Unlock your Serbian

Nevena & Jelena

Dobrodošli u podkast "Unlock your Serbian" sa Nevenom i Jelenom! (English below) U ovom jedinstvenom podkastu razgovaramo o svakodnevnim temama važnim za svakoga ko uči srpski kao strani jezik, ali i za one koji već žive u Srbiji ili planiraju da se presele. Jedinstvenost podkasta je što je prilagođen svima – od početnika do naprednih učenika. Svake nedelje dobijate dve epizode o istoj temi, ali na različitim nivoima: A1–B1.1 i B1.2–C1. Tako možete da uporedite razgovore na različitim nivoima i pratite svoj napredak. Verujemo da ćete uz "Unlock your Serbian" brzo stići do višeg nivoa znanja! Ko smo mi? Nevena je diplomirani filolog grčkog jezika i kulture sa Univerziteta u Beogradu. Već godinama predaje srpski i grčki kao strani jezik i trenutno završava master studije. Jelena je diplomirani pravnik. Studirala je u Francuskoj i predaje srpski i francuski kao strani jezik. Iako je završila pravo, njena najveća ljubav su jezici. Aktivno usavršava italijanski i grčki, a trenutno je na doktorskim studijama u Francuskoj. Kako i same imamo iskustvo učenja i života u inostranstvu, dobro poznajemo izazove savladavanja novog jezika. Naše profesorsko iskustvo nam je omogućilo da nastavi srpskog pristupimo iz jedinstvene perspektive. Pridružite nam se na ovom putovanju! Čujemo se! Welcome to the "Unlock your Serbian" podcast with Nevena and Jelena! In this unique podcast, we discuss everyday topics relevant for anyone learning Serbian as a foreign language, as well as for those living in Serbia or planning to move. What makes the podcast special is that it’s designed for everyone – from beginners to advanced learners. Each week you’ll get two episodes on the same topic, but at different levels: A1–B1.1 and B1.2–C1. This way, you can compare native-level conversations, track your progress, and quickly reach an advanced level. Who are we? Nevena holds a degree in Greek language and culture from the University of Belgrade. She has years of experience teaching Serbian and Greek as foreign languages and is currently completing her master’s studies. Jelena is a law graduate who studied in France. She has been teaching Serbian and French as foreign languages for many years. Although her degree is in law, her first passion is languages. She is improving her Italian and Greek skills and currently pursuing a PhD in France. Since we have both experienced learning and living in foreign languages, we understand the challenges learners face. Our teaching experience has given us a unique perspective on Serbian language instruction. Join us on this journey! See you!

  1. 22.12.2025

    Pa, ma, bre,... šta to znači?! - advanced (B1.2-C1)

    If you want to listen to the longer version of this episode, read the transcript, have vocabulary lists and grammar exercises, consider becoming a member of the Unlock your Serbian community on Patreon. Book a Serbian lesson with Jelena or Nevena on our website (unlockyourserbian.com) Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube! (00:00) Nevena Zdravo svima, ja sam Nevena. Hello everyone, I’m Nevena. (00:01) Jelena Ja sam Jelena. I’m Jelena. (00:02) Nevena I dobrodošli u novu epizodu Unlock Your Serbian sa Jelenom i Nevenom. And welcome to a new episode of Unlock Your Serbian with Jelena and Nevena. (00:07) Jelena Dobrodošli u još jednu epizodu našeg podkasta i danas razgovaramo o rečima koje ste često čuli u srpskom jeziku ali koje vam niko nikada nije objasnio. Welcome to another episode of our podcast, and today we’re talking about words you’ve often heard in Serbian, but that no one has ever explained to you. (00:23) Nevena Hajde prvo da krenemo od kratkih reči koje mogu i ne moraju da imaju neko značanje, odnosno koje mogu i ne moraju da imaju smisla. I to su reči kao što su pa, ma, bre, ajde, ae itd. Let’s first start with short words that may or may not have some meaning, that is, that may or may not make sense. These are words like pa, ma, bre, ajde, ae, etc. (00:42) Jelena Ja mislim da ove reči mi zapravo koristimo često, ali da niko nikad ne objašnjava šta one znače. Ja mislim da ste se vi do sada čuli ove reči pa, ma, bre i tako dalje. Ali da li zapravo znate šta one znače i kada ih koristimo u srpskom. Ako želite da čujete sve ove reči možete da postanete naš član na Patreonu gde imate pristup dužoj verziji ove epizode kao i vokabularom i gramatičkim vežbama za svaku epizodu. I think we actually use these words often, but no one ever explains what they mean. I think you’ve heard these words by now—pa, ma, bre, and so on. But do you actually know what they mean and when we use them in Serbian? If you want to hear all these words, you can become our member on Patreon, where you get access to a longer version of this episode, as well as vocabulary and grammar exercises for each episode. (01:23) Nevena I baš smo o ovim rečima i razgovarali sada u subotu na našim grupnim pozivima koji se održavaju redovno svake subote u 5 sati po Centralnom Evropskom vremenu posle smo ih naravno sve zapisali u naš Google dokument kome imaju pristup svi naši članovi gde mogu i oni da dodaju pitanja, da dodaju svoje reči želite i vi da razgovarate uživo sa nama svake subote dođite na naš Patreon link je u opisu ovog profila i takođe na patreon.com / unlock your Serbian. And we were actually talking about these very words just this Saturday during our group calls, which take place regularly every Saturday at 5 p.m. Central European Time. Afterwards, we of course wrote them all down in our Google document, which all our members have access to, and where they can also add questions and their own words. If you’d like to talk live with us every Saturday too, join us on our Patreon — the link is in this profile’s description and also at patreon.com/unlockyourserbian. Become a member on Send us your questions!

    30 Min.
  2. 22.12.2025

    Pa, ma, bre,... šta to znači?! - beginner (A1-B1.1)

    If you want to listen to the longer version of this episode, read the transcript, have vocabulary lists and grammar exercises, consider becoming a member of the Unlock your Serbian community on Patreon. Book a Serbian lesson with Jelena or Nevena on our website (unlockyourserbian.com) Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube! Nevena (00:00)  Zdravo svima, ja sam Nevena. Hi everyone, I’m Nevena. Jelena (00:01)  Ja sam Jelena. I’m Jelena. Nevena (00:02)  I dobrodošli u novu epizodu Unlock Your Serbian sa Jelenom i Nevenom. And welcome to a new episode of Unlock Your Serbian with Jelena and Nevena. Jelena (00:07)  Dobrodošli u još jednu epizodu našeg podkasta. U ovoj razgovaramo o malim rečima u srpskom jeziku koje ste čuli ali možda ne znate šta znače. Welcome to another episode of our podcast. In this one, we talk about small words in Serbian that you’ve heard but maybe don’t know what they mean. Nevena (00:26)  A ako želite da vežbate ove male reči i mnoge druge reči iz slenga i iz generalno-srpskog jezika svake subote u 5 sati po centralnom evropskom vremenu možete da razgovarate sa nama uživo u našem grupnom pozivu. And if you want to practice these small words and many other slang words and general Serbian words, every Saturday at 5 PM Central European time you can talk with us live in our group call. Jelena (00:50)  Ako ste naš član na Patreonu na konverzacijskom nivou, videćete svake subote Google Meet link za ove pozive. If you are our member on Patreon at the conversation level, you’ll see the Google Meet link for these calls every Saturday. Become a member on Patreon (patreon.com/UnlockYourSerbian) to continue reading the transcript! Send us your questions!

    9 Min.
  3. 15.12.2025

    Božić vs Nova godina - advanced (B1.2-C1)

    If you want to listen to the longer version of this episode, read the transcript, have vocabulary lists and grammar exercises, consider becoming a member of the Unlock your Serbian community on Patreon. Book a Serbian lesson with Jelena or Nevena on our website (unlockyourserbian.com) Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube! Nevena (00:00) Zdravo svima, ja sam Nevena. Hello everyone, I’m Nevena. Jelena (00:01) Ja sam Jelena. I’m Jelena. Nevena (00:02) I dobrodošli u novu epizodu Unlock Your Serbian sa Jelenom i Nevenom. And welcome to a new episode of Unlock Your Serbian with Jelena and Nevena. Jelena (00:06) Tako je, dobrodošli u još jednu epizodu našeg podkasta i danas razgovaramo o praznicima na kraju godine, to jest o Novoj godini i o Božiću. That’s right, welcome to another episode of our podcast, and today we’re talking about end-of-year holidays, that is, New Year and Christmas. Nevena (00:20) Ali zapravo Božić u Srbiji nije krajem godine, zato što Božić u Srbiji slavimo 7. januara, kao što verovatno većina vas zna. Zato što ili živite u Srbiji ili znate ljude iz Srbije, ali za one za koje je ovo nova informacija — u Srbiji se 25. decembra ne dešava ništa. But actually, Christmas in Serbia is not at the end of the year, because in Serbia we celebrate Christmas on January 7th, as most of you probably know. Either because you live in Serbia or you know people from Serbia, but for those for whom this is new information — in Serbia, nothing happens on December 25th. Jelena (00:44) Kako ništa, Nevena? U Srbiji se 25. decembra dešava novogodišnja euforija. What do you mean nothing, Nevena? In Serbia, on December 25th, New Year’s euphoria happens. Nevena (00:51) Da, i to je upravo ime koje mi koristimo, odnosno pridev koji koristimo — novogodišnji, ne božićni. Što mislim da je jako specifično i nešto što treba da objasnimo, jer kada govorimo o praznicima kraja godine i početka nove godine, mi zapravo često govorimo: novogodišnja atmosfera, novogodišnji vašar, novogodišnja euforija i tako dalje. Yes, and that is exactly the word we use, the adjective we use — New Year’s, not Christmas. I think this is very specific and something that needs to be explained, because when we talk about the holidays at the end of the year and the beginning of the new year, we often say: New Year’s atmosphere, New Year’s fair, New Year’s euphoria, and so on. Nevena (01:56) Ali ljudi generalno rade i 24. i 25. decembra normalno. Mi nemamo odmor, tada; mi ne radimo 31. 1. i 6. i 7. januara. But people generally work normally on both December 24th and 25th. We don’t have a holiday then; we don’t work on the 31st, the 1st, and the 6th and 7th of January. Become a member on Patreon (patreon.com/UnlockYourSerbian) to continue reading the transcript! Send us your questions!

    25 Min.
  4. 15.12.2025

    Božić vs Nova godina - beginner (A1-B1.1)

    If you want to listen to the longer version of this episode, read the transcript, have vocabulary lists and grammar exercises, consider becoming a member of the Unlock your Serbian community on Patreon. Book a Serbian lesson with Jelena or Nevena on our website (unlockyourserbian.com) Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube! Nevena (00:00) Zdravo svima, ja sam Nevena. Hi everyone, I’m Nevena. Jelena (00:01) Ja sam Jelena. I’m Jelena. Nevena (00:02) I dobrodošli u novu epizodu Unlock Your Serbian sa Jelenom i Nevenom. And welcome to a new episode of Unlock Your Serbian with Jelena and Nevena. Jelena (00:08) Dobrodošli u još jednu epizodu našeg podkasta i danas razgovaramo o Božiću i Novoj godini u Srbiji. Welcome to another episode of our podcast, and today we’re talking about Christmas and New Year in Serbia. Nevena (00:21) U Srbiji je Nova godina veći praznik od Božića. Mi u Srbiji više slavimo Novu godinu nego Božić. In Serbia, New Year is a bigger holiday than Christmas. In Serbia we celebrate New Year more than Christmas. Jelena (00:36) Da, i mi u Srbiji prvo slavimo Novu godinu, pa onda Božić, zato što je Božić u Srbiji 6. i 7. januara, a ne 24. i 25. decembra. I za novu godinu mi imamo poklone, imamo jelku, I imamo Deda Mraz. Kažemo da Deda Mraza dolazi za Novu godinu i daje poklone deci. Yes, and in Serbia we celebrate New Year first, and then Christmas, because Christmas in Serbia is on January 6th and 7th, not December 24th and 25th. And for New Year we have gifts, we have a tree, and we have Santa Claus. We say that Santa Claus comes for New Year and gives gifts to children. Nevena (01:19) A Jelena, ako mi slavimo Božić 7. januara, šta radimo 25. decembra u Srbiji? And Jelena, if we celebrate Christmas on January 7th, what do we do on December 25 in Serbia? Become a member on Patreon (patreon.com/UnlockYourSerbian) to continue reading the transcript! Send us your questions!

    9 Min.
  5. 08.12.2025

    Dating u Srbiji - advanced (B1.2-C1)

    Use the code "SRPSKI2025" for a 10% discount on your first month of our weekly group calls on Patreon! - patreon.com/UnlockYourSerbian If you want to listen to the longer version of this episode, read the transcript, have vocabulary lists and grammar exercises, consider becoming a member of the Unlock your Serbian community on Patreon. Book a Serbian lesson with Jelena or Nevena on our website (unlockyourserbian.com) Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube! Nevena (00:00) Zdravo svima, ja sam Nevena. Hello everyone, I’m Nevena. Jelena (00:02) Ja sam Jelena.  I’m Jelena. Nevena (00:03) I dobrodošli u novu epizodu Unlock Your Serbia sa Jelenom i Nevenom.  And welcome to a new episode of Unlock Your Serbian with Jelena and Nevena. Jelena (00:08) Dobrodošli u još jednu epizodu našeg podkasta i danas razgovaramo o romantičnim vezama u Srbiji. Welcome to another episode of our podcast, and today we are talking about romantic relationships in Serbia. Nevena (00:19) Naslov ove epizode je dating u Srbiji, ali mi u Srbiji ne kažemo dating, mi kažemo zabavljanje. The title of this episode is dating in Serbia, but in Serbia we don’t say dating, we say zabavljanje (“being in a relationship”). Jelena (00:32) Tako je, mi kažemo oni se zabavljaju kada su dečko i devojka u romantičnoj vezi. Mi takođe možemo da kažemo oni izlaze zajedno. That’s right – we say they are dating (oni se zabavljaju) when a boy and a girl are in a romantic relationship. We can also say they are going out together. Nevena (00:52) Tako je. Kao što kažemo izlazim na kafu, kažemo i ja izlazim sa dečkom ili ja izlazim sa devojkom, i mi možemo da idemo na sastanak ili na dejt. Exactly. Just like we say “I’m going out for coffee,” we also say “I’m going out with a boyfriend/girlfriend,” and we can go on a sastanak or a date.   Become a member on Patreon (patreon.com/UnlockYourSerbian) to continue reading the transcript! Send us your questions!

    29 Min.
  6. 08.12.2025

    Dating u Srbiji - beginner (A1-B1.1)

    Use the code "SRPSKI2025" for a 10% discount on your first month of our weekly group calls on Patreon! - patreon.com/UnlockYourSerbian If you want to listen to the longer version of this episode, read the transcript, have vocabulary lists and grammar exercises, consider becoming a member of the Unlock your Serbian community on Patreon. Book a Serbian lesson with Jelena or Nevena on our website (unlockyourserbian.com) Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube! Nevena (00:00) Zdravo svima, ja sam Nevena. Hello everyone, I’m Nevena. Jelena (00:02) Ja sam Jelena.  I’m Jelena. Nevena (00:03) I dobrodošli u novu epizodu Unlock Your Serbia sa Jelenom i Nevenom.  And welcome to a new episode of Unlock Your Serbian with Jelena and Nevena. Jelena (00:08) Dobrodošli u još jednu epizodu našeg podkasta i danas razgovaramo o romantičnim vezama u Srbiji. Welcome to another episode of our podcast, and today we are talking about romantic relationships in Serbia. Nevena (00:19) Naslov ove epizode je dating u Srbiji, ali mi u Srbiji ne kažemo dating, mi kažemo zabavljanje. The title of this episode is dating in Serbia, but in Serbia we don’t say dating, we say zabavljanje (“being in a relationship”). Jelena (00:32) Tako je, mi kažemo oni se zabavljaju kada su dečko i devojka u romantičnoj vezi. Mi takođe možemo da kažemo oni izlaze zajedno. That’s right – we say they are dating (oni se zabavljaju) when a boy and a girl are in a romantic relationship. We can also say they are going out together. Nevena (00:52) Tako je. Kao što kažemo izlazim na kafu, kažemo i ja izlazim sa dečkom ili ja izlazim sa devojkom, i mi možemo da idemo na sastanak ili na dejt. Exactly. Just like we say “I’m going out for coffee,” we also say “I’m going out with a boyfriend/girlfriend,” and we can go on a sastanak or a date.  Become a member on Patreon (patreon.com/UnlockYourSerbian) to continue reading the transcript! Send us your questions!

    10 Min.

Info

Dobrodošli u podkast "Unlock your Serbian" sa Nevenom i Jelenom! (English below) U ovom jedinstvenom podkastu razgovaramo o svakodnevnim temama važnim za svakoga ko uči srpski kao strani jezik, ali i za one koji već žive u Srbiji ili planiraju da se presele. Jedinstvenost podkasta je što je prilagođen svima – od početnika do naprednih učenika. Svake nedelje dobijate dve epizode o istoj temi, ali na različitim nivoima: A1–B1.1 i B1.2–C1. Tako možete da uporedite razgovore na različitim nivoima i pratite svoj napredak. Verujemo da ćete uz "Unlock your Serbian" brzo stići do višeg nivoa znanja! Ko smo mi? Nevena je diplomirani filolog grčkog jezika i kulture sa Univerziteta u Beogradu. Već godinama predaje srpski i grčki kao strani jezik i trenutno završava master studije. Jelena je diplomirani pravnik. Studirala je u Francuskoj i predaje srpski i francuski kao strani jezik. Iako je završila pravo, njena najveća ljubav su jezici. Aktivno usavršava italijanski i grčki, a trenutno je na doktorskim studijama u Francuskoj. Kako i same imamo iskustvo učenja i života u inostranstvu, dobro poznajemo izazove savladavanja novog jezika. Naše profesorsko iskustvo nam je omogućilo da nastavi srpskog pristupimo iz jedinstvene perspektive. Pridružite nam se na ovom putovanju! Čujemo se! Welcome to the "Unlock your Serbian" podcast with Nevena and Jelena! In this unique podcast, we discuss everyday topics relevant for anyone learning Serbian as a foreign language, as well as for those living in Serbia or planning to move. What makes the podcast special is that it’s designed for everyone – from beginners to advanced learners. Each week you’ll get two episodes on the same topic, but at different levels: A1–B1.1 and B1.2–C1. This way, you can compare native-level conversations, track your progress, and quickly reach an advanced level. Who are we? Nevena holds a degree in Greek language and culture from the University of Belgrade. She has years of experience teaching Serbian and Greek as foreign languages and is currently completing her master’s studies. Jelena is a law graduate who studied in France. She has been teaching Serbian and French as foreign languages for many years. Although her degree is in law, her first passion is languages. She is improving her Italian and Greek skills and currently pursuing a PhD in France. Since we have both experienced learning and living in foreign languages, we understand the challenges learners face. Our teaching experience has given us a unique perspective on Serbian language instruction. Join us on this journey! See you!