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Ordering in a kafana in Serbian
Ordering coffee, asking for the bill, holding up your end of the small talk — phrases for the kafana, the centre of Serbian social life.
- Добар дан, имате ли сто за двоје? · Dobar dan, imate li sto za dvoje?Hello, do you have a table for two?Sto = a table (and also a hundred); za dvoje = for two.
- Можете ли да донесете јеловник? · Možete li da donesete jelovnik?Could you bring the menu?Jelovnik = the menu, from jelo — a dish.
- Једну домаћу кафу, молим. · Jednu domaću kafu, molim.One domaća (Turkish-style) coffee, please.Kafa is feminine: jednu kafu. Domaća = brewed in a džezva.
- Шта препоручујете? · Šta preporučujete?What would you recommend?Preporučiti = to recommend.
- Једну ракију, за почетак. · Jednu rakiju, za početak.One rakija to start.Rakija is the traditional aperitif before a meal.
- Живели! · Živeli!Cheers! (a toast)The main toast. Look people in the eye as you clink. Literally: may we live.
- Може ли још једно пиво? · Može li još jedno pivo?Could I have another beer?Još jedno = one more; pivo is neuter.
- Где је тоалет? · Gde je toalet?Where's the toilet?Often written WC and pronounced ve-tse.
- Конобару, рачун, молим вас! · Konobaru, račun, molim vas!Waiter, the bill please!Konobaru is the vocative of konobar; račun = the bill.
- Да ли може картицом? · Da li može karticom?Can I pay by card?Many kafanas are cash only — worth asking first.
- Платићу готовином. · Platiću gotovinom.I'll pay in cash.Gotovina = cash; gotovinom is the instrumental.
- Задржите кусур. · Zadržite kusur.Keep the change.Kusur = change. A tip of about 10% is normal.
- Било је одлично, хвала. · Bilo je odlično, hvala.It was excellent, thank you.Bilo je = it was, the neuter past.
- Данас ја частим. · Danas ja častim.It's on me today.Častiti = to treat. In the Balkans people argue over who pays.
- Пријатно! · Prijatno!Enjoy your meal! / All the best!Said both before eating and on parting — genuinely universal.
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