the

Borrowed from English the, which sounds similar to Serbo-Croatian da.

neki kreten the ih drka emotivno

the ovo okačim na fb wall, garant ne bih opstala od borKINJa za ženska prava

if I posted this on my FB wall, I surely wouldn't survive the women rights fighters

(Internet slang) Alternative spelling of da


te

From Proto-Slavic *ta. Compare Ukrainian та (ta).

Poskliznuo sam se te pao.

and (following a cause; lit. and thereby, and thus)

U posljednjih godinu dana bio sam u Beogradu, Zagrebu, Sarajevu te Podgorici.

In the past year, I have been to Belgrade, Zagreb, Sarajevo and Podgorica.

Obukao sam se, izašao iz kuće, zaključao vrata te otišao na posao.

I got dressed up, got out of the house, locked the door and then went to work.

and, and then (before the last thing in order of mention or occurrence)

Problemi gdje god pogledaš! Te tu, te tamo!

Problems, wherever you look! Now here, now there!

(Croatia) now (chiefly used in stock phrases)


i

Ivica i Marica se vole

i tako dalje

ne možeš istovremeno i tužiti i suditi.

you can't simultaneously both sue and judge

i meni se sviđa vaš odabir

(čak) i ja sam pozvan na zabavu!

on je ne samo darovit, nego i jako marljiv

he is not only talented, but also very industrious

umorio sam se i nisam mogao više igrati košarku

I grew tired, so I couldn't play basketball anymore


а

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *a (“and, but”), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *ō.

inh+

учио сам ц(иј)ело посл(иј)еподне, а ништа нисам научио

I studied for the whole afternoon, but I didn't learn anything

а како бисте ви то направили?

столови су црвени, а столице су зелене

the tables are red, whereas the chairs are green

не могу се укључити у расправу, а да не направим неред

I cannot enter a discussion without making a mess

одлази, а да није рекао ни збогом

he's leaving without even saying goodbye

(with да не) without (usually after negative verbs)

прави пријатељ зна све о теби, а ипак те воли

the real friend knows everything about you, and yet he loves you

у мору лоших в(иј)ести тешко је остати објективан, а камоли оптимистичан

in the sea of bad news it's hard to stay objective, let alone optimistic

а и да јесам то направио, не би то учинило неку разлику

even if I did it, it wouldn't have made much of a difference

свиђају ми се плавуше, а и ја се покојој свидим

I like blondes, and some of them even like me

били су жалосни, а и ја сам


и

From Proto-Slavic *i, from Proto-Indo-European *éy.

Ивица и Марица се воле

и тако даље

не можеш истовремено и тужити и судити.

и мени се свиђа ваш одабир

(чак) и ја сам позван на забаву!

он је не само даровит, него и јако марљив

(не са̏мо .. не̏го/ве̏ћ и...) also, too

уморио сам се и нисам могао више играти кошарку


ni

From Proto-Slavic *ni (“nor, not”), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *nej, from Proto-Indo-European *ney. Compare ni-, ne.

ona nije ni pametna ni(ti) marljiva

ni traga ni glasa o ..

ni kriv ni dužan

completely innocent (lit. neither guilty nor indebted)


em

em … em … (canonical)
ем … ем … (Cyrillic)
hem (alternative)

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish هم (hem), from Persian هم (ham).

Em me bio em još da mu kažem hvala.

Not only did he beat me up but he also wanted me to tell him thanks.


pa

Common South Slavic; compare Slovene pa, Bulgarian па (pa). See also pa-.

prvo ću skočiti ja, pa ti

učenje pa odmor pa zabava

Potrošio sam sav novac, pa sam se morao vratiti kući.

I've spent all of my money, so I had to go back home.

(with da or màkar) even if, even though, although

bogat je, pa ipak usamljen


dok

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *do kъ, as if from dȍ + k.

dok je čov(j)ek mlad, ne brine o zdravlju

while one is young, he doesn't care about health

ovd(j)e ću čekati dok se ona ne vrati

mi se brinemo za kuću, dok je njemu svejedno

we worry about the house, while he doesn't care at all


da

From Proto-Slavic *da, probably old imperative of the word dȁti, itself from Proto-Indo-European *deh₃- (“to give”).

Rekao je da će doći.

Rekao sam ti da nemam pojma o čemu pričaš!

I told you that I have no idea what you are talking about!

Došao je da mi sve ispriča.

Došao je ovdje da nađe posao.

Da bi se i mi mogli natjecati, moramo vježbati.

To be able to compete, we have to practice.

On hoće da mu pokažete put do stanice.

He wants you to show him the way to the station.

to (when the subjects of both clauses are not the same)

Da sam na vašem m(j)estu, ne bih se puno zamarao takvim detaljima.

If I were you, I wouldn't bother too much with such details.

Da si više radio, zaradio bi više novca.

Had you worked harder, you would have made more money.

Da i znam ne bih ti rekao!

(subjunctive only, often followed by i) if, even if (= kad)

S(j)ećam se, kao da je bilo juče(r).

Kao da ne znaš o čemu pričam!

As if you don't know what I'm talking about!

(usually preceded by kȁo) as if, as though, like

Odlazi, a da nije rekao ni zbogom.

He's leaving without even saying goodbye.

(usually preceded by a) without (after negative verbs)

Onaj koji se bori protiv zla treba paziti da time i sam ne postane zao.

He who fights evil need care lest he thereby become evil himself.


ter

тер (Cyrillic)
te (alternative)
tere (alternative)

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *teže, from Proto-Slavic *te + *že.


ako

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *jako (“how, in which way”).

inh+

ako ovo je kraj


да

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *da, probably old imperative of the word да̏ти, itself from Proto-Indo-European *deh₃- (“to give”).

рекао је да ће доћи

одговорио сам му да немам појма о чему прича

I've told him that I have no idea what he was talking about

дошао је да ми све исприча

стигао је у нашу земљу да научи наш језик

he arrived in our country in order to learn our language

он хоће да му покажете пут до станице

he wants you to show him the way to the station

он жели да прича с вама

(Serbia) to (when the subjects of both clauses are the same; for western Serbo-Croatian use infinitive instead of да + present tense)

да сам на вашем м(ј)есту, не бих се пуно замарао таквим детаљима

if I were you, I wouldn't bother too much with such details

да си више радио, зарадио би више новца

if you worked harder, you would have earned more money

с(ј)ећам се, као да је било јуче(р)

као да не знаш о чему причам

as if you don't know what I'm talking about

не могу се укључити у расправу, а да не направим неред

I cannot enter a discussion without making a mess

одлази, а да није рекао ни збогом

he's leaving without even saying goodbye

(а + да + не) without (usually after negative verbs)

even if I did it, it wouldn't have made much of a difference

онај који се бори против чудовишта треба пазити да тиме и сам не постане чудовиште

he who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster


onda

ȍndā (canonical)
о̏нда̄ (Cyrillic)
onad (alternative dialectal regional)
onadaj (alternative dialectal regional)
onadar (alternative dialectal regional)
ondar (alternative dialectal regional)
ondak (alternative dialectal regional)

From the earlier form *onъgda by analogy with *tъgda (compare tàdā).


ama

From Ottoman Turkish اما (ammâ), in turn from Arabic أَمَّا (ʔammā).


но

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *no, *nu (Russian но (no), ну (nu)), from Proto-Balto-Slavic (Lithuanian nu), from Proto-Indo-European *nū (“now”) (Latin nun-c, Ancient Greek νῦν (nûn)).

бољи но он

бољи него он/бољи од њега

Изгледаш боље но икад.

Прорачунски мањак Грчке у био је значајно већи но што је влада проц(иј)енила.

Greece's budget deficit was significantly bigger than the government had estimated.

(after a comparative, obsolete, expressively) than (=не̏го, о̏д)

than (=не̏го, о̏д)

Погрешно, но био си доста близу.

Но ос(ј)ећам само срећу.

Текст није савршен, но није ли могао бити бољи?

The text is not perfect, but could it have been better?


a

Učio sam c(ij)elo posl(ij)epodne, a ništa nisam naučio.

I studied for the whole afternoon, but I didn't learn anything.

A kako biste vi to napravili?

Stolovi su crveni, a stolice su zelene.

The tables are red, whereas the chairs are green.

Ne mogu se uključiti u raspravu, a da ne napravim nered.

I cannot enter a discussion without making a mess.

Odlazi, a da nije rekao ni zbogom.

He's leaving without even saying goodbye.

(with da ne) without (usually after negative verbs)

Pravi prijatelj zna sve o tebi, a ipak te voli.

The real friend knows everything about you, and yet he loves you.

U moru loših v(ij)esti teško je ostati objektivan, a kamoli optimističan.

In the sea of bad news it's hard to stay objective, let alone optimistic.

A i da jesam to napravio, ne bi to učinilo neku razliku.

Even if I did it, it wouldn't have made much of a difference.

Sviđaju mi se plavuše, a i ja se pokojoj svidim.

I like blondes, and some of them even like me.

Bili su žalosni, a i ja sam.


само

што волови мучу, само нек кола не шкрипе

дат ћу/даћу вам све, само без свађе!

I'll will get you everything, just don't get into a fight about it!

ова хаљина је л(иј)епа, само је скупа

this dress is very nice, but it's too expensive

(denoting opposition or exclusion) just, but, only

говорим само да говорим

(denoting limited intention) only to, merely to

ти учиш, само да не буде узалуд

you're studying, if only it were not in vain

(denoting an assumption of opposite outcome) if only

није само

није то само тако/не може то само тако

само што

само што не

само што нисам/само што није


kako

Kako je noć odmicala, sve sam više bio pospaniji.

As the night went on, I was getting increasingly sleepier.

as, while (links or emphasizes two or more events which happen and vary through time, in order or simultaneously)

Preselio se ovdje kako bi našao posao.

Kako bismo se jednog dana i mi mogli natjecati, moramo puno vježbati.

In order for us to compete one day, we need to train a lot.

(used with present conditional) to, so, so as to, so that, in order to, in order for (expresses a past or future intent that refers to the present)


зашто

Literally “for what”, from за (“for”) + што̏ (“what”). For the conjunction compare зато што.


zašto

Univerbation of za (“for”) + što (“what”). For the conjunction compare zato.


него

Београд је већи него Загреб.

(with nominative) than (in comparisons, following the comparative)

он је не само даровит, него и јако марљив.

He is not only talented, but also very industrious.

то није црно, него б(иј)ело.

(following a negation) but (see also ве̏ћ)


па

Common South Slavic; compare Slovene pa, Bulgarian па (pa). See also па-.

прво ћу скочити ја, па ти

учење па одмор па забава

потрошио сам сав новац, па сам се морао вратити кући

I've spent all of my money, so I had to return home

(with да or ма̀кар) even if, even though, although

with да or ма̀кар

богат је, па ипак усамљен


kao

Šepa kao (da je) ozlijeđen.

(in comparisons, commonly followed by da) as, as if, as though, like (in a real or affected manner suggested)

Nije visok kao ja.

(in comparisons, with nominative, informal) as, like (=poput)

Imamo hrane kao blata.

(in comparisons, with genitive, emphatic) as, as much as (to such an extent or degree)


pak

S druge pak strane, možda je u pravu.

To je pak drugačije.


tere

тере (Cyrillic)
te (alternative)
ter (alternative)


ни

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *ni (“nor, not”), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *nej, from Proto-Indo-European *ney. Compare ни-, не.

inh+

она није ни паметна ни(ти) марљива

ни трага ни гласа о ..

ни крив ни дужан


jer

From an earlier jere, from the neuter form of Proto-Slavic *jь že. Compare Slovene ker.

Jer stalno ponavljaš jedno te isto.

'Cause you say the same thing over and over again.

Because you are repeating one and the same.

Svi su mrtvi jer su tražili mene.

They're all dead because they were looking for me.


kad

kȁd (canonical)
ка̏д (Cyrillic)
kàda (alternative)
kăt (alternative Torlakian)

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *kogъda, a compound of *ko (from Proto-Indo-European *kʷos) and *gъda, genitive singular of *godъ (compare Old Church Slavonic годъ (godŭ, “right time”)), thus originally meaning "at what time".

cog

Kad ćeš doći?

Ne znam kad ću stići na sastanak.

I don't know when I will arrive at the meeting.

Vjetar je prestao puhati baš kad je počelo kišiti.

The wind stopped blowing just when it began raining.

Kad bih samo imao malo više slobodnog vremena.

kad god

malo kad

kad-tad

(t)ko zna kad

used in miscellaneous phrases relating to time


те

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *ta. Compare Ukrainian та (ta).


samo

Ova haljina je l(ij)epa, samo (je) preskupa

This dress is very beautiful, but too expensive.

(denoting contrast and exclusivity) just, but, only, merely

Govorim samo da govorim!

Uči, samo da nije uzalud!

(dated, assuming a contradiction) just, if only


ако

ако ово је крај


no

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *nъ, (Russian но (no), ну (nu)), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *nu (Lithuanian nu), from Proto-Indo-European *nu (“now”), (Latin nun-c, Ancient Greek νῦν (nûn)).

bolji no on

bolji nego on/bolji od njega

Izgledaš bolje no ikad.

Proračunski manjak Grčke u bio je značajno veći no što je vlada proc(ij)enila.

Greece's budget deficit was significantly bigger than the government had estimated.

(after a comparative, regional, dated, expressively) than (=nȅgo, ȍd)

Pogrešno, no bio si dosta blizu.

No os(j)ećam samo sreću.

Tekst nije savršen, no nije li mogao biti bolji?

The text is not perfect, but could it have been better?


nego

Beograd je veći nego Zagreb.

On je ne samo darovit, nego i jako marljiv.

He is not only talented, but also very diligent.

To nije crno, nego b(ij)elo.

(following a negation) but (see also vȅć)

To mi je jasno. Nego, hoćemo krenuti?

(linking word at the start of the sentence connecting it with the previous sentence, but changing the subject) rather

linking word at the start of the sentence connecting it with the previous sentence; but changing the subject; linking word at the start of the sentence connecting it with the previous sentence; but changing the subject

Nego (što)!

(indicates agreement) indeed, hear, hear


kak

(colloquial, Croatia) Informal form of kako.


kada

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *kogъda, a compound of *ko (from Proto-Indo-European *kʷos) and *gъda, genitive singular of *godъ (compare Old Church Slavonic годъ (godŭ, “right time”)), thus originally meaning 'at what time'.


zato što

Nisam došao zato što sam bio bolestan.


iako

albeit, although, even though (usually sentence-initially)


premda

From earlier and archaic prȅm (“albeit”) + particle da.


čak i ako

sh-conjunction

čȁk i ȁko (Cyrillic spelling ча̏к и а̏ко)

čȁk i ȁko (canonical)
ча̏к и а̏ко (Cyrillic)


već

1891, recorded by Vuk Stefanović Karadžić, Srpske narodne pjesme

If from the sky an impetuous rain were to fall, / nowhere would it fall on the soil, / but rather on good horses and heroes.

Da iz neba plaha kiša padne, / niđe ne bi na zemljicu pala, / već na dobre konje i junake.

(following a negation) but, but rather (see also nȅgo)


иако

albeit, even though (usually sentence-initially)


премда

пре̏мда (canonical)
prȅmda (romanization)

From earlier and archaic пре̏м (“albeit”) + particle да.


чак и ако

ча̏к и а̏ко (canonical)
čȁk i ȁko (romanization)


већ

Да из неба плаха киша падне, / ниђе не би на земљицу пала, / већ на добре коње и јунаке.

1891, recorded by Vuk Stefanović Karadžić, Srpske narodne pjesme

(following a negation) but, but rather (see also не̏го)


doli

dòli (canonical)
до̀ли (Cyrillic)
do li (alternative)

Nemate nikakva dokaza doli r(ij)eč sluge.

You have no evidence but the word of a servant.

Plaćenik, poput tebe, je ništa doli stroj/mašina za ubijanje.

A mercenary, such as yourself, is nothing but a killing machine.


če

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *či, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷíh₁, initially instrumental singular of pronoun *kʷo-/*kʷe-; compare Latin quī (“how? why?”), Avestan 𐬗𐬌𐬱 (ciš), Old Saxon hwi.

I če je sunce čas,
Za oblak taki zajde.


veće

That was not a grey falcon-bird, / but rather it was the saint Elijah.

To ne bio soko tica siva, / veće bio svetitelj Ilija.


веће

То не био соко тица сива, / веће био светитељ Илија.

(archaic, rare) Alternative form of ве̏ћ


уколико

уколѝко̄ (canonical)
ukolìkō (romanization)


kdaj

gda (alternative)
gdaj (alternative)
kda (alternative)


док

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *do kъ, as if from до̏ + к.

док је чов(ј)ек млад, не брине о здрављу

while one is young, he doesn't care about health

овдј(е) ћу чекати док се она не врати

ми се бринемо за кућу, док је њему свеједно

we worry about the house, while he doesn't care at all


čim

čȋm (canonical)
чи̑м (Cyrillic)
čime (alternative)

Čim si blizu, nazovi me!

Doći ću čim mogu!

Reći ću mu čim stignem!

Čim ima oblaka, bit će i kiše.

Since there are clouds, it will also rain.


дакле

да̏кле̄ (canonical)
dȁklē (romanization)


онда

о̏нда̄ (canonical)
ȍndā (romanization)
однада (alternative dialectal regional)
однак (alternative dialectal regional)
onag (alternative dialectal regional)
onagaj (alternative dialectal regional)
onad (alternative dialectal regional)
onadaj (alternative dialectal regional)
onadar (alternative dialectal regional)
onadare (alternative dialectal regional)
onadareko (alternative dialectal regional)
onadarečko (alternative dialectal regional)
onadijer (alternative dialectal regional)
ondaj (alternative dialectal regional)
ondak (alternative dialectal regional)
ondan (alternative dialectal regional)
ondar (alternative dialectal regional)

From the earlier form *onъgda by analogy with *tъgda (compare та̀да̄).


јер

Ми смо овд(ј)е јер је један серијски убојица/убица у б(иј)егу

We happen to be here because there is a serial killer on the loose.

Јер стално понављаш једно те исто.

Сви су мртви јер су тражили мене.

They' re all dead because they looked for me.

Нека све слободне д(ј)евојке крену на терасу јер младенка ће бацити букет.

Can we have all the single ladies out on the terrace for the tossing of the bride' s bouquet?


кад

ка̏д (canonical)
kȁd (romanization)
ка̀да (alternative)
кьт (alternative Torlakian)

Кад ћеш доћи?

Не знам кад ћу стићи на састанак.

Само што је пала ноћ, кад поче киша.

The night had just fallen, when the rain began.

Кад бих само имао мало више слободног времена...

If only I had a little more free time...

кад(а) год

мало кад

кад-тад

(т)ко зна кад


зато што

нисам дошао зато што сам био болестан

Зашто си тако тужна? Зато што одлазиш..

Why are you so sad? Because you're leaving..


zato da

Zakoni postoji zato da se očuva mir.

Laws exist so that peace can be preserved.

(informal, proscribed) so that, in order to


зато да

закони служе зато да би се кршили


ем

НИС ем дугује, ем уцењује

Not only does NIS owe money, they also blackmail.

Ја имам једног познатог златара у Пешти, па ћу вам ја то набавити и изабрати, ем јевтино, ем лепо, што баш вреди да се не постидите.

I have a renowned goldsmith in Pest, so I will obtain that and choose for you, both cheap and beautiful, so that you will have nothing to be ashamed of.

Пази, ем глув, ем нем, ем слабо срце, ем глувонем...

Look, he is deaf, mute, weak-hearted, and also deafmute...


откако

о̀ткако (canonical)
òtkako (romanization)


dokle

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *do kъ lě. Compare dȍ, k.

ovdj(e) ću čekati dokle se ona ne vrati


докле

до́кле̄ (canonical)
dóklē (romanization)

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *do kъ lě. Compare до̏, к. Cognate to Russian доколе (dokole).

овдј(е) ћу чекати докле се она не врати


ама

From Ottoman Turkish اما (ammâ), in turn from Arabic أَمَّا (ʔammā).


gda

gdaj (alternative)
kda (alternative)
kdaj (alternative)


доли

до̀ли (canonical)
dòli (romanization)
до ли (alternative)

Немате никаква доказа доли р(иј)еч слуге.

Плаћеник, попут тебе, је ништа доли строј/машина за убијање.


s obzirom na to što

S obzirom na to što pada kiša, nećemo ići u grad.

Taking into account that it's raining, we won't be going into town.


акопрем

а̏копрем (canonical)
ȁkoprem (romanization)


gdaj

gda (alternative)
kda (alternative)
kdaj (alternative)


kda

gda (alternative)
gdaj (alternative)
kdaj (alternative)


pošto

odmorili smo se odmah pošto smo stigli

after (indicating that the action of the main clause occurred after the action of the dependent clause)

ne mogu pošto nemam vremena

I can't because I do not have (enough) time

(colloquial) as, because, due to, since (indicating the cause of the action in the main clause)


пошто

одморили смо се одмах пошто смо стигли

(immediately) after (indicating that the action of the main clause occurred after the action of the dependent clause)

не могу пошто немам времена

(colloquial) because, due to, since (indicating the cause of the action in the main clause)


budući da

bȕdūći da (Cyrillic spelling бу̏дӯћи да)

bȕdūći da (canonical)
бу̏дӯћи да (Cyrillic)

biti + da. Literal translation would be "being that".

Budući da se dobro pripremio, pobijedio je na natjecanju.

He won the competition because he prepared well.

Budući da nije došao na vrijeme, zakasnio je na autobus.

Because he didn't arrive on time, he was late for the bus.


будући да

бу̏дӯћи да (canonical)
bȕdūći da (romanization)


kamoli

(generally preceded by a) let alone, to say nothing of, much less


камоли

ка̏моли (canonical)
kȁmoli (romanization)

(generally preceded by а) let alone, to say nothing of, much less


akamoli

akȁmoli (canonical)
ака̏моли (Cyrillic)
a (alternative standard)
kamoli (alternative standard)

…чрез їедну обштеначиньену и од свиїу одобрену Писменицу, по коїої би се после сваки драговольно владао, макар писао и їус (ꙛ), акамоли дебело їер (ъ) и їаћ (ѣ).

1814, Vuk Stefanović Karadžić, Pismenica serbskoga iezika, po govoru prostoga narod'a:

…through one commonly-made and universally authorized Grammar, according to which everyone would afterward voluntarily act, even if they wrote the yus (ꙛ), let alone the hard sign (ъ) and yat (ѣ).

(archaic, now proscribed) let alone, to say nothing of, much less


акамоли

ака̏моли (canonical)
akȁmoli (romanization)
а (alternative standard)
камоли (alternative standard)


кьт

kăt (romanization)
ка̏д (alternative standard)
ка̀да (alternative)

Жали, плачи да жалимо кьт ће слунце да огреје, / кьт ће слунце да огреје, ти помисли од Бога је, / ти да знајеш тој је мојо, тој је мојо бело лице.

2005, Кулин Бан, Жали, Заре, да жалимо:

Mourn, weep, let us mourn when the sun heats, / when the sun heats, think that it is from God, / that you may know that that is my, that is my fair face.


kăt

кьт (Cyrillic)
kȁd (alternative standard)
kàda (alternative)

2005, Кулин Бан, Жали, Заре, да жалимо:


i ako

Alternative form of čak i ako; albeit, although, even if (despite its being)

čak i ako

(proscribed) Alternative form of iako; albeit, although, even if (despite its being)


dočim

Univerbation of dok (“until/till, while, whilst”) + čȋm (“as soon as, once, when”). Ultimately the k sound got assimilated into the č sound through palatalization.


дочим

Univerbation of док (“until/till, while, whilst”) + чи̑м (“as soon as, once, when”). Ultimately the к sound got assimilated into the ч sound through palatalization.


pokehdob

pokehdób (canonical)
покехдо́б (Cyrillic)
pokedob (alternative)
pokidob (alternative)

From earlier po ke dobe. See po, ki, doba.

since, because
Pokehdob je pal dešč, mi smo ostali domom.
Because it rained, we stayed at home.