The Montenegrin language is the aftermath of the break-up of Yugoslavia and the desire to emphasize its separateness from other newly created countries – Macedonia, Serbia or Bosnia and Herzegovina. In fact, it is not much different from other languages spoken by Croats, Bosnians or Serbs. All of them are derived from the old Serbo-Croatian language. Only slightly different from each other.
Montenegrin became the official language of Montenegro in 2007, thanks to the newly adopted constitution. What distinguishes it from Serbian are two additional letters of the alphabet – ś and ź and the two-syllable pronunciation of -ije. Interestingly, the Montenegrin language in Montenegro alone is used by less than 37% of the population, while Serbian less than 43%. Despite this, he is currently taught at ten universities around the world.
Montenegrin phrasebook
As Montenegrin is a Slavic language, speakers of other Slavic languages would have it easier to understand it. To this must also be added that in most resorts on the Montenegrin coast you can also communicate in English, Russian or even German.
Welcome in Montenegrin
- Good morning (until 10 am) – Dobro jutro
- Good morning (for the rest of the day) – Dobar dan
- Good evening – Dobro veče
- Goodbye – To viđenja
- Good night – Laku noć
Basic words in Montenegrin
- yes – da
- no – ne
- good – dobro
- bad – pogrešno
- bon appetit – prijatno
- bless you – živeli
- please (asking for something) – mime
- please (giving something) – izvolite
- thank you – hvala
- thank you very much – hvala puno
- sorry – izvinite
- Monday – ponedeljak
- Tuesday – utorak
- Wednesday – średa
- Thursday – četvrtak
- Friday – petak
- Saturday – subota
- Sunday – nedelja
- June – Jun
- July – Jul
- August – avgust
- September – Septembar
- today – danas
- tomorrow – sutra
- in the morning – ujutro
- in the afternoon – po podne
- evening – veče
- night – noć
- day – dan
- hour – sat, čas
- week – nedelja, sedmica
- month – mesec
- year – godina
- spring – proleće
- summer – leto
- autumn – jesen
- winter – zima
Numbers in Montenegrin
- 1 – one
- 2 – dva
- 3 – tri
- 4 – četiri
- 5 – pet
- 6 – test
- 7 – sedam
- 8 – osam
- 9 – devet
- 10 – deset
- 20 – dvadeset
- 50 – pedeset
- 100 – sto
- 1000 – hiljad
- 1,000,000 – milijon
Montenegrin words related to transport and movement
- road – put
- close – blizu
- far – daleku
- go straight – ići pravo
- turn back – vratiti se
- turn right / left – skrenuti desno / levo
- east – istok
- west – zapad
- noon – jug
- north – sever
- airport – aerodrom
- train station – železnička stanica
- bus station – stanica bus
- bus stop – stanica bus
- ticket office – blagajna
- ticket – karta
- platform – peron
- train – voz
- wagon – vagon
- compartment – kupe
- timetable – red vožnje
- arrivals – dolasci
- departures – odlasci
- car – automobil, kola
- bus – autobus
Montenegrin words helpful in arranging accommodation
- I am looking for accommodation – tražim prenoćište
- hotel – hotel
- pension – pansion
- Living room (for rent) – soba
- for rent – for iznajmljivanje
- open – otvoreno
- closed – zatvoreno
- bathroom – kupatilo
- shower – tuš
Words in Montenegrin needed at the restaurant and the store
- I would like a menu – Meni molim
- Bill please – Račun molim
- no sugar – no era
- I am vegetarian – I sam vegetarijanac
- that’s all – to je sve
- meat – meso
- fish – ribe
- sausage – kobasica
- bread – hleb
- rice – pirinač
- pasta – špagete
- potatoes – krompir
- vegetables – povrće
- fruit – voće
- jam – džem
- eggs – jaja
- butter – maslac
- milk – mleko
- sugar – šećer
- coffee – kafa
- tea – čaj
- mineral water – kisela voda
- juice – sok
- soup – čorba
- beer – pivo
- wine – vino (suvo / dry, sladko/ sweet)
- toilet – toalet
- bazaar / market – pijaca
- grocery store – prodavnica
- kilo, please – mime kilo
- Useful phrases in Montenegrin on vacation
- What time is it? – Koliko je sati?
- How to get to? – Kako doći do?
- Where is? – Gde se nalazi?
- Are there free rooms? – Da li imate slobodne sobe?
- Is there a room with a bathroom? – Da li soba ima kupatilo?
- Is breakfast included in the price? – Da li doručak je uračunat u cenu?
- My name is –Zovem se
- How do you do? – Kako si?
- Thank you, good – Hvala dobro
- I do not understand – Ne razumem
- Please speak more slowly – Molim da pričate sporije
- Ne pričam… – I do not speak…
- How much it costs? – Koliko košta?
- How much do I pay? – Koliko plaćam?
- Something without meat please – Molim nešto bez mesa
What words were important to you during your holidays in Montenegro?