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[myriadmultifariousmusings-blog]

Special Plurals

We did nouns gender and number. There are small group of male gender nouns which ends on vowel –o or on a consonant but they have only one syllable, so they have a bit different way to make plural.

stan      stanovi mač      mačevi vo         volovi sto        stolovi sin        sinovi posao   poslovi anđeo   anđeli

[myriadmultifariousmusings-blog]

Number of Nouns

In the plural, masculine gender nouns, end on -i, so we get:

muškarac – muškarci dečak – dečaci

Feminine gender nouns in plural (which in singular end in –a), end in –e:

žena – žene devojčica – devojčice

Neuter gender nouns in plural get ending –a:

dete – deca selo – sela (a village) pismo – pisma (a letter)

Also, it is very important to know demonstrative pronouns that go with nouns of each gender:

This – ovaj, ova, ovo These – ovi, ove, ova That – taj, ta, to Those – ti, te ta

For example:

Ovaj muškarac, ova žena, ovo dete Ovi muškarci, ove žene, ova deca Taj muškarac, ta žena, to dete Ti muškarci, te žene, ta deca

Those are the most common examples, but, as in every language, there are many exceptions. And I really must wrap my head around the demonstrative pronouns. I make the connection that ‘that’ has a second ‘t’, therefore it is taj, ta, to; but when I am trying to be quick, I always incorrectly translate ‘those’ as ‘ovi, ove, ova’. Need to work on that.

[myriadmultifariousmusings-blog]

Gender of Nouns

There are three grammatical genders in the Serbian language: masculine, feminine and neuter. Each noun has its own grammatical gender, while adjectives correspond to the gender of the noun.

Masculine, singular – muškarac, dečak (a man, a boy)

Feminine, singular – žena, devojčica (a woman, a girl)

Neuter, singular – dete (a child)

If a noun ends in a consonant, most probably it is the masculine noun. Some of masculine nouns end in a vowel, but those are mostly personal names as Marko, Nikola etc. If it ends in a vowel –o or –e in singular, mostly it is a neuter noun. If the noun ends on a vowel –a, it is a feminine noun. There are also feminine nouns which end in a consonant. How then to distinguish those masculine nouns from feminine nouns? Those nouns typically denote abstract objects, for example – ljubav (love), smrt (death), /bolest (illness), mladost (youth) etc.

As retrieved from the Duolingo Serbian Course.

[myriadmultifariousmusings-blog]

Nikola Tesla

So, I’ve decided to cease posting the words and phrases of the Serbian language that I learn. Instead, posts shall be dedicated to the more interesting tid-bits of information that the course covers, or those that I stumble upon myself.

Such as Nikola Tesla! I had no idea he was Serbian. I assumed he was American, which of course is not incorrect, but I didn’t realize he had Serbian ancestry. Supposedly best known for contributing to the design of the modern AC system, I know him better for the Tesla car fanufacturing company named in his honor. Regardless, he is featured on the 100 dinar banknote in Serbia, and I may have had a moment of nerdy happiness when I found out.

[myriadmultifariousmusings-blog]

Serbian National Anthem -  “Боже правде’' / ''Bože pravde “

Bože pravde (”God of Justice”)

The Serbian national anthem as it is now, was constitutionally adopted November 8, 2006. That said, it was first developed by Davorin Jenko (music) and Jovan Đorđević (lyrics) in 1872 for the Kingdom of Serbia. Since it’s manifestation, the words have regularly been altered to some slight degree to suit the reigning body at the time. 

I will admit, that I was quite fond of the American national anthem (speaking as a Canadian) - it’s quite beautiful. This blows it out of the water, though. Perhaps there isn’t the same level of imagery, you can really sense the longing for release; the relief of freedom from Ottoman occupation; and the appreciation and glory they give unto God. And I’m quite fond of the rhyming scheme - though it doesn’t translate out quite as well into English.

Bože pravde, ti što spase od propasti dosad nas, čuj i odsad naše glase i od sad nam budi spas. Moćnom rukom vodi, brani budućnosti srpske brod, Bože spasi, Bože hrani,(*) srpske zemlje, srpski rod!(*) Složi srpsku braću dragu na svak dičan slavan rad, sloga biće poraz vragu a najjači srpstvu grad. Nek na srpskoj blista grani bratske sloge zlatan plod, Bože spasi, Bože hrani(*) srpske zemlje, srpski rod!(*) Nek na srpsko vedro čelo tvog ne padne gneva grom Blagoslovi Srbu selo polje, njivu, grad i dom! Kad nastupe borbe dani k pobedi mu vodi hod Bože spasi, Bože hrani(*) srpske zemlje, srpski rod!(*) Iz mračnoga sinu groba srpske slave novi sjaj nastalo je novo doba Novu sreću, Bože daj! Otadžbinu srpsku brani pet vekovne borbe plod Bože spasi, Bože hrani(*) moli ti se srpski rod!(*)

English translation:

God of Justice; Thou who saved us when in deepest bondage cast, Hear Thy Serbian children's voices, Be our help as in the past. With Thy mighty hand sustain us, Still our rugged pathway trace; God, our hope; protect and cherish, Serbian lands and Serbian race! Bind in closest links our kindred Teach the love that will not fail, May the loathed fiend of discord Never in our ranks prevail. Let the golden fruits of union Our young tree of freedom grace; God, our Master! Guide and prosper,(*) Serbian lands and Serbian race!(*) Lord! Avert from us Thy vengeance, Thunder of Thy dreaded ire; Bless each Serbian town and hamlet, Mountain, meadow, heart and spire! When our host goes forth to battle Death or victory to embrace- God of armies! Be our leader,(*) Strengthen then the Serbian race!(*) On our sepulchre of ages Breaks the resurrection morn, From the slough of direst slavery Serbia anew is born. Through five hundred years of durance We have knelt before Thy face, All our kin, O God! Deliver,(*) Thus entreats the Serbian race!(*)

[myriadmultifariousmusings-blog]

A Little Bit of Serbia

This is St. Sava Temple in Belgrade. It’s gorgeous - one of the largest church buildings in the world, not even just Orthodox temples. If/when I ever make my way to Belgrade, I will definitely have to visit here. For so many reasons. It’s beautiful architecture; it’s an Orthodox church; and it bears the name of the Saint for whom my Godfather was named. 

[myriadmultifariousmusings-blog]

Language Phrases

Da li govoriš srpski? --- Do you speak Serbian? Da, ja govorim srpski. --- Yes, I speak Serbian. Ne, ja ne govorim srpski. --- No, I don’t speak Serbian. Pomalo --- a little bit

engleski --- English nemački --- German francuski --- French ruski --- Russian hrvatski --- Croatian japanski --- Japanese

Of course, srpski is Serbian.