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When you’re in a pickle, every bit of help counts. But how do you ask for a hand when you’re far from home? If you’re in Serbia, you don’t need to mime or fumble with translation apps. Instead, learn how to ask for help in Serbian.
With a few simple phrases under your belt, you’ll breeze through moments when you get lost in Belgrade or can’t find the bus station in Niš. Just ask a friendly passerby — you’ll be surprised how ready people are to help.
Sounds good? Here are all the phrases you need to get help in Serbian.
First things first, how do you say help in Serbian?
noun: help – pomoć
Example:
Treba mi pomoć.
(I need help.)
verb: to help – pomoći
Example:
Pomozi mi.
(Help me.)
With that said, we’re ready for the meat of the matter. Let’s see how to ask for help in different situations.
Here are all the expressions you might need when in need.
Serbs aren’t big on formalities, but jumping straight into questions with strangers can still feel a tad abrupt. Luckily, there’s a simple way to break the ice: say izvinite (excuse me).
This is the polite form (persiranje) and works best when you’re talking to someone old enough to be your parent or older.
If you want to keep it casual but still polite, use izvini. It sounds friendlier and works well with peers or younger people.
Formal: Izvinite. Koliko je sati?
Casual: Izvini. Koliko je sati.
(Excuse me. What time is it?)
Want to learn more about how to sound polite in Serbian? Check out this article.
Don’t feel like mincing your words? Then this is the most direct way to ask for help in Serbian. Of course, you’ll need to explain what sort of assistance you’d like.
Example:
Možeš li da mi pomogneš? Izgubio sam se.
(Can you help me? I got lost.)
Alternatively, make it formal by saying: Možete li da mi pomognete.
Need to get to a bank, police station, or toilet? Asking around is usually the fastest way to your destination.
In Serbian, the following phrase will work no matter what you’re looking for. Just fill in the blank.
Gde je…
Example:
Izvini, gde je toalet?
(Excuse me. Where is the toilet?)
Got this one? Then, let’s look at a tad more advanced phrases that mean almost the same:
Gde se nalazi banka?
(Where is the bank located?)
Gde mogu da nadjem trafiku
(Where can I find a kiosk?)
Next, use this expression to get the info that you need without sounding pushy or demanding.
Examples:
Znaš li koliko je sati? [casual
(Do you know what time it is?)
Znate li gde mogu da kupim punjač za telefon? [polite]
(Do you know where I can buy a phone charger?)
Want to make it sound even more polite and natural? Add možda (perhaps) to soften the tone. For example:
Znaš li možda koliko je sati
(Do you perhaps know what time it is?)
Whenever you need something — a phone, a charger, a chewing gum — ask away. Of course, it’s usually friends or acquaintances that you can ask to give you stuff, not random people.
Example:
Imaš li žvaku?
(Do you have chewing gum?)
Basically, you could also say daj mi (give me) žvaku. That said, you risk sounding too direct, so keep this one for your closest friends only.
Stick around in Serbia for a while, and you’ll definitely need a hand with everyday stuff, like paying bills or buying a bus pass. Luckily, asking the right how do I question is a great way to get things done quickly.
Here are several examples:
Kako da otvorim račun u banci?
(How do I open a bank account?)
Kako da se učlanim u biblioteku?
(How do I join the library?)
Kako da platim račune?
(How do I pay the bills?)
Obviously, asking strangers to lend you stuff isn’t an option in most cases. As a result, this phrase usually stays among friends and family,
Examples:
Možeš li da mi pozajmiš fen za kosu. Moj se pokvario.
(Can you lend me your hairdryer? Mine is broken.)
Možeš li da mi pozajmiš 50 evra? Vraćam ti u petak.
(Can you lend me 50 euros? I’ll pay you back on Friday.)
As for the second example, many Serbs aren’t comfortable lending money — even to close friends. It depends on people, of course, so you can still ask if you’re in a tight spot.
Want something more advanced? Here’s a universal yet subtle way to ask for help in Serbian.
Examples:
Imaš li pet minuta? Treba mi mala pomoć.
Do you have five minutes? I need a little help.
Izvini, treba mi mala pomoć sa ovim formularom.
(Excuse me, I need a little help with this form.)
These line sounds polite enough without being pushy or too formal. As such, it’s a perfect opener, no matter what sort of assistance you need.
Hopefully, you won’t ever need to shout Upomoć! After all, it’s reserved for emergencies such as drowning or getting robbed. As a result, it sounds way too dramatic — unless you’re literally in a life-and-death situation.
But when push comes to shove, this word may be the fastest way to get you help. And don’t be afraid to shout as loud as you can.
Example:
Upomoć! Opljačkan sam
(Help! I’ve been robbed!)
And that’s it — you can finally relax and make the most of your time in Serbia. Whenever you hit a snag, whip out one of these phrases to ask for help in Serbian. And don’t worry — the average Serbian passerby will bend over backwards to show you the way or give you the info you need.
Would you like more assistance with your Serbian skills? Check our online individual lessons, and our supportive teachers will help you reach your language goals at the pace that fits your schedule. Happy studying!
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