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Are you a tennis fan? If you are, you’ve undoubtedly heard about Novak Đokovic. And if you’ve watched any of his matches, you must’ve noticed he has a bit of a temper. So, what does Nole mean when he yells on the court? Unsurprisingly, he uses a lot of Serbian swear words.
And while some might be appalled, it’s a fact that Serbs use a broad spectrum of curse words. So, in case you want to learn how to swear like Nole, we’ve singled out the most common swear words in the Serbian language.
Asked no one ever. Aside from being one of the top men’s players in the history of tennis, he’s also the one Serb you’ve heard of, even if you have zero idea what Serbia is.
Admittedly, not everyone is a fan of Nole. Not everybody appreciates his temper and behavior on the court. Still, there’s no denying that he is a living legend. So far, he has won 22 men’s singles Grand Slam titles and has spent 387 weeks as the No. 1 in ATP ranking.
And if all this is not enough, he’s a champion of cussing and an invaluable source for anyone who wants to learn some juicy Serbian swear words.
When you tell someone “idi u pičku materinu”, you advise them to go where they came from – to their mother’s reproductive organ. Of course, it’s a pretty harsh cussword, so we suggest you don’t say it to people unless you intend to offend them. However, this phrase can help you vent. For example, if you’re late to work and running to a bus stop only to see the bus leaving right in front of you, it’s ok to say – u pičku materinu. In this case, you’re not offending anybody but merely voicing your frustration in an unfortunate event. Just like Nole did in this video.
Jebiga means f*ck it. It’s not an insult but a general comment on something unfortunate. For instance, if you fail an exam, you can say: jebiga. If your burn your dinner, you can use this swear word. Since it’s not harsh and won’t offend anyone, you can use it in almost any casual situation.
Also, this word is a universal answer to complaints. If your friend keeps complaining about their annoying neighbor, and you’re out of advice, say: “Jebiga.” It works every time.
Imagine a day when nothing goes well. You’re not angry at anyone in particular, but you’re mad and need a way to vent your anger. Don’t worry! Phrases that start with jebem ti can help you with that. For example:
The last one seems funny, but it’s a common way to voice frustrations among Serbs. Why bread? Similar to most Western countries, bread is a staple food in Serbia. Moreover, it’s a symbol of sustenance and is somewhat sacred in Serbian culture. That’s why if someone curses bread, they must be furious.
This simple yet effective two-word phrase can help you get the point across effortlessly. It simply means – f*ck you. While not overly harsh, it’s only acceptable among close friends, and as long as you say it jokingly, your friends won’t take offense. An even safer way to use it is to aim it at an object. For example, when you stub your toe against a chair, a loud Jebi se will help you relieve the pain, and best of all, the chair won’t mind it.
Odjebi means f*ck off. You might aim it at someone who’s pestering you and being annoying. So if a person is getting on your nerves and you want them to get lost, you can use this phrase. However, since it sounds harsh, make sure that you’re ok with the recipient never wanting to speak with you again. For this reason, we recommend you avoid this one and find a polite way to say the same thing.
Nosi se is similar to – Go to hell. While it doesn’t contain dirty words, it’s a great way to tell someone to go where the sun doesn’t shine. It’s similar to the previous phrase but much milder. That means that as long as you’re among close friends and it’s clear that you don’t mean offense, you can get away with it.
For instance, if your BFF is teasing you about your haircut, you can say: “Nosi se,” and there won’t be hard feelings.
If you like profanity but still need a way to release your frustration, idi u peršun is the phrase for you. It’s not an actual swear word, but it functions like one. Literally, it means – go to parsley. It may sound weird, but it has nothing to do with herbs or cooking. It’s a cute way to tell someone to go to hell without uttering any cusswords. So, if you need to curse but don’t want to be rude, this is the perfect swear word. It’s also used by parents if their kids are present.
All joking aside, we don’t recommend using Serbian swear words too much. And when you do use them, be careful about where you are and who you’re talking to. Never curse in a business setting or on formal occasions. However, if you’re with friends, using swear words is not only acceptable but completely natural. Still, be careful not to offend anyone. Even with closest friends, there are things you should never say.
Hopefully, this list will ensure you know which swear words are acceptable and when to use them. With this knowledge, you can curse like Nole without worrying about insulting anyone. And as our teachers know all ins and outs of cussing in the Serbian language, book an Individual Serbian lesson and become an expert on Serbian swear words.
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