Belgrade Charm

Sanja Pokrajac

Belgrade charm -capital of Serbia

Guide and Conversations in Serbian

Translated by : Fatima Immacolata Pretta

Copyright © 2020 Sanja Pokrajac

INTRODUCTION

The Serbian capital is situated between the two rivers, the Sava and the Danube and is one of the most fascinating and most visited cities in Eastern Europe. It attracts many tourists from all over the world for the immense hospitality of the Serbian people, for the excellent homemade gastronomy that it offers, for its historical architecture, sacred art and of course for the nonstop entertainment. The vitality of this city is truly extraordinary. Passing by the most famous Belgrade street, Кнез МихајловаKnez Mihajlova (Knes Mihàilova) where there are museums, exhibitions and cultural centres, or Скадарлија-Skadarlija with Bohemian charm (Skadarlia) full of taverns and restaurants with live music, You will be followed by the brass band, saxophones, violins and contrabasses playing the cheerful Balkan folk, or a band playing jazz, blues, classical or rock music. A true fusion of music, spoken world languages and people of all ages dancing and having fun until dawn everywhere. On the Sava river there are a lot of underground clubs, some really trendy and all made on rafts called splavovi, where all night long you can dance to the rhythm of rock, techno, folk or pop music. The bathing part is located on the Sava River peninsula, which is called Ада Циганлија-Ada Ciganlija (Adda Zigànlia) where fun is guaranteed in all seasons. Don’t miss the Belgrade Fortress (Калемегдан-Kalemègdan) and its open air exhibitions. It takes a whole day to get to know its entire history. You will see underground Roman wells, the church Ружица-Ružica (Rùjiza), casemates, other underground rooms and a collection that for 70 years now has been attracting tourists who come to see tanks

HISTORY OF BELGRADE

and heavy artillery exhibits. The zoo mosaic is also a must. They are mosaics made mostly with glass and stones on the Kalemegdan wall by Belgrade university students. It represents a gallery of 440 mosaics of all the animals in the world. Теразије-Terazije (Teràsie) Street is the heart of Belgrade, and if you find yourself at number 20 and hear the notes of the piano, go and taste the famous Москва шнит-Moskva šnit (Mosskva shnit) cake made of cream, almonds, sour cherries and pineapple, the trademark of the historic and beautiful Москва-Moskva (Mosskva) Hotel. In Tašmajdan Park, Ташмајдан (Tashmàidan) is the Church of St. Mark and the Temple of the Three Saints, also called the Russian Church in memory of the many Russian immigrants in Belgrade after the October Revolution. To explore the historic cave Ресава-Resava (Ressava) in the village of Јеловац (Ielovaz). Crypt of the Temple of St. Sava – Храм Светог Саве -Hram Svetog Save (Hram Ssvetogh Ssave) needs no words. The Historical Museum of Yugoslavia is specially built by the city of Belgrade to give the birthday present to the Yugoslav President Tito. On Крунска-Krunska Street, 51 is the interactive museum of Nikola Tesla-Никола Тесла with the urn and the collection of posthumous masks of the great Serbian scientist. Don’t miss the Гардош кула-Gardoš kula (Ghardosh kula), the built tower of the four monumental towers celebrating 1000 years of the Hungarian state and the old Zemun-Земун, Semun, a Habsburg land, the largest of 17 Belgrade municipalities. The most popular urban nightlife of pop, jazz and blues music can be found in the complex of clubs built in the former beer factory on Цетињска-Cetinjska Street, 15 (Zetignska). The Serbian people are a mild and hospitable people. The religion is predominantly Orthodox Christian. The currency of the country is the Serbian dinar (RSD). Urban transport is well organized and taxi service is not too expensive. For those who want to stop for some reason in Belgrade, you can also find apartments near the centre at low cost. To always have internet, just buy a Serbian card.

SERBIAN GASTRONOMY

Many Serbian restaurants offer a wide selection of spirits made in their cellars. Serbs are well known for their plum brandy, шљивовица-šljivovica (scglìvoviza), brandy, лозовача-lozovača (lòsovacia), pears, виљамовка-viljamovka (vìgliamovka), apples, јабуковача-jabukovača (iàbukovacia), herbal schnapps, траварица-travarica (tràvariza), quince, дуњевача-dunjevača (dùgnevacia), apricot, кајсијевача-kajsijevača (kàisievacia) and many others. There are also many excellent wines such as Merlot, Sauvignon, Cabernet, Morava, Tamjanika (Tamiànica), Regent, etc., made by local wineries. Serbian specialties are mostly BBQ meat such as mixed meat consisting of ribs, skewers, cold cuts, hamburgers and the famous ćevapi-cievapi (meatballs in flat bread) and кајмак-kajmak (kàimak), a creamy cheese famous in Serbia. The steak from Карађорђе-Karadjordje (Kàragiorgie) of veal is delicious. Winter dish is the famous сарма-sàrma (meat rolls in cabbage leaf), or meat-filled peppers, boiled shank cooked with spices, beans with pork ribs, ђувеч-djuveč (giùveci) or pork with baked vegetables, fish soup, fried fish, ajvar (aìvar), the very famous pepper sauce, pita (pitta) which is puff pastry filled with cheese (famous гибаница-gibanica-ghibàniza), pitta with meat (бурек-burek), pitta with vegetables (зељаница-zeljanica – segliàniza), or pitta with apples (јабуковача-jabukovača -iàbukovacia). Туршија – Turšija (tùrscia) is a salad and is a mixture of sour vegetables. Баклава-Baklàva is a cake made with nuts in the puff pastry. And to digest, it can be followed with a nice шприцер-špricer (shprizer) made of white wine and soda. In almost all restaurants there are also Italian dishes that are very popular in Serbia.

ALPHABET

The official writing in Serbia is the Serbian Cyrillic alphabet consisting of 30 letters:

A,A (А)

Б,B (B)

В,V (V)

Г,G (GH)

Д,D (D)

Ђ, Đ (GI)

Е,E (E)

Ж,Ž (J)

З,Z (S)

И,I (I)

Ј,J (J)

К,K (K)

Л,L (L)

Љ,Lj (GLI)

M,M (M)

Н,N (N)

Њ,Nj (GN)

О,O (O)

П,P (P)

Р,R (R)

С,S (SS)

Т,T (T)

Ћ,Ć (CI)

У,U (U)

Ф,F (F)

Х,H(H)

Ц,C (Z)

Ч,Č (CI)

Џ,Dž (GI)

Ш,Š(SH)

Although Cyrillic is the official writing, Latin characters are quite common in Serbia.

GREETINGS /ПОЗДРАВИ POZDRAVI/ POSDRAVI

Welcome/Добро дошли/Dobro došli/ Dobro dòscli

To health/ Наздравље/Nazdravlje/ Nàsdravglie

Good morning / Dobar dan/ Добар дан/

Dobar dan Goodbye /Довиђења / Doviđenja / Dovigiègna

Have a good trip / Срећан пут / Srećan put/ Srècian put

CONVERSATIONS/РАЗГОВОРИ/ RAZGOVORI/RASGHOVORI

How are you? Како сте? Kako ste? Kakko ste?

Well, thank you, and you? Хвала, добро, а Ви? Hvala, dobro, a Vi? Hvala, dobro, a Vi?

Do you understand me? Разумете ли ме? Razumete li me? Rasùmete li me?

I understand everything /Све разумем / Sve razumem / Sve rasùmem.

Do you speak English or Serbian? /Говорите ли енглески или српски ? / Govorite li engleski ili srpski? / Ghòvorite li èngleski ili ssrpski?

Yes, I speak a little Serbian / Да, говорим мало српски / Da, govorim malo srpski / Da, ghòvorim malo ssrpski.

I don’t understand / Не разумем / Ne razumem / Ne rasùmem. How do you pronounce this word? / Како се изговара ова реч? Kako se izgovara ova reč? Kakko sse isghòvara ova rèci?

Please repeat it / Поновите, молим Вас / Ponovite, molim Vas / Ponòvite, mòlim vass.

What’s her name? / Како се зовете? / Kako se zovete?/ Kakko se sòvete?

My name is…/ Ја се зовем…/Ja se zovem…/Ia sse sòvem…

What time is it? Колико је сати? Koliko je sati? Kòliko ie ssati?

It is eight minus ten /Десет до осам/ Deset do osam/ Desset do ossam.

It’s half past five/ Пет и тридесет/ Pet i trideset/ Pet i trìdesset.

It is 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. /Девет и петнаест/ Devet i petnaest/ Dèvet i pètnaesst.

What’s the weather like? Какво је време? Kakvo je vreme? Kakvo ie vreme?

Today is a beautiful day /Данас је предиван дан/ Danas je predivan dan/ Danass ie prèdivan dan.

When can I see you?

Када се можемо видети? Kada se možemo videti? Kada se mòjemo videtti?

Where can we meet? Где се можемо наћи? Gde se možemo naći? Ghde se mòjemo nacii?

I live in… / Ја живим у… / Ja živim u…/ Ia jivim u…

How old are you? Колико имаш година? Koliko imaš godina? Koliko imash ghòdina?

Yes-no, thank you / Да-Не, хвала/ Da-Ne, hvala/ Da- Ne, hvala. Have you ever been to Serbia? Јесте ли икада били у Србији ? Jeste li ikada bili u Srbiji? Ieste li ìkada bili u Ssrbiii?

Nice to meet you/ Драго ми је што смо се упознали/ Drago mi je što smo se upoznali/ Dragho mi ie shto smo se ùposnali.

See you tonight? Видимо се вечерас? Vidimo se večeras? Vidimo se vecìerass?

Excuse me /Извините/ Izvinite/ Isvinitte. Please / Молим / Molim/ Molim.

Today is 1 January / Данас је први јануар /Danas je prvi januar / Danass ie prvi iànuar.

Happy New Year / Срећна Нова година / Srećna Nova godina / Srècina Nova ghòdina.

Happy birthday / Срећан рођендан / Srećan rođendan / Srècian rògiendan.

I was born on 11 August / Рођен-рођена сам једанаестог августа/ Rođen-rođena sam jedanaestog avgusta/ Rògien-rògiena ssam iedànaesstogh avghusta.

I’m 30 and you? Имам тридесет година, а ти? Imam trideset godina, a ti? Imam trìdesset ghòdina, a ti?

CONVERSATIONS/РАЗГОВОРИ/RAZGOVORI/RASGHOVORI

I am not married / Нисам ожењен/ Nisam oženjen/ Nissam òjegnen.

Meet my friend / Представићу ти мог пријатеља/ Predstaviću ti mog prijatelja/ Prèdsstaviciu ti mogh prìateglia.

Have we met before? Јесмо ли се већ видели? Jesmo li se već videli? Jessmo li sse veci vìdeli?

How old are you? Колико имаш година? Koliko imaš godina? Koliko imash ghòdina?

How many do you give me? Колико ми дајеш? Koliko mi daješ? Koliko mi dàiesh?

I would give you 25 years / Дао бих ти двадесет пет година/ Dao bih ti dvadeset pet godina/ Dao bih ti dvàdeset pet ghòdina?

You are very kind / Ви сте много љубазни/ Vi ste mnogo ljubazni/ Vi sste mnogho gliùbasni.

Can I see you tonight? Можемо ли се видети вечерас? Možemo li se videti večeras? Mòjemo li sse vìdetti vecìerass?

It‘s love at first sight / То је љубав на први поглед/ To je ljubav na prvi pogled/ To ie gliubav na prvi pòghled.

I will pick you up by car /Доћи ћу аутом по тебе/ Doći ću autom po tebe/ Doci ciu àutom po tebe.

Can I have your phone number? Могу ли добити твој број телефона? Mogu li dobiti tvoj broj telefona? Mòghu li dòbitti tvoi broi telefona?

Let’s have lunch together / Ручајмо заједно/ Ručajmo zajedno/ Rùciaimo sàiedno.

Shall we take a walk? Хоћемо ли прошетати? Hoćemo li prošetati ? Hòciemo li proshètatti?

I apologise for the delay / Извините што касним/ Izvinite što kasnim/ Isvinitte shto kassnim.

Shall we dance? Хоћемо ли плесати? Hoćemo li plesati? Hòciemo li plessatti.

It was a nice evening / Вечерас је било лепо/ Večeras je bilo lepo/ Vecìerass ie bilo lepo.

Thank you for your hospitality / Хвала на вашем-твом гостопримству/ Hvala na vašem-tvom gostoprimstvu/ Hvala na vashem-tvom ghòsstoprimstvu.

Is she your girlfriend? Она је твоја девојка? Ona je tvoja devojka? Ona ie tvoia dèvoika?

This is my brother / Он је мој брат/ On je moj brat/ On ie moi brat.

See you Saturday at… / Видимо се у суботу у… / vidimo se u subotu u…/ Vidimo sse u ssubottu u…

Sorry I can’t come / Жао ми је, не могу доћи/ Žao mi je, ne mogu doći/ Jao mi ie, ne mòghu doci.

I am happy to have met you / Драго ми је да сам те упознао/ Drago mi je da sam te upoznao/ Dragho mi ie da ssam te upòsnao.

CARDINAL NUMBERS / КАРДИНАЛНИ БРОЈЕВИ / KARDINALNI BROJEVI / KARDINALNI BROIEVI

0 zero / нула / nula / nulla

1 one / један / jedan/ iedan

2 two /два / dva / dua

3 three /три/ tri / tri

4 four / четири / četiri / cietiri

5 five/ пет/pet / pet

6 six / шест/ šest/ shest

7 seven /седам / sedam / ssedam

8 eight / осам /osam / ossam

9 nine /девет / devet / devet

10 ten /десет / deset / desset

11 eleven /једанаест /jedanaest /iedanaesst

12 twelve / дванаест / dvanaest / duanaesst

13 thirteen /тринаест trinaest /trinaesst

14 fourteen/четрнаест/četrnaest/cietrnaesst

15 fifteen /петнаест / petnaest/petnaesst

16 sixteen / шеснаест / šesnaest /sciessnaest

17 seventeen /седамнаест/sedamnaest/ssedamnaesst

18 eighteen/осамнаест/osamnaest/ossamnaesst

19 nineteen /деветнаест/devetnaest/devetnaesst

20 twenty /двадесет/dvadeset/dvadesset

21 twenty-one /двадесетједан /dvadeset jedan/dvadesset iedan

30 thirty/тридесет/trideset/tridesset

40 forty/четрдесет/četrdeset/cietrdesset

50 fifty/педесет/pedeset/pedesset

60 sixty /шездесет/šezdeset/shesdesset

70 seventy /седамдесет/sedamdeset/ssedamdesset

80 eighty/осамдесет/osamdeset/ossamdesset

90 ninety /деведесет/devedeset/devedesset

1009 hundred/сто/sto/ssto

200 two hundred/двесто/dvesto/dvessto

300 three hundred /тристо/tristo/trissto

400 four hundred /четристо/četristo/cietrissto

500 five hundred /петсто/petsto/petssto

600 six hundred /шесто/šesto/shessto

700 seven hundred /седамсто/sedamsto/ssèdamssto

800 eight hundred /осамсто/osamsto/òssamssto

900 nine hundred /деветсто/devetsto/devvetssto

1000 thousand/хиљада/hiljada/hìgliada

2000 two thousand/две хиљаде/dve hiljade/dve hìgliade

3000 three thousand /три хиљаде/tri hiljade/tri hìgliade

3330 three thousand three hundred and thirty/ трихиљадетристотридесет/trihiljadetristotrideset/tri higliade trissto tridesset

8022 eight thousand and twenty-two

/осамхиљада двадесетдва/osam hiljada dvadeset dva/ ossam higliada dvadesset dva

55000 fifty-five thousand/ педесет петхиљада /pedeset pet hiljada/pedesset pet higliada

1 million/милион/milion/million

1 billion/милијарда/milijarda/miliarda

ORDINAL NUMBERS /РЕДНИ БРОЈЕВИ/ REDNI BROJEVI / REDNI BROIEVI

1. first/први/prvi/prvi

2. second/други/druggi/drughi

3. third/трећи/trecii/trecii

4. fourth/четврти/četvrti/cietvrti

5. fifth/пети/peti/peti

6. sixth / шести /šesti/sciessti

7. seventh /седми/sedmi/ssedmi

8. eighth/осми/osmi /ossmi

9. ninth /девети/deveti/deveti

10. tenth /десети/deseti/desseti

11. eleventh /једанаести/jedanaesti/Iedanaessti

12. twelfth /дванаести/dvanaesti/dvanaessti

13. thirteenth /тринаести/trinaesti/trinaessti

14. fourteenth/четрнаести/četrnaesti/cietrnaessti

15. fifteen /петнаести/petnaesti/petnaessti

16. sixteenth /шеснаести/šesnaesti/shessnaessti

17. seventeenth /седамнаести/sedamnaesti/ssedamnaessti

18. eighteenth /осамнаести/osamnaesti/ossamnaessti

19. ninetheenth /деветнаести/devetnaesti/devettnaessti

20. twentieth /двадесети/dvadeseti/dvadesseti

30. thirtieth /тридесети/trideseti/tridesseti

90. ninetieth /деведесети/devedeseti/devedesseti

100. cent /стоти/stoti/sstoti

1000. thousandth /хиљадити/hiljaditi/higliaditi