Learning Serbian might feel like a wild ride at first — so many consonants packed together, it’s like every word is a built-in tongue twister!
Sanja Markovic
February 13, 2025
Things Serbian parents say aren’t just words — they’re life lessons, unsolicited advice, and guilt trips rolled into one. One minute, you’re minding your business, and the next, you’re hearing how you’ll understand when you have your own kids. Food, homework, life choices — nothing is off limits.
But what do their lines really mean? Let’s break down the most iconic things Serbian parents say and uncover the logic (or lack thereof) behind them!
Serbian parents take raising kids seriously. They create a cozy home, keep a close eye on their kids’ grades, and are always planning the next family trip.
Above all else, they worry! As a result, the things Serbian parents say often come off as scolding and nagging.
Deep down, though, it’s all love. Thanks to that, most Balkan kids turn out fine despite the guilt trips and passive-aggressive one-liners.
Once they grow up, all those parenting quirks become funny stories and fond memories.
Translation: Because I say so!
When they run out of patience, Serbian parents don’t give explanations. So, when their grumpy teenager asks for the hundredth time why they can’t do this or that, they are faced with an angry: Because I say so!
Kid: Mama zašto ne mogu da se igram napolju?
(Mom, why can’t I play outside?)
Mom: Zato što ja tako kažem.
(Because I say so.)
Literal translation: It’s like a bomb fell here!
When you come home from work, and your kids not only didn’t clean but made even more of a mess, what do you say? Serbian parents have a simple yet effective line to express their shock:
Mom: Ovde kao da je pala bomba!
(It’s like a bomb fell here!)
Literal translation: Warm up the chair!
Education matters, and Serbian moms and dads want their kids to do well in school and later in life. That’s why they force them to study. As a result, almost every kid in Serbia is urged to warm up the chair or, in plain English, buckle down and study.
Dad: Zagrej stolicu. Sutra imaš test.
(Buckle down and study. You’ve got a test tomorrow.)
Kid: Ali tata…😢
(But dad…)
Literal translation: You were not born on a boat!
It’s no secret that Serbs and draft don’t mesh well. In fact, many people believe that promaja (draft) will kill them if they’re not careful. That’s why it’s essential to close all the doors.
Kids, however, have yet to grasp the deadly dangers of promaja. Plus, let’s be honest — they’re not the ones paying the heating bill!
Dad: Zavori ta vrata. Nisi rođen u čamcu!
(Close the door. You were not born on a boat!)
Why a boat, you ask? Simple — no doors!
Literal translation: I’m not from yesterday!
Ever tried to pull the wool over your parents’ eyes? In most cases, they see right through it. Sometimes, they let it slide. But when kids push their luck, Serbian parents pull out their classic line: Nisam ja od juče (I’m not dumb).
Mom: Zašto imaš cigare u rancu?
(Why are there cigarettes in your backpack?)
Teenage daughter: Nisu moje, čuvam ih za Mariju.
(They’re not mine, I’m just holding them for Marija.)
Mom: Nisam ja od juče, znaš?
(I’m not dumb, you know?)
Translation: When I was your age…
According to Serbian parents, when they were young, they helped around the house, aced every subject, and never ever got into trouble.
Of course, grandparents might have a slightly different version of events. But that doesn’t stop Serbian parents from reminding their kids that, back in their day, they were nothing short of perfect!
Son: Tata, odvezi me u školu, pada kiša.
(Dad, give me a ride to school, it’s raining.)
Dad: Kad sam ja bio u tvojim godinama, išao sam peške u školu 10 kilometara po snegu i ledu.
(When I was your age, I walked 10 kilometers to school through snow and ice.)
Translation: You’ll eat and then ask for more!
For some reason, many Serbian parents think their kids will starve if they don’t clean up their plates every time. So, it’s their job as parents to nip any signs of picky eating in the bud.
Child: Mama, ne mogu više, jedem pasulj već treći dan.
(Mom, I can’t take it anymore, I’ve been eating beans for three days now.)
Mom: Za koga sam ja kuvala? Ima da jedeš i da tražiš još!
(Who did I cook for? You’ll eat and then ask for more!)
Translation: Put on some clothes, you’ll catch a cold!
Serbian parents (and grandparents) are always on high alert when it comes to their kids’ health. Even when their little ones are fully grown, moms and grandmas still insist on layering up — because catching a cold is simply not an option!
Mom: Sine, obuci se. Prehladićeš se.
(Son, put on some clothes. You’ll catch a cold!)
40-Year Old Son: Dobro, mama, pusti me. Nisam mali
(Okay, mom, leave me alone. I’m not a kid.)
Translation: Don’t touch it — it’s for the guests!
Serbs pride themselves on their hospitality. So, when expecting visitors, they go all out and prepare snacks, sweets, drinks — the whole shebang.
If you’re a Serbian kid, all those treats might seem like a dream come true. But the moment you reach for one, you’ll likely hear: Ne diraj — to je za goste!
Kid: Vau, torta!
(Wow, cake.)
Mom: Ne diraj — to je za goste!
(Don’t touch it — it’s for the guests!)
Things Serbian parents say might sound over the top, but they come from a place of love (and the never-ending desire to keep their kids safe, warm, and fed). Each piece of advice no one asked for and all the dramatic sighs add to the charm of Serbian family life.
Want to understand more than just the words? Our pre-intermediate Serbian course is the perfect way to dive deeper into the language, culture, and all those little nuances. Sign up today and start speaking Serbian like a local!
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