Unique and authentic expressions that are difficult (or impossible) to translate are one of a language’s most exciting things! Not only do they expand your vocabulary, but they also teach you about the people’s culture and lifestyle. In this blog post, we cover 10 Serbian words that don’t exist in English – or are at least not easily translatable.
Merak
| Meaning | Merak is a feeling of deep contentment and joy from life’s simple pleasures. |
| Example | Baš mi je merak da popijem rakiju pre jela! |
| Translation | I really like drinking rakija before eating! |
Inat
| Meaning | Stubbornness or defiance, often in a positive sense of standing one’s ground. Often used as: srpski inat, which emphasizes that Serbian people are extremely likely to display this characteristic. |
| Example | Neću, u inat! |
| Translation | I don’t want to, in spite of all! |
Sevdah
| Meaning | A complex emotion that blends love, melancholy, and longing. |
| Example | Uhvatio me sevdah kad sam krenula. |
| Translation | I got overwhelmed with emotions when I departed. |
Muka
| Meaning | A mix of physical or emotional discomfort, often with a sense of burden. |
| Example | Muka mi je više ovog posla! |
| Translation | I am sick of this job! |
Čejf
| Meaning | The pleasure of savoring something slowly, like coffee, a cigarette, or a moment. |
| Example | Sedeo je na terasi i pio kafu, uživajući u svom čejfu. |
| Translation | He was sitting on the balcony and drinking coffee while enjoying leisure time. |
Šljivovica
| Meaning | A unique plum brandy deeply tied to Serbian culture. |
| Example | Jaka ova šljivovica! |
| Translation | This plum brandy is strong! |
Promaja
| Meaning | A draft of air in a closed space, believed to cause illnesses. |
| Example | Ubiće te promaja! |
| Translation | The draft will kill you! |
Čučavac
| Meaning | A specific type of squat toilet common in the older Balkan homes. |
| Example | Imali su samo poljski toalet, i to čučavac. |
| Translation | They only had an outhouse, and a squatter at that. |
Zavet
| Meaning | A solemn vow or promise, often tied to deep spiritual or cultural commitments. Not just a simple promise, but something with emotional and even sacred weight. |
| Example | Dali su zavet da će se uvek boriti za pravdu. |
| Translation | They vowed to always fight for justice. |
Slava
| Meaning | A unique Serbian tradition where a family celebrates its patron saint with rituals, feasting, and gatherings. |
| Example | Idemo na babinu i dedinu slavu. |
| Translation | We are going to our grandparents’ slava. |
Is There More?
With these few Serbian words, we have simply scratched the surface. If you want to learn more and familiarize yourself with the irresistible Serbian culture and way of living, check out our post about how Serbian people celebrate the New Year’s Eve and Christmas. Make sure to check out our website and group courses for more!
