Bedeutung
Asking about a past event.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Asking 'Kako je bilo?' is a sign of 'gostoprimstvo' (hospitality) and interest. If you don't ask it, you might seem cold or uninterested in the other person's life. In Montenegro, the answer to 'Kako je bilo?' might often be 'A, jada...' (Oh, misery...) as a humorous way to complain about even good things, reflecting a specific local humor. In the north of Serbia, the pace of life is slower. The question 'Kako je bilo?' might be followed by a very long, slow-paced story about every detail of the day. For Serbs living abroad, this phrase is a way to reconnect with their roots. They often ask 'Kako je bilo dole?' (How was it down there?) referring to the Balkans.
The 'I' Opener
Start the question with 'I' (And) to sound more natural: 'I, kako je bilo?'
Don't over-gender
Even if you are asking about a feminine 'žurka', 'Kako je bilo' is safer and more common than 'Kako je bila'.
Bedeutung
Asking about a past event.
The 'I' Opener
Start the question with 'I' (And) to sound more natural: 'I, kako je bilo?'
Don't over-gender
Even if you are asking about a feminine 'žurka', 'Kako je bilo' is safer and more common than 'Kako je bila'.
Add 'tamo'
Adding 'tamo' (there) makes you sound like a pro: 'Kako je bilo tamo?'
Expect a story
Don't ask this if you are in a rush. Serbs love to give detailed answers.
Teste dich selbst
Choose the correct form of the phrase to ask 'How was it?'
____ je bilo?
'Kako' means 'How', which is needed for this expression.
Complete the sentence with the correct past participle.
Kako je ____ na odmoru?
We use the neuter 'bilo' for the impersonal 'it'.
What would Marko say next?
Ana: Bila sam u bioskopu. Marko: ________
This is the most natural follow-up to someone saying they went somewhere.
Match the response to the question 'Kako je bilo?'
Kako je bilo na koncertu?
The question asks about an experience, so 'It was great!' is the only logical answer.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Kako si vs Kako je bilo
Aufgabensammlung
4 Aufgaben____ je bilo?
'Kako' means 'How', which is needed for this expression.
Kako je ____ na odmoru?
We use the neuter 'bilo' for the impersonal 'it'.
Ana: Bila sam u bioskopu. Marko: ________
This is the most natural follow-up to someone saying they went somewhere.
Kako je bilo na koncertu?
The question asks about an experience, so 'It was great!' is the only logical answer.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
14 FragenNo, for a person use 'Kako si?'. 'Kako je bilo' is only for events or time periods.
Yes, it is neutral. To be more formal, you can say 'Kako je bilo na sastanku, gospodine?'.
'Bilo' is neuter. We use it because the subject is 'it' (to), which is neuter in Serbian.
No, that's a literal translation from English. Say 'Kakav ti je bio dan?' or just 'Kako je bilo na poslu?'.
'Bilo je super!' (It was great!) or 'Onako.' (So-so).
You can say 'Kakva je bila hrana?' or 'Kako je bilo jelo?'.
Yes, it is identical in Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, and Montenegrin.
Yes! 'Kako je bilo u bioskopu?' or just 'Kako je bilo?' after they finish watching.
No, for that use 'Gde si bio?' or 'Šta ima novo?'.
Yes, in standard Serbian you cannot drop the 'je' in this phrase.
Absolutely. 'Kako je bilo na svadbi?' is the perfect question.
Add 'ti': 'Kako TI je bilo?'.
No, it is standard language used by everyone.
It sounds like the 'y' in 'yes'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Kako je prošlo?
similarHow did it go?
Šta je bilo?
similarWhat happened?
Bilo je dobro.
builds onIt was good.
Kako ti se čini?
similarHow does it seem to you?
Bilo pa prošlo.
specialized formLet bygones be bygones.
