Are you into medieval fortresses that have seen more action than a blockbuster movie? Perhaps Brutalist creations that look ready to launch into space are
Sanja Markovic
February 27, 2025
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! And let’s be honest, ć and č? They look like twins, but they sure don’t sound like it. Fortunately, Serbian pronunciation isn’t as tricky as it seems!
With a clear guide and some practice, you’ll be rolling your Rs and nailing those sounds in no time. So, loosen up that tongue, and let’s dive in!
Have you ever heard a Serb say Piši kao što govoriš, čitaj kako je napisano (Write as you speak, read as it’s written)?
This phrase is Serbian pronunciation in a nutshell! Unlike English, where spelling and pronunciation don’t always match (or ever), Serbian is a phonetic language. Thanks to that, as long as you know the letters, you can read any word as it’s written — no surprises!
Still seems intimidating? We get it — letters like ć, č, lj, nj don’t exist in English, and they often make words look like secret codes.
Don’t worry, though — all these sounds aren’t as tricky as they seem. In fact, nailing Serbian pronunciation is all about practice. On that note, let’s get down to it!
The Serbian alphabet has 30 letters, and here’s how to pronounce each one, with examples.
Letter | Pronunciation | Example Word |
a | like ‘a’ in car | ananas (pineapple) |
b | like ‘b’ in boy | baka (grandma) |
c | like ‘ts’ in cats | cveće (flowers) |
č | like ‘ch’ in chocolate | čokolada (chocolate) |
ć | like ‘ch’ but softer | ćebe (blanket) |
d | like ‘d’ in dog | dete (child) |
dž | like ‘j’ in jungle | džep (pocket) |
đ | like ‘j’ in juice but softer | đak (pupil, student) |
e | like ‘e’ in bet | ekipa (team) |
f | like ‘f’ in fun | fudbal (football, soccer) |
g | like ‘g’ in go | gnezdo (nest) |
h | like ‘h’ in house | hladno (cold) |
i | like ‘ee’ in see | igra (game) |
j | like ‘y’ in yes | jaje (egg) |
k | like ‘k’ in kite | knjiga (book) |
l | like ‘l’ in love | leto (summer) |
lj | like ‘ll’ in million | ljubav (love) |
m | like ‘m’ in mother | mleko (milk) |
n | like ‘n’ in nice | noć (night) |
nj | like ‘ny’ in canyon | njiva (field) |
o | like ‘o’ in more | obala (coast) |
p | like ‘p’ in pen | pas (dog) |
r | rolled, like in Spanish | riba (fish) |
s | like ‘s’ in sun | sneg (snow) |
š | like ‘sh’ in shoe | šuma (forest) |
t | like ‘t’ in top | torba (bag) |
u | like ‘oo’ in boot | uvo (ear) |
v | like ‘v’ in vase | vetar (wind) |
z | like ‘z’ in zebra | zima (winter) |
ž | like ‘s’ in measure | žurka (party) |
Of course, hearing the pronunciation is better than seeing it, so check out the following video to get a feel for how the sounds come to life. Just a heads-up: the letters follow a slightly different order since we’re using the Cyrillic alphabet here in the video.
As we’ve hinted earlier, some letters are trickier than others. That’s why we’ll highlight the biggest troublemakers and break them down so you can tackle them with confidence.
Serbian vowels are pretty straightforward. The only catch is they can be long or short. For instance:
Interestingly, this difference in vowel length (accent) can sometimes change the meaning of a word. Our Instagram post below illustrates common examples.
Now, how do you tell these two apart? Here’s how:
Up for some practice? Give these pairs a go:
Džak or đak? It’s a huge difference! One is something you carry, and the other is someone who carries books.
đak (pupil, student) – begins with đ, similar to d in duke or the soft d in educate
The Serbian letter j is no joke. What we mean is you don’t pronounce it as j in joke. Instead, it sounds more like y in yes or yellow.
Still, it’s a common mistake, so Serbian girls named Jelena end up being called Dželena by their international friends all the time. But don’t worry, you’ve got this! Next time you meet a Serb with a j in their name, impress them by getting the pronunciation right — they’ll definitely appreciate it.
Serbian r is a bit like the Spanish one — you need to roll it. But, even if you’re not from one of the Spanish-speaking countries, you can nail this sound. Check the following video to see how.
Lj and nj might look like they consist of two letters, but they each make a single sound. In short, lj is similar to the ll in million, while nj sounds like the n in news. The trick is to blend j with n or l to create a smoother, softer sound — lj or nj.
Want to sound like a native when pronouncing words like ljubav (love), ljuljaška (swing), or lenjir (ruler)? Check out the video below for a detailed guide!
Practice opportunities are everywhere, and you can work on your Serbian pronunciation while having fun! Here are some simple ways to sound more natural:
Chat with Serbs – One of the best ways to sound natural is by speaking with native speakers. Whether you’re chatting with friends or using language exchange apps, you’ll absorb the accent and pitch without even realizing it.
Mastering Serbian pronunciation takes time, but with the right approach, it’s totally doable — and even fun! The more you practice, the more natural it will feel, and before you know it, you’ll be breezing through those tricky sounds like a pro.
Ready to level up? Our pronunciation course has everything you need. You’ll get expert guidance, interactive exercises with instant feedback, and plenty of real-life practice with words and phrases you’ll actually use. Plus, we’ll keep you engaged with tongue twisters, Serbian songs, and memes — because learning should never be boring!
Join us and start speaking Serbian more naturally today. Your future fluent self will thank you. 😊
Are you into medieval fortresses that have seen more action than a blockbuster movie? Perhaps Brutalist creations that look ready to launch into space are
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