Molim and nema na čemu: two answers to hvala
Molim means "I ask", and the one word does three jobs. It is "please" in a request, "not at all" in reply to hvala, and "pardon?" when you missed something. That last one surprises people most: a Serb who did not catch your words says molim?, not "šta?". For example: “Хвала вам. — Молим.” — Thank you. — You are welcome.. A rule from the Serbian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
Molim means "I ask", and the one word does three jobs. It is "please" in a request, "not at all" in reply to hvala, and "pardon?" when you missed something. That last one surprises people most: a Serb who did not catch your words says molim?, not "šta?".
Nema na čemu answers thanks and nothing else, word for word "there is nothing on it": nothing to be thankful for. It sounds a shade warmer than a bare molim.
The colloquial third option is nije ništa. Any of the three works after hvala, but a request takes only molim.
Table
| Situation | molim | nema na čemu |
|---|---|---|
| "please" in a request | yes | no |
| the reply to hvala | yes, neutral | yes, warmer |
| asking again: "pardon?" | yes | no |
By example
- Хвала вам. — Молим.Hvala vam. — Molim.Thank you. — You are welcome.
- Хвала пуно! — Нема на чему.Hvala puno! — Nema na čemu.Thanks a lot! — Not at all.
- Молим? Нисам чуо.Molim? Nisam čuo.Pardon? I did not hear it.
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
Molim or nema na čemu: what to answer to hvala?
Molim means "I ask", and the one word does three jobs. It is "please" in a request, "not at all" in reply to hvala, and "pardon?" when you missed something. That last one surprises people most: a Serb who did not catch your words says molim?, not "šta?".
How to say you are welcome in Serbian?
Nema na čemu answers thanks and nothing else, word for word "there is nothing on it": nothing to be thankful for. It sounds a shade warmer than a bare molim.
Why a serb says molim when he did not hear?
The colloquial third option is nije ništa. Any of the three works after hvala, but a request takes only molim.
How to say please in Serbian?
The colloquial third option is nije ništa. Any of the three works after hvala, but a request takes only molim.
What does it look like in an example sentence Serbian?
“Хвала вам. — Молим.” (Hvala vam. — Molim.) — Thank you. — You are welcome.. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.