz odžaka na oluku da podžaka. Narogušen, sav u čađi - iako je s njom u svađi - dira macu 'Čik izađi'



Thursday, December 25, 2008

ABC-BOOK

БУКВАР = BUKVAR

Б б (Cyrillic script) = В в (Latin letter)

БАЛОН = BALON = BALOON
БОР =
BOR = FIR TREE
БАРА = BARA = PUDDLE
ГОЛУБ
= GOLUB = PIGEON
РУБ
= RUB = BRIM, EDGE
ЛАБУД
= LABUD = SWAN
ДУБОК
= DUBOK = DEEP

MY FAVOURITE "БУКВАР" POEM:

Бубамаро, лет, лет,
у широки свет!
Донеси ми писмо!
Видели се нисмо
још од прошлог маја
ја и ујка Паја.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Expressions of politeness in Serbian

IZRAZI UČTIVOSTI NA SRPSKOM

1. MOLIM? I beg Your pardon?
2. OPROSTITE I am sorry.
3. ŽAO MI JE I am sorry.
4. IZVINITE Excuse me.

5. MOLIM VAS, RECITE MI...Please, tell me...
6. MOLIM VAS, POKAŽITE MI... Please, show me...
7. MOLIM VAS, DAJTE MI... Please, give me...
8. DA LI BISTE, MOLIM VAS... Would you, please...
9. ŽELEO-ŽELELA BIH ... I would like...
10. HVALA Thank you.
11. HVALA LEPO Thank you very much.
12. HVALA UNAPRED Thank you in advance.
13. HVALA TAKOĐE Thank you, too.
14. NEMA NA ČEMU Don't mention it.
15. VEOMA SAM ZAHVALAN I am very grateful.
16. VRLO STE LJUBAZNI You are very kind.
17. NE LJUTITE SE NA MENE Don't be angry with me.
18. NE BRINITE ZA TO Don't worry about it.
19. NADAM SE DA ĆETE MI OPROSTITI I hope you will forgive me.


Advanced Serbian - Srpski kao drugi jezik

Gde je ključ? Где је кључ? - Učimo srpski sa Marinom
Gde je ključ? ...
Where is the Key?-...
By Marina Petrović
Photo book