veliki في 30 ثانية
- Veliki is the primary Serbian word for 'big', 'large', or 'great', used for physical size and abstract importance.
- It must agree in gender with the noun: veliki (masculine), velika (feminine), veliko (neuter).
- The comparative form is 'veći' (bigger) and the superlative is 'najveći' (biggest).
- It is used in many common phrases, from ordering food to describing historical events and family relations.
The Serbian word veliki is a cornerstone of the Serbian language, primarily serving as the adjective for 'big', 'large', or 'great'. At its most basic level, it describes physical dimensions that exceed the average. However, its utility stretches far beyond mere measurement. In Serbian culture and linguistics, veliki conveys importance, age, intensity, and even moral stature. When you walk through the streets of Belgrade and see a massive building, you would call it a velika zgrada. When you speak of a significant historical event like World War I, it is referred to as the Veliki rat. Understanding this word requires more than just knowing its English equivalent; it requires an appreciation for how Serbian speakers categorize the world into things that are ordinary and things that are 'large' in significance or size.
- Physical Dimension
- Used to describe objects, animals, or people that are large in stature or volume. For example, a large dog is a 'veliki pas'.
- Abstract Importance
- Used to describe concepts, ideas, or individuals who have achieved greatness. A great person is a 'veliki čovek'.
- Temporal Age
- In family contexts, it often refers to being older. A 'veliki brat' is an older brother, regardless of his actual height.
Ovaj grad je veoma veliki i ima mnogo stanovnika.
On je veliki umetnik koji je promenio svet.
Imamo veliki problem koji moramo odmah da rešimo.
Moja sestra je sada velika devojčica i ide u školu.
To je bio veliki uspeh za našu malu firmu.
Furthermore, the word is deeply embedded in the Serbian mindset regarding hospitality and portions. If you go to a 'kafana', you might order a 'veliko pivo' (large beer). The concept of 'veliki' is relative; what is large in a small village might be considered small in Belgrade. This relativity is a key part of mastering the word's usage. It is not just a mathematical measurement but a subjective evaluation of the world around you. As you progress in Serbian, you will notice that 'veliki' is often used where English speakers might use 'grand', 'major', or 'significant'. For instance, a 'veliki odmor' is the long break between classes in Serbian schools, highlighting that it is the most important rest period of the day.
Using veliki correctly requires an understanding of Serbian adjective declension. Serbian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify. This means the root 'velik-' will take various suffixes. For a beginner, the most important forms are the nominative singular: veliki (masculine), velika (feminine), and veliko (neuter). If you are talking about a big house, which is feminine (kuća), you must say velika kuća. If you are talking about a big field, which is neuter (polje), you must say veliko polje.
- Masculine Agreement
- Used with masculine nouns like 'sto' (table) or 'grad' (city). Example: 'Ovo je veliki sto'.
- Feminine Agreement
- Used with feminine nouns like 'knjiga' (book) or 'torba' (bag). Example: 'To je velika knjiga'.
- Neuter Agreement
- Used with neuter nouns like 'selo' (village) or 'dete' (child). Example: 'Ono je veliko selo'.
Kupio sam veliki televizor za dnevnu sobu.
Ona ima veliku želju da nauči srpski jezik.
Na nebu se vidi veliko sunce.
As you move into more advanced sentences, you will encounter the plural forms: veliki (masculine plural), velike (feminine plural), and velika (neuter plural). Note that the masculine plural and the masculine singular definite forms look the same, which can sometimes be confusing for learners. Context usually clarifies the number. For instance, 'Veliki gradovi su bučni' (Big cities are noisy). Here, 'gradovi' is clearly plural, so 'veliki' must also be plural. Additionally, when 'veliki' is used as a predicate (after the verb 'to be'), it still follows gender rules. 'Auto je veliki' (The car is big). 'Kuća je velika' (The house is big). 'Dete je veliko' (The child is big). Mastering these basic patterns is the first step toward fluency.
You will hear veliki everywhere in the Balkans. It is an essential part of the daily lexicon. In a grocery store, you might ask for a velika kesa (large bag). In a restaurant, the waiter might ask if you want a velika porcija (large portion). On the news, journalists frequently use it to describe veliki događaji (major events) or velike promene (big changes) in the government or economy. It is also a staple in sports commentary; a 'velika pobeda' (great victory) is what every team strives for, and a 'veliki igrač' (great player) is someone like Novak Đoković.
Konobar, molim Vas, jedno veliko pivo.
Danas je veliki praznik, pa prodavnice ne rade.
In social circles, 'veliki' is used to show respect or affection. Calling someone a veliki prijatelj (great friend) implies a deep and long-standing bond. In the context of parenting, you will often hear parents tell their children, 'Ti si sad veliki' (You are big/grown-up now) when they accomplish a task or behave well. It is also common in music and literature. Many Serbian folk songs and modern pop hits use 'veliki' to describe grand emotions, such as velika ljubav (great love) or velika tuga (great sadness). The word carries a certain weight; it is not a 'light' word. When something is 'veliko', it demands attention. Whether it is a 'veliki šoping centar' (large shopping mall) or a 'veliki uspeh' (great success), the word signals that the subject is beyond the ordinary.
The most common mistake for English speakers learning Serbian is failing to match the adjective veliki with the gender of the noun. Because English uses 'big' for everything—big man, big woman, big house—learners often default to the masculine 'veliki' for everything. Saying veliki kuća instead of velika kuća is a classic error. Another frequent mistake involves the distinction between 'veliki' and 'dug'. In English, 'long' and 'big' are distinct, but sometimes learners confuse them when talking about time. A 'long time' is dugo vremena, not veliko vreme.
- Gender Mismatch
- Using 'veliki' (masculine) for a feminine or neuter noun. Always check the noun's ending.
- Size vs. Length
- Confusing 'veliki' (big) with 'dug' (long). A long road is 'dug put', while a big road is 'veliki put'.
Pogrešno: Veliki jabuka. Tačno: Velika jabuka.
Additionally, learners often struggle with the comparative and superlative forms. The comparative of 'veliki' is irregular: it is veći (bigger), not velikiji. The superlative is najveći (biggest). Using 'više veliki' is technically incorrect and sounds very unnatural. Another nuance is the use of 'veliki' to mean 'tall' for people. While 'visok' is the specific word for tall, 'veliki' is often used for children who have grown up. However, for an adult, calling them 'veliki' might imply they are 'large' (broad/heavy) rather than just tall. Use visok if you specifically mean height for adults to avoid ambiguity.
While veliki is the most versatile word for 'big', Serbian offers a rich palette of synonyms that provide more specific nuances. Depending on whether you want to emphasize bulk, height, or sheer enormity, you might choose a different word. Understanding these alternatives will make your Serbian sound more sophisticated and precise.
- Ogroman
- Means 'huge' or 'enormous'. Use this when 'veliki' isn't strong enough. Example: 'Ogroman slon' (A huge elephant).
- Krupan
- Means 'large-framed' or 'sturdy'. Often used for people with a broad build or large items like 'krupna so' (coarse salt).
- Prostran
- Means 'spacious'. Best for rooms, apartments, or fields. Example: 'Prostran stan' (A spacious apartment).
Ova zgrada nije samo velika, ona je ogromna!
Comparatively, 'veliki' is the neutral choice. If you are unsure, 'veliki' is almost always safe. However, if you are describing a person's character, you might use velikodušan (generous), which literally means 'big-souled'. In contrast, the antonym of 'veliki' is mali (small). Just like 'veliki', 'mali' must agree in gender: mali, mala, malo. There is also sitan, which means 'tiny' or 'fine' (like fine sand). Choosing between 'veliki' and its synonyms allows you to paint a clearer picture in the listener's mind. For example, a 'veliki čovek' might be a hero, but a 'krupan čovek' is just a physically large man.
How Formal Is It?
حقيقة ممتعة
The root of 'veliki' is also found in the name 'Vladimir', where 'vlad-' means to rule and '-mir' means peace/world, but some etymologies link the 'vlad' to the same power-root as 'veliki'.
دليل النطق
- Pronouncing the 'v' as a 'w'.
- Making the 'e' too long like 'ay' in 'say'.
- Failing to lengthen the final 'i' in the definite form.
- Misplacing the stress on the second syllable.
- Pronouncing 'k' with too much aspiration.
مستوى الصعوبة
Very easy to recognize and read as it is a frequent word.
Requires knowledge of gender endings and case declension.
Easy to pronounce, but requires quick mental gender matching.
Clearly audible and distinct in most conversations.
ماذا تتعلّم بعد ذلك
المتطلبات الأساسية
تعلّم لاحقاً
متقدم
أمثلة حسب المستوى
Ovo je veliki pas.
This is a big dog.
Masculine nominative singular.
To je velika kuća.
That is a big house.
Feminine nominative singular.
Ono je veliko drvo.
That is a big tree.
Neuter nominative singular.
Imam veliku porodicu.
I have a big family.
Feminine accusative singular.
Beograd je veliki grad.
Belgrade is a big city.
Masculine nominative singular.
Želim veliko pivo.
I want a large beer.
Neuter accusative singular.
Ona nosi veliku torbu.
She is carrying a large bag.
Feminine accusative singular.
Gde je veliki sto?
Where is the big table?
Masculine nominative singular.
Moj brat je veći od mene.
My brother is bigger/taller than me.
Comparative form 'veći'.
Ovo je najveća zgrada u gradu.
This is the biggest building in the city.
Superlative form 'najveća'.
Kupili smo velike jabuke.
We bought big apples.
Feminine accusative plural.
Oni žive u velikom stanu.
They live in a big apartment.
Masculine locative singular.
Danas je veliki dan za nas.
Today is a big day for us.
Masculine nominative singular.
Vidim velike planine.
I see big mountains.
Feminine accusative plural.
Ovo dete je već veliko.
This child is already big (grown up).
Neuter nominative singular.
Imamo velike planove za leto.
We have big plans for the summer.
Masculine accusative plural.
Napravio je veliku grešku.
He made a big mistake.
Feminine accusative singular.
Postoji velika razlika između njih.
There is a big difference between them.
Feminine nominative singular.
On je veliki ljubitelj umetnosti.
He is a great art lover.
Masculine nominative singular.
Ovo je veliki izazov za tim.
This is a big challenge for the team.
Masculine nominative singular.
Pobedili smo uz veliku sreću.
We won with great luck.
Feminine accusative singular.
Njegov uticaj je bio veliki.
His influence was great.
Masculine nominative singular.
To je velika odgovornost.
That is a big responsibility.
Feminine nominative singular.
Osećam veliku tugu.
I feel great sadness.
Feminine accusative singular.
On je veliki čovek u svakom smislu.
He is a great man in every sense.
Masculine nominative singular.
Firma je ostvarila veliki profit.
The company made a big profit.
Masculine accusative singular.
Postoji veliki rizik od poplava.
There is a big risk of floods.
Masculine nominative singular.
On ima velika očekivanja od dece.
He has big expectations of the children.
Neuter accusative plural.
To je bio veliki preokret u ratu.
That was a big turning point in the war.
Masculine nominative singular.
Veliki broj ljudi je došao na koncert.
A large number of people came to the concert.
Masculine nominative singular.
Ona je velika zvezda u svojoj zemlji.
She is a big star in her country.
Feminine nominative singular.
Njegova velika dela će živeti večno.
His great works will live forever.
Neuter nominative plural.
Suočavamo se sa velikom neizvesnošću.
We are facing great uncertainty.
Feminine instrumental singular.
Njegova velika ambicija ga je uništila.
His great ambition destroyed him.
Feminine nominative singular.
To je velika nepravda prema narodu.
That is a great injustice towards the people.
Feminine nominative singular.
Umetnik je pokazao veliku virtuoznost.
The artist showed great virtuosity.
Feminine accusative singular.
Postoji velika verovatnoća da će uspeti.
There is a high probability that they will succeed.
Feminine nominative singular.
To je bio veliki udarac za ekonomiju.
That was a big blow to the economy.
Masculine nominative singular.
Veliki umovi razmišljaju o idejama.
Great minds think about ideas.
Masculine nominative plural.
On gaji veliku nadu u budućnost.
He nurtures great hope for the future.
Feminine accusative singular.
Veliki raskol je podelio hrišćanstvo.
The Great Schism divided Christianity.
Masculine nominative singular.
Njegova velika žrtva nije bila uzaludna.
His great sacrifice was not in vain.
Feminine nominative singular.
To je primer velike mudrosti.
That is an example of great wisdom.
Feminine genitive singular.
Osetio je veliko olakšanje nakon svega.
He felt great relief after everything.
Neuter accusative singular.
Veliki majstori renesanse su neprevaziđeni.
The great masters of the Renaissance are unsurpassed.
Masculine nominative plural.
On je čovek velikih kontrasta.
He is a man of great contrasts.
Masculine genitive plural.
Ova odluka nosi velike posledice.
This decision carries great consequences.
Feminine accusative plural.
Velika je čast biti ovde večeras.
It is a great honor to be here tonight.
Feminine nominative singular.
تلازمات شائعة
العبارات الشائعة
تعبيرات اصطلاحية
— To live a luxurious and expensive lifestyle.
Oni uvek žive na velikoj nozi.
informal— To make a mountain out of a molehill (literally: to make a donkey out of a mosquito).
Ne pravi od komarca magarca, to nije veliki problem.
informal— To see things as more important or better than they are.
On sve gleda kroz velike naočare.
informal— Something that is too difficult to handle.
Ovaj projekat je preveliki zalogaj za nas.
neutral— To be stubborn or arrogant (context dependent).
On ima veliku glavu i ne sluša nikoga.
informal— Powerful people or companies in a specific field.
Sada su u igri veliki igrači.
neutral— A long or complicated story; often used for excuses.
To je duga i velika priča.
informalعائلة الكلمة
الأسماء
الأفعال
الصفات
مرتبط
احفظها
وسيلة تذكّر
Think of a 'VELociraptor' which was a 'VELiki' (big) dinosaur in movies, even if they were smaller in reality.
ربط بصري
Imagine a giant letter 'V' towering over a small city. The 'V' stands for 'Veliki'.
Word Web
تحدٍّ
Try to find five objects in your room and label them as 'veliki', 'velika', or 'veliko' based on their gender.
أصل الكلمة
Derived from the Proto-Slavic word *velikъ, which has roots in the Proto-Indo-European *wel- meaning 'to be strong' or 'to rule'.
المعنى الأصلي: The original meaning was likely 'strong' or 'powerful', which evolved into 'large' in size and 'great' in status.
South Slavic branch of the Indo-European language family.السياق الثقافي
Be careful when calling people 'veliki'; for adults, it might imply they are overweight rather than tall. Use 'visok' for height.
English speakers might use 'great' for people and 'big' for objects; Serbian uses 'veliki' for both.
تدرّب في الحياة الواقعية
سياقات واقعية
Shopping
- Imate li veću veličinu?
- Ovo je preveliko.
- Želim veliku kesu.
- Kolika je cena?
Travel
- Beograd je veliki grad.
- Tražim veliki hotel.
- Imaju velike sobe.
- Velika je gužva.
Summary
The word 'veliki' is essential for describing the world in Serbian. It covers physical size, importance, and age. Example: 'Veliki grad' (Big city) vs. 'Veliki brat' (Older brother).
- Veliki is the primary Serbian word for 'big', 'large', or 'great', used for physical size and abstract importance.
- It must agree in gender with the noun: veliki (masculine), velika (feminine), veliko (neuter).
- The comparative form is 'veći' (bigger) and the superlative is 'najveći' (biggest).
- It is used in many common phrases, from ordering food to describing historical events and family relations.
