LingoflyPhrases that save you in Serbian
21 words in Serbian on the topic “phrases that save you”: не разумем (ne razumem) — I do not understand, полако (polako) — slowly, поновите, молим (ponovite, molim) — repeat, please, говорите ли енглески? (govorite li engleski) — do you speak English? 21 words can be played from recordings.
21 words on the topic
- не разумемne razumemI do not understandFrom razumeti, "to understand". Negation is simple: ne goes right before the verb, with no helper verb involved.
- полакоpolakoslowlyAlso "easy does it" — the national answer to hurry and panic alike. Said twice, polako polako, it is practically a philosophy.
- поновите, молимponovite, molimrepeat, pleaseThe polite imperative. More conversational: možete li ponovo? — "can you say it again?" A molim in front adds politeness.
- говорите ли енглески?govorite li engleski?do you speak English?The li particle after the verb is what makes it a question: Govorite li engleski? comes out word for word as "speak you English?".
- помоћ!pomoć!help!The soft ć again, closer to "ty" than "ch". The same root in hitna pomoć — "urgent help" — the name of the ambulance service.
- изгубио сам сеizgubio sam seI am lostA woman says izgubila sam se: the past tense in Serbian agrees with the speaker's gender, so the ending changes with who speaks.
- не радиne radidoes not workRaditi is both "to work" and "to do" — and it works for appliances too: bojler ne radi — "the boiler is out".
- покварило сеpokvarilo seit brokePast tense with se, and the helper je vanishes here: not "pokvarilo se je" but simply pokvarilo se.
- позовите мајстораpozovite majstoracall a repairmanMajstor is anyone with tools: a plumber, an electrician, a furniture man.
- када ћете доћи?kada ćete doći?when will you come?The future through ću/ćeš/će: ćete doći — "you will come". The will-word is glued into one form.
- сачекајте минутsačekajte minutwait a minuteThe polite plural imperative. To a friend: sačekaj.
- не могу да отворимne mogu da otvorimI cannot open itThe usual mogu da instead of an infinitive: ne mogu da otvorim vrata — literally "I cannot that I open the door".
- хитна помоћhitna pomoćambulanceHitno — "urgent". The number in Serbia is 194.
- треба ми лекарtreba mi lekarI need a doctorImpersonal treba: the needed thing stands plain, and the person who needs it stands in the to-whom form.
- пазите!pazite!careful!From paziti, "to watch out". Signs read oprez or pažnja; out loud people shout pazite!
- опасноopasnounsafeNeuter form of opasan, "dangerous", used impersonally: opasno je. The noun is opasnost — "danger".
- позовите полицијуpozovite policijucall the policePozvati is both "to call over" and "to phone". The police number in Serbia is 192.
- изгубио сам пасошizgubio sam pasošI lost my passportA woman says izgubila sam pasoš: the past tense knows the gender of the speaker.
- лоше ми јеloše mi jeI feel unwellLiterally "bad is to me". About how the body feels, not about the mood.
- не дирајтеne dirajtedo not touch itFrom dirati, "to touch". To a friend or a child: ne diraj.
- објасните поновоobjasnite ponovoexplain it againPonovo — "anew". Shorter: ponovite, molim.
Download the word set (CSV) · Open the printable sheet
The CSV contains spelling, reading guides, translations and links to word pages. Use the browser menu to save the printable sheet as a PDF.
How it sounds in a sentence
A word list is a blank. Conversation is made of sentences, and these are the ones the words fit into most often.
What is worth knowing about these words
не разумем (ne razumem) — I do not understand. From razumeti, "to understand". Negation is simple: ne goes right before the verb, with no helper verb involved.
полако (polako) — slowly. Also "easy does it" — the national answer to hurry and panic alike. Said twice, polako polako, it is practically a philosophy.
поновите, молим (ponovite, molim) — repeat, please. The polite imperative. More conversational: možete li ponovo? — "can you say it again?" A molim in front adds politeness.
говорите ли енглески? (govorite li engleski?) — do you speak English? The li particle after the verb is what makes it a question: Govorite li engleski? comes out word for word as "speak you English?".
Test yourself
First by ear — the way you will meet the word in conversation. Click the speaker and pick the translation.
- What is this word?
It is не разумем (ne razumem) — I do not understand.
- What is this word?
It is изгубио сам се (izgubio sam se) — I am lost.
- What is this word?
It is сачекајте минут (sačekajte minut) — wait a minute.
- What is this word?
It is опасно (opasno) — unsafe.
- What is this word?
It is објасните поново (objasnite ponovo) — explain it again.
Now the other way around: recall the spelling from the meaning. That is harder, and therefore more useful.
- How do you say “I do not understand” in Serbian?
From razumeti, "to understand". Negation is simple: ne goes right before the verb, with no helper verb involved.
- How do you say “I am lost” in Serbian?
A woman says izgubila sam se: the past tense in Serbian agrees with the speaker's gender, so the ending changes with who speaks.
- How do you say “wait a minute” in Serbian?
The polite plural imperative. To a friend: sačekaj.
- How do you say “unsafe” in Serbian?
Neuter form of opasan, "dangerous", used impersonally: opasno je. The noun is opasnost — "danger".
- How do you say “explain it again” in Serbian?
Ponovo — "anew". Shorter: ponovite, molim.
How to learn the set instead of just reading it
“I don't understand”, “say that again”, “slower, please”, “help”. They are learned first for a reason: they bring back a conversation that has already gone wrong.
A list is read in a minute and forgotten in a day. What works: hide the translation, try to recall, get it wrong — and come back to the same words tomorrow.
- Recalling beats re-reading. Covering the translation and trying to remember it does more than reading it ten more times.checked many timesAdesope, Trevisan & Sundararajan, 2017, Review of Educational Research 87(3) · 188 experiments, 272 comparisons. g = 0.61; against plain re-reading 0.51, against passive review 0.93.
- Study spread over days wins not only in experiments but in ordinary classrooms, with real students.checked many timesMawson & Kang, 2025, Behavioral Sciences 15(6):771 · 22 studies, d = 0.54 (confidence interval 0.31–0.77). The authors warn that individual studies disagree widely.
Frequently asked
How do you say “I do not understand” in Serbian?
«не разумем» (ne razumem), read “ne razumem”. From razumeti, "to understand". Negation is simple: ne goes right before the verb, with no helper verb involved. It is one of 21 words in the set “phrases that save you” — the rest are in the table above.
How many emergency phrases do you need to start?
The whole set on this page is 21 words, but there is no need to start with all of it: the words you will need in the next few days are enough. Take them a few at a time — five to seven new ones per session.
Is there audio?
Yes, 21 words on this page can be played — click the speaker next to the word. The sound works on any phone, and nothing needs to be installed.