Serbian Phrases for Expats: Must-Know Survival Expressions

Two women in front of a laptop studying Serbian phrases for expats.

So, you’ve packed your life in a couple of suitcases and moved to a whole new country. The new reality is exciting but also a tad daunting. The local rules and customs are still a mystery, and the language… It’s all Greek to you. If, in fact, it’s Serbian and you’re feeling lost in translation, we’ve got just the thing — a cheat sheet with the top Serbian phrases for expats.

Memorizing the following expressions will make your life here much more relaxed and infinitely more fun. Ready to learn the lingo? Dive in!

Top Serbian Phrases for Expats

Speaking Serbian like you were born sipping rakija and eating ćevapi with raw onion may be your end-goal, but it won’t happen overnight. So, if you’ve just moved to Serbia (or are planning to), the quickest and most effortless way to make your new life more comfortable is learning the basic Serbian expressions.

Not just any expressions, though. You need those you’ll actually use in your day-to-day life. The expressions that you can whip out at the supermarket, on the street, wherever you find yourself.

Let’s be honest, most people can’t debate complex topics in a new language in a matter of weeks. What you can do is learn how to apologize when you accidentally elbow someone on the bus, or ask where the post office is. The basic but lifesaving lines.

So, here they are — the best Serbian phrases for expats to have up your sleeve.

Polite Basics: Your Social Safety Net

Like in most places, manners go a long way in Serbia. As a result, even a few basic phrases can make people warm up to you.

  • Dobar dan! – Hello!
  • Dobro jutro! – Good morning!
  • Dobro veče! – Good evening!
  • Ćao! – Hi. / Bye. (casual and everywhere)
  • Molim. – You’re welcome. / Come again?
  • Hvala. – Thank you.
  • Izvinite. – Excuse me. / Sorry.
  • Izvolite. Here you go / Go ahead

You’ll hear izvolite and molim constantly in shops, cafes, banks, and on the phone. Everywhere. Both expressions have multiple meanings depending on context.

Izvolite can mean here you go when a shop assistant is handing a shopping bag to you, for instance. Or it can translate to how can I help you? if you’ve just entered a bank and a clerk is ready to assist you.

Molim can be a polite reply to thank you, like you’re welcome. Then again, you can also use it to ask someone to repeat themselves if you aren’t sure what they said.

When Your Serbian Isn’t Working (And That’s Okay)

Every expat hits the same wall: you know some Serbian, but not enough to keep up. These phrases turn awkward silence into instant understanding:

  • Ne govorim srpski. – I can’t speak Serbian.
  • Govorim srpski pomalo. – I can speak Serbian a little.
  • Učim srpski. – I’m learning Serbian.
  • Možete li malo sporije? – Can you speak a bit more slowly?
  • Ne razumem. – I don’t understand.
  • Možete li da ponovite? – Can you repeat that?
  • Kako se kaže…? – How do you say…?
  • Šta to znači? – What does that mean?


Before long, you’ll realize that učim srpski is like a magic spell. People instantly slow down, simplify, and often cheer you on. Most will also be happy to teach you a phrase or two.

Shops, Bakeries & Markets: Shopping Phrases

Speaking of survival phrases, food is the number one necessity. Luckily, you can ask for any article with this formula:

Dajte mi [number or amount] [name of the article].

Examples:

  • Dajte mi jedan hleb. – Give me one bread.
  • Dajte mi tri pomorandže. – Give me three oranges.
  • Dajte mi trista grama badema. – Give me 300 grams of almonds. 

 

You may feel like these examples are too bossy, but don’t worry. They’re simply efficient, and please is implied.

Once you’re comfortable with this, you can also add the following to your phrase bank:

  • Koliko košta? – How much is it?
  • Imate li…? – Do you have…?
  • Ne treba kesa. – I don’t need a bag.
  • Primate li kartice. – Do you take cards?
  • To je sve. – That’s all.
A shop clerk in a vegetable shop.
Imate li kromir? (Do you have potatoes?)

Getting Around: Transport & Directions

Navigating the city streets as a fresh expat can be a challenge. Luckily, Google Maps and taxi apps make it a no-brainer. If, on top of that, you memorize the following phrases, you may never get lost in Serbia:

  • Gde je…? – Where is…?
  • Kako da stignem do…? – How do I get to…?
  • Levo / desno / pravo – Left / right / straight
  • Blizu / daleko – Near / far
  • Koliko treba do…? – How long does it take to get to…?
  • Treba mi povratna karta do … – I need a return ticket to…
  • Stanite ovde. – Stop here. (taxi essential)


If you flag down a taxi, you only need to tell the driver the address you’re trying to reach, or show it on your phone if it’s a mouthful. The driver will do the rest.

Paperwork: Welcome to the Next Level

Bureaucracy is one of the toughest parts of expat life, and these phrases won’t solve everything — but they’ll help you survive the conversation.

  • Imam jedno pitanje. – I have a question.
  • Treba mi… – I need…
  • Dokument – Document
  • Nemam taj papir. – I don’t have that paper.
  • Da li je to sve? – Is that all?
  • Kada mogu da dođem? – When can I come?


Serbian bureaucracy still makes you uneasy? Learn how to handle it in our detailed guide.

A woman in a suit at a desk handling paperwork.
Treba mi boravišna dozvola (I need a residence permit)

Seeing a Doctor & Going to the Pharmacy

Sooner or later, every expat in Serbia ends up here — feeling under the weather and trying to explain it in a language that suddenly feels very advanced. Fortunately, pharmacies (apoteke) are everywhere, and both doctors and pharmacists are usually direct and helpful.

If you need medical help, start with:

  • Imam zakazan pregled. – I have an appointment.
  • Ne osećam se dobro. – I don’t feel well.
  • Boli me… – It hurts…[glava – head, grlo – throat, stomak – stomach]
  • Imam temperaturu. – I have a fever.

 

At the pharmacy, many issues can be solved on the spot:

  • Treba mi nešto za prehladu / protiv bolova. – I need something for a cold / pain.
  • Bez recepta. – Without a prescription.
  • Kako se koristi? – How do you use it?
  • Koliko puta dnevno? – How many times a day?


Another phrase worth memorizing:

Alergičan / alergična sam na… – I’m allergic to…

Social Survival: Neighbors, Friends & Small Talk

Want to mingle and make friends? These phrases help you sound pleasant, relaxed, and human, which matters more than flawless Serbian.

  • Kako si? (casual) / Kako ste? (formal) – How are you?
  • Dobro sam, hvala. – I’m good, thanks.
  • Drago mi je. – Nice to meet you.
  • Kako su tvoji? – How’s your family?
  • Vidimo se. – See you.
  • Čujemo se. – We’ll be in touch.
  • Hoćeš na kafu? – Want to grab some coffee together?
  • Čuvaj se. – Take care.

Emergency & Just-in-Case Phrases

When survival stops being just a figure of speech and you truly feel unsafe, knowing how to call for help really matters.

  • Upomoć! – Help!
  • Izgubio / izgubila sam se. – I’m lost.
  • Ne osećam se dobro. – I don’t feel well.
  • Treba mi doktor. – I need a doctor.
  • Zovite hitnu pomoć! – Call the ambulance!
  • Zovite policiju! – Call the police!
  • Požar! – Fire!


Hopefully, you won’t ever need these, but you know what they say. Better safe than sorry.

Use Serbian Phrases for Expats

Practicing these Serbian phrases for expats will do much more than help you survive in the new environment. It’ll also allow you to break the ice and get to the most rewarding part — interacting with locals. From there, making friends and joining a community is well within your reach.

Over time, you’ll be able to pick up new phrases naturally, make more friends, and the snowball effect will do its thing.

If you’d like to speed up the whole process, our individual lessons are exactly what you need. Book a free trial session now, and start speaking Serbian in a relaxed yet stimulating environment. See you in class!

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