The 31 Most Common Mistakes in the Serbian Language
Source: Milos, OLS Community Manager
The
term "standard language" implies an autonomous form of language,
standardized, elastically stable, and functionally versatile, which arises when
one ethnic or national group begins to use that language outside the nation's
framework. The formation of a standard language is a lengthy process in which
efforts are made to establish the elements of its structure, i.e., the process
through which the language needs to be standardized. It is best when a language
has enough time for this process to occur naturally, spontaneously. However,
standard languages most often emerge through the conscious intervention of
individuals or groups. Such is the case with the Serbian language.
Separate and Compound Writing of Words
If a word is associated with the character of the sentence or with a verb, it is written separately: Da li si tu? Je li tako? (Are you there? Is that so?). In conversational style, the phrase "je li" is also written separately, and in the plural, the form "jelte" is used.
The word "ne" for negation is not combined with verbs: ne znam, ne shvatam. Exceptions are verbs: neću, nemam, nemoj, nisam.
The word "i" and "te" used for emphasis are written separately: i te kako (really).
With adjectives and nouns, the word "NE" does not merge with the second word: nečovek, neznanje, nezreo, but not ne čovek, ne pismen.
Pronouns with "ni" are written together without a preposition, but when used with a preposition, the preposition separates the components: ni od koga, ni u što, ni sa čim.
The auxiliary word "put" is written together with the numbers one, two, and three: jedanput, dvaput, triput, but separately with compound numbers whose last member is one, with ordinal numbers and pronouns: trideset i jedan put, prvi put, ovaj put; while the form "puta" is always written separately: dva puta, tri puta, nekoliko puta.
In combinations of preposition-noun, newly shifted meanings of the construction are written together: naprečac, zauzvrat.
It is written separately as "u kratko vreme" ("in a short time"), but when meaning to summarize a story, it is written together as "ukratko" ("briefly").
Compound adjectives that form a close relationship, implying a meaningful whole, are written together: ćirilometodijevski jezik.
Prepositional phrases with personal pronouns are written separately: preda mnom, sa mnom, uza me.
Writing Words with a HyphenWhen it comes to the term e-mail / email / mail, in the Serbian language, it is correct to say and write "imejl" or "mejl." E-mail address is written with a hyphen.
The prefix "radio" referring to radiation is written together: radioaktivnost, but the one referring to radio / radio-related is written with a hyphen: radio-televizija.
The prefix "foto" referring to photographs is written together when the second component is non-independent: fotograf, but with a hyphen if the second component is independent: foto-atelje, foto-kopija, foto-montaža.
Compounds with the prefix "auto" meaning self or own are written together: autoportret, autobiografija, but as an abbreviation of "automobil" or "automobilski," it is written with a hyphen: auto-trke, auto-put, auto-kamp.
If two formants appear duplicated or in extended connections, separate writing is normalized: auto i moto trke.
When noun and adjective derivatives combine with numbers to avoid long words, part of the word written in numerals is connected with the other part by a hyphen: 48-časovni, 30-satni.
The hyphen is written as a connecting sign between the second part of the compound or derivative and its first part expressed in numerals: 75-godišnjak.
Spelling prescribes that it is better to write "dvadesetak" (around twenty) in letters rather than "20-ak."
When it comes to interjections, the interjection "upomoć" (help) is written together, and examples like "jao-jao," "tip-top," "hm-hm" are written with a hyphen.
Combinations in the lexicon of foreign origin are adjusted to the rules of the Serbian language or the spelling is transferred from the language from which the words are taken if the combination is semantically opaque: bajpas, rentakar, fusnota.
It is correct to write "zookultura," "zoologija," but "zoo-vrt" as an abbreviation of "zoološki vrt" is written with a hyphen.
Lexemes with the prefix "video" are written together when the second component is non-independent or semantically opaque: videoteka, but with a hyphen "video-plejer" when the second component is independent.
When it comes to traditional and similarly relatively new stylistic abbreviations where the first component (noun) feels like an adjective, they are written with a hyphen: fiks-ideja, set-lopta, set-meč lopta.
Doubled female surnames, like doubled male surnames, are written separately: Olga Petrović Kojić.
Combinations of different colors are written with a hyphen: crno-žuta.
Compounds for marking shades are written together: zelenkastoplav, tamnozelen.
Pleonasm (Use of Superfluous Words in Speech and Writing)"ČAK ŠTA VIŠE" (EVEN WHAT'S MORE) – It is correct to say either "čak" (even) or "štaviše" (what's more).
"ČESTO PUTA" (OFTEN TIMES) – It is correct to say either "često" (often) or "više puta" (more times).
"KAO NA PRIMER" (SUCH AS FOR EXAMPLE) – It is correct to say either "kao" (like) or "na primer" (for example).
"IZAĐI NAPOLJE" (GO OUT OUTSIDE) – It is enough to say "izađi" (go out).
"SIĐI DOLE" (GO DOWN DOWN) – It is enough to say "siđi" (go down).
Perseverance, resilience, and a positive attitude are the keys to success in any endeavor. Learning the Serbian language can be challenging, but it can also be a fun experience if approached with relaxation and a love for learning.
Good luck!
Milos, OLS Community Manager – Serbian