Bedeutung
I feel sorry or regretful.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Serbia, it is considered polite to express regret even for things you couldn't control. It shows you are emotionally invested in the relationship. If you cannot finish the food a host gives you, saying 'Krivo mi je, ali ne mogu više' (I'm sorry, but I can't eat more) is a way to decline without offending their cooking. Serbians are passionate about sports. You will hear 'Krivo mi je' constantly in cafes after a national team loss. If you have to cancel a 'kafa' (coffee date), you must use 'Krivo mi je' to ensure you get invited again. Coffee is sacred!
The 'Baš' Trick
Always add 'baš' (baš mi je krivo) to sound 10x more like a native speaker. It adds a layer of genuine feeling.
Don't say 'Ja sam'
Never start this phrase with 'Ja sam.' It will immediately mark you as a beginner. Start with 'Krivo...'
Bedeutung
I feel sorry or regretful.
The 'Baš' Trick
Always add 'baš' (baš mi je krivo) to sound 10x more like a native speaker. It adds a layer of genuine feeling.
Don't say 'Ja sam'
Never start this phrase with 'Ja sam.' It will immediately mark you as a beginner. Start with 'Krivo...'
Social Glue
Use this phrase when you have to say 'No' to an invitation. It prevents the other person from feeling rejected.
Empathy over Apology
In Serbian, showing you feel the same way as the other person is often more important than saying 'I apologize.'
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct dative pronoun for 'to me'.
Krivo ___ je što ne mogu da dođem.
We use the short dative pronoun 'mi' in this construction.
Which phrase is best for hearing that a friend failed an exam?
Tvoj prijatelj je pao ispit. Šta kažeš?
'Krivo mi je' expresses sympathy for their bad luck.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Ne mogu da nađem tvoju knjigu.' B: 'Baš mi je ___ što si je izgubio.'
The context of losing something requires an expression of regret.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You missed your favorite band's concert.
Use 'što' + the action you regret.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Krivo mi je vs. Izvini
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenKrivo ___ je što ne mogu da dođem.
We use the short dative pronoun 'mi' in this construction.
Tvoj prijatelj je pao ispit. Šta kažeš?
'Krivo mi je' expresses sympathy for their bad luck.
A: 'Ne mogu da nađem tvoju knjigu.' B: 'Baš mi je ___ što si je izgubio.'
The context of losing something requires an expression of regret.
Situation: You missed your favorite band's concert.
Use 'što' + the action you regret.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenIt's neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
It's better to use 'Žao mi je' or 'Moje saučešće.' 'Krivo mi je' sounds a bit too light for such a tragedy.
'Krivo mi je' is for regret and disappointment. 'Žao mi je' is for sadness and pity. They overlap, but 'Krivo' is more about 'I wish this didn't happen.'
Change 'mi' to 'mu': 'Krivo mu je.'
Yes, it's a great way to show you care about the quality of your work.
No, it always stays 'krivo' because it's an adverbial form in this construction.
Yes, that means 'I really feel bad for you.'
Yes, it is perfectly understood and used across all BCMS (Bosnian, Croatian, Montenegrin, Serbian) variants.
You could say 'Svejedno mi je' (It's all the same to me), which is the opposite of feeling 'krivo.'
Yes: 'Krivo mi je što sam ovo kupio.'
Yes, a curve in the road is 'krivina.'
Use 'Strašno mi je krivo' or 'Baš mi je krivo.'
Verwandte Redewendungen
Žao mi je
similarI am sorry / I feel pity
Šteta
similarWhat a pity
Kriv sam
contrastI am guilty
Milo mi je
contrastI am glad / It is dear to me
Kajati se
builds onTo repent / To regret deeply
