Serbian Alphabet
Serbian, a South Slavic language, is unique in its use of both the Cyrillic and Latin alphabets. It is spoken primarily in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and parts of Croatia. This guide will focus on both alphabets, essential for understanding Serbian’s diverse linguistic landscape.
Overview of the Serbian Alphabet
- Script Types: Cyrillic and Latin
- Number of Letters: 30 in both alphabets
- Unique Features: Serbian Cyrillic is phonetic, meaning each letter corresponds to a distinct sound. The Latin alphabet is almost entirely phonetic.
Detailed Breakdown of the Serbian Alphabet
Cyrillic Alphabet
The Serbian Cyrillic alphabet, developed by Vuk Karadžić, is based on the principle “one letter per sound,” making it highly phonetic.
А, а (A)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘a’ in “father.”
- Example Word: “Авион” (Avion) – meaning “Airplane”
Б, б (Be)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘b’ in “bat.”
- Example Word: “Балкон” (Balkon) – meaning “Balcony”
В, в (Ve)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘v’ in “van.”
- Example Word: “Вино” (Vino) – meaning “Wine”
Г, г (Ge)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘g’ in “go.”
- Example Word: “Град” (Grad) – meaning “City”
Д, д (De)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘d’ in “dog.”
- Example Word: “Дрво” (Drvo) – meaning “Tree”
Ђ, ђ (Dje)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘j’ in “juice.”
- Example Word: “Ђак” (Đak) – meaning “Pupil”
Е, е (E)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘e’ in “pet.”
- Example Word: “Езеро” (Ezero) – meaning “Lake”
Ж, ж (Zhe)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘s’ in “pleasure.”
- Example Word: “Жута” (Žuta) – meaning “Yellow”
З, з (Ze)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘z’ in “zoo.”
- Example Word: “Земља” (Zemlja) – meaning “Earth”
И, и (I)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ee’ in “see.”
- Example Word: “Игла” (Igla) – meaning “Needle”
Ј, ј (Je)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘y’ in “yes.”
- Example Word: “Јаје” (Jaje) – meaning “Egg”
К, к (Ka)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘k’ in “kite.”
- Example Word: “Кућа” (Kuća) – meaning “House”
Л, л (El)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘l’ in “love.”
- Example Word: “Лист” (List) – meaning “Leaf”
Љ, љ (Lj)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘lli’ in “million.”
- Example Word: “Љубав” (Ljubav) – meaning “Love”
М, м (Em)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘m’ in “man.”
- Example Word: “Море” (More) – meaning “Sea”
Н, н (En)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘n’ in “nice.”
- Example Word: “Небо” (Nebo) – meaning “Sky”
Њ, њ (Nj)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ni’ in “onion.”
- Example Word: “Њива” (Njiva) – meaning “Field”
О, о (O)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘o’ in “more.”
- Example Word: “Око” (Oko) – meaning “Eye”
П, п (Pe)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘p’ in “pot.”
- Example Word: “Пас” (Pas) – meaning “Dog”
Р, р (Er)
- Pronunciation: Rolled ‘r’ as in Spanish “perro.”
- Example Word: “Река” (Reka) – meaning “River”
С, с (Es)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘s’ in “sun.”
- Example Word: “Сунце” (Sunce) – meaning “Sun”
Т, т (Te)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘t’ in “top.”
- Example Word: “Телефон” (Telefon) – meaning “Telephone”
Ћ, ћ (Će)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘t’ in “nature.”
- Example Word: “Ћирилица” (Ćirilica) – meaning “Cyrillic”
У, у (U)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘oo’ in “food.”
- Example Word: “Улица” (Ulica) – meaning “Street”
Ф, ф (Ef)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘f’ in “fish.”
- Example Word: “Фабрика” (Fabrika) – meaning “Factory”
Х, х (Ha)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘h’ in “hello.”
- Example Word: “Хлеб” (Hleb) – meaning “Bread”
Ц, ц (Tse)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ts’ in “cats.”
- Example Word: “Цвет” (Tsvet) – meaning “Color”
Ч, ч (Che)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ch’ in “check.”
- Example Word: “Чај” (Čaj) – meaning “Tea”
Џ, џ (Dzhe)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘j’ in “juice.”
- Example Word: “Џеп” (Džep) – meaning “Pocket”
Ш, ш (Sh)
- Pronunciation: Like ‘sh’ in “shun.”
- Example Word: “Школа” (Škola) – meaning “School”
Latin Alphabet
The Serbian Latin alphabet is used interchangeably with the Cyrillic alphabet and follows the same phonetic principles.
A, a
- Pronunciation: Like ‘a’ in “father.”
- Example Word: “Auto” – meaning “Car”
B, b
- Pronunciation: Like ‘b’ in “bat.”
- Example Word: “Balon” – meaning “Balloon”
C, c
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ts’ in “cats.”
- Example Word: “Centar” – meaning “Center”
Č, č
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ch’ in “check.”
- Example Word: “Čaj” – meaning “Tea”
Ć, ć
- Pronunciation: Like ‘t’ in “nature.”
- Example Word: “Ćevap” – meaning “Kebab”
D, d
- Pronunciation: Like ‘d’ in “dog.”
- Example Word: “Dan” – meaning “Day”
Dž, dž
- Pronunciation: Like ‘j’ in “juice.”
- Example Word: “Džem” – meaning “Jam”
Đ, đ
- Pronunciation: Like ‘j’ in “juice.”
- Example Word: “Đavo” – meaning “Devil”
E, e
- Pronunciation: Like ‘e’ in “pet.”
- Example Word: “Energija” – meaning “Energy”
F, f
- Pronunciation: Like ‘f’ in “fish.”
- Example Word: “Film” – meaning “Film”
G, g
- Pronunciation: Like ‘g’ in “go.”
- Example Word: “Grad” – meaning “City”
H, h
- Pronunciation: Like ‘h’ in “hat.”
- Example Word: “Hotel” – meaning “Hotel”
I, i
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ee’ in “see.”
- Example Word: “Igra” – meaning “Game”
J, j
- Pronunciation: Like ‘y’ in “yes.”
- Example Word: “Jabuka” – meaning “Apple”
K, k
- Pronunciation: Like ‘k’ in “kite.”
- Example Word: “Kuća” – meaning “House”
L, l
- Pronunciation: Like ‘l’ in “love.”
- Example Word: “List” – meaning “Leaf”
Lj, lj
- Pronunciation: Like ‘lli’ in “million.”
- Example Word: “Ljubav” – meaning “Love”
M, m
- Pronunciation: Like ‘m’ in “man.”
- Example Word: “More” – meaning “Sea”
N, n
- Pronunciation: Like ‘n’ in “nice.”
- Example Word: “Noć” – meaning “Night”
Nj, nj
- Pronunciation: Like ‘ni’ in “onion.”
- Example Word: “Njiva” – meaning “Field”
O, o
- Pronunciation: Like ‘o’ in “more.”
- Example Word: “Oko” – meaning “Eye”
P, p
- Pronunciation: Like ‘p’ in “pot.”
- Example Word: “Pas” – meaning “Dog”
R, r
- Pronunciation: Rolled ‘r’ as in Spanish “perro.”
- Example Word: “Reka” – meaning “River”
S, s
- Pronunciation: Like ‘s’ in “sun.”
- Example Word: “Sunce” – meaning “Sun”
Š, š
- Pronunciation: Like ‘sh’ in “shun.”
- Example Word: “Šuma” – meaning “Forest”
T, t
- Pronunciation: Like ‘t’ in “top.”
- Example Word: “Telo” – meaning “Body”
U, u
- Pronunciation: Like ‘oo’ in “food.”
- Example Word: “Ulica” – meaning “Street”
V, v
- Pronunciation: Like ‘v’ in “van.”
- Example Word: “Voda” – meaning “Water”
Z, z
- Pronunciation: Like ‘z’ in “zoo.”
- Example Word: “Zemlja” – meaning “Earth”
Ž, ž
- Pronunciation: Like ‘s’ in “pleasure.”
- Example Word: “Život” – meaning “Life”
Pronunciation Tips
- Stress Matters: Word stress in Serbian can change the meaning of words, and it often affects vowel length.
- Voiced and Voiceless Consonants: Pay attention to the pronunciation of consonants, as they can be voiced or voiceless.
- Palatalization: Some consonants are palatalized before front vowels, slightly altering their sound.
Practice Exercises
- Listening and Speaking: Practice pronouncing words and phrases aloud. Listening to native speakers is key.
- Writing Practice: Write down each letter in both alphabets and practice forming words.
- Reading Practice: Start with simple texts to familiarize yourself with both alphabets in context.
Additional Resources
- Language Learning Apps: Look for apps that offer Serbian language courses.
- Online Tutorials: Websites and YouTube channels may provide lessons in Serbian.
- Language Exchange: Engage with native speakers for conversational practice and pronunciation improvement.
Conclusion
Understanding both the Cyrillic and Latin alphabets is crucial for reading, writing, and speaking Serbian effectively. Regular practice in speaking, listening, reading, and writing in both scripts is vital for gaining proficiency and appreciating the rich cultural and historical context of the Serbian language.