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Have you ever tried saying the phrase each other in Serbian and felt a bit… lost in translation? Then, you’re not alone!
The thing is, Serbian has a quirky collection of expressions with this meaning, so it’s no wonder many learners struggle to wrap their heads around it. But don’t let that scare you! This guide offers a lowdown on these phrases with examples to help you use them like a true local.
Ready? Let’s dive in!
Let‘s get straight to the point: how can you say each other in Serbian? The truth is, it’s not a single phrase, so the translation depends on the context.
Specifically, you can use one of the options below, depending on what you want to say.
Sometimes, the meaning of each other can be covered by se verbs. Also known as reflexive verbs, they are easy to spot thanks to the enclitic se that always tags along. So, if you want to say that two people love each other, you can put it this way:
Oni se vole. [voleti se]
(They love each other.)
By contrast, you’ll put it this way in the case of one-sided love:
Ona voli njega. [voleti]
(She loves him.)
The first example features the reflexive verb voleti se, which implies a mutual feeling. The verb in the second example (voleti) isn’t reflexive, so it’s just stating that one person loves the other — not vice versa.
Here are a couple more examples to give you a clearer picture.
Mačka i pas se mrze.
(The cat and the dog hate each other.)
Upoznali smo se u srednjoj školi.
(We met each other in high school.)
When you’d like to emphasize the mutual nature of things, or when reflexive verbs don’t cover it, you need this phrase: jedan drugog.
If you’re wondering what on earth that is, it’s simple: jedan means one, and drugi means the other.
Essentially, this is a direct translation of the English one another — a synonym to each other.
For instance:
Oni uvek čekaju jedan drugog posle časova.
(They always wait for each other after classes.)
Here’s another example:
Pravi prijatelji uvek saslušaju jedan drugog.
(True friends always listen to each other.)
As it turns out, this expression is the trickiest on the list, but we’ll get into that later. First, let’s talk about another way to say each other in Serbian.
Lastly, međusobno emphasizes mutuality even more since it literally means mutually. First off, let’s see this word in action:
Srbi, Hrvati, i Bosanci se razumeju međusobno.
(Serbs, Croats, and Bosnians understand each other.)
Then again, their languages aren’t that different. Next, we’ll show your a couple more examples:
Njih dvoje su se međusobno bodrili kroz teške trenutke.
(The two of them encouraged each other through tough times.)
Pijani gosti su se međusobno potukli.
(The drunk guests started a fight amongst each other.)
As you can see, the word međusobno often goes hand in hand with reflexive verbs (se verbs). Still, that’s not always the case, as the following examples prove:
Svi cimeri su međusobno podelili kućne poslove.
(All the roommates split the chores among themselves.)
Kultura i jezik su međusobno povezani.
(Culture and language are connected with each other.)
You know how they say that the devil is in the details? Serbian language learners would likely say it’s in all those suffixes for genders, numbers, and, particularly, those pesky cases.
Yup, in English, you can simply say each other, and you’re done. In Serbian, however, you need to consider a few things so that you can pick the right form.
First, numbers in Serbia have a gender and come in singular and plural. Why does this matter? It’s because the phrase for each other in Serbian consists of two numbers jedan (one) and drugi (the other or the second one). So, if two guys are helping each other, you’ll say:
Marko i Petar pomažu jedan drugom. [masculine, singular]
(Marko and Petar help each other.)
But, if it’s two gals, you’ll go with:
Marija i Jelena pomažu jedna drugoj. [feminine, singular]
(Marija and Jelena help each other.)
And if you decide to mix and match, you can say:
Marija i Marko pomažu jedno drugom. [neuter, singular]
(Marija and Marko help each other.)
As you can see, mixed genders (Marija and Marko) call for the neuter gender in these phrases.
Also, since the above examples involve only two people, you’ll use the singular form. In contrast, you’ll go with the plural form when there are more than two people or an indefinite number:
Prijatelji pomažu jedni drugima. [masculine, plural]
(Friends help each other.)
Prijateljice pomažu jedne drugima. [feminine, plural]
(Girl friends help each other.)
Deca pomažu jedna drugima. [neuter, plural]
Kids help each other.
Once you get your genders and numbers right, you also need to consider cases.
Check out these examples:
Marko i Petar pomažu jedan drugom. [dative]
(Marko and Petar are helping each other.)
Marko i Petar se igraju jedan sa drugim.
(Marko and Petar are playing with each other.) [instrumental]
Marko i Petar uče jedan od drugog. [genitive]
(Marko and Petar are learning from each other.)
As the examples show, the first part of the phrase (jedan) doesn’t change its case. In other words, it’s always in the nominative. On the other hand, the second part (drugi) changes depending on the context and the verb you use. Plus, some cases call for prepositions, like od and sa you saw in the examples above.
Now, we know that cases are like kryptonite for most learners. But worry not! You can refresh your knowledge and learn more about this grammar function in our worksheet.
Do all these quirks of each other in Serbian sound like a hassle? No worries! With our guide and consistent practice, you’ll use these phrases without thinking twice. After all, Serbian grammar and vocabulary are a bit like rakija — they’ll make your head spin at first, but soon enough, you’ll be craving more!
Ready to go further? Then, our pre-intermediate course is just what the doctor ordered. Get it now to level up your Serbian skills and reach fluency at your own pace — whenever and wherever suits you best!
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