Bedeutung
Patience and persistence pay off.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Serbia, this proverb is often associated with the 'Pannonian' mentality of the north (Vojvodina), where the slow-moving Danube and Sava rivers define the landscape and the patient pace of life. In the mountainous regions of Montenegro, the 'breg' (hill) is a very literal part of daily life. The proverb here takes on a more rugged meaning of survival against the elements. The ijekavian version 'Tiha voda brijeg roni' is a staple of Bosnian folk wisdom, often used in 'Sevdalinke' (traditional songs) to describe enduring love or sorrow. For Serbs living abroad, this proverb is a common piece of advice given to the younger generation to encourage them to work hard in their new countries while staying true to their roots.
Use it for introverts
This is the best compliment you can give to a quiet, hard-working Serbian friend.
Don't rush the 'h'
In 'Tiha', the 'h' must be audible. If you skip it, it sounds like 'Tia', which is a name.
Bedeutung
Patience and persistence pay off.
Use it for introverts
This is the best compliment you can give to a quiet, hard-working Serbian friend.
Don't rush the 'h'
In 'Tiha', the 'h' must be audible. If you skip it, it sounds like 'Tia', which is a name.
The 'Breg' vs 'Brijeg' rule
If you are in Belgrade, use 'breg'. If you are in Sarajevo or Zagreb, use 'brijeg' to sound more local.
Teste dich selbst
Popuni prazninu u poslovici:
Tiha voda ______ roni.
The standard form of the proverb uses 'breg' (hill/bank).
U kojoj situaciji je najbolje iskoristiti ovu poslovicu?
Marko uči srpski svaki dan po 15 minuta već godinu dana.
This situation describes long-term, quiet persistence, which is the core meaning of the proverb.
Šta znači reč 'roni' u ovoj poslovici?
Tiha voda breg roni.
In this context, 'roni' means to erode or wear away the earth.
Završi dijalog:
Ana: 'Mislim da nikada neću završiti ovaj projekat.' Jovan: 'Ne odustaj, Ana. Samo radi polako. Znaš kako kažu...'
Jovan is encouraging Ana to be patient and persistent.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenTiha voda ______ roni.
The standard form of the proverb uses 'breg' (hill/bank).
Marko uči srpski svaki dan po 15 minuta već godinu dana.
This situation describes long-term, quiet persistence, which is the core meaning of the proverb.
Tiha voda breg roni.
In this context, 'roni' means to erode or wear away the earth.
Ana: 'Mislim da nikada neću završiti ovaj projekat.' Jovan: 'Ne odustaj, Ana. Samo radi polako. Znaš kako kažu...'
Jovan is encouraging Ana to be patient and persistent.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, it's very common on social media and in motivational contexts among younger generations in Serbia.
Yes, it is appropriate for a professional setting, especially when discussing long-term strategy or project management.
No, in modern Serbian it almost always means 'to dive'. This proverb is one of the few places where the 'erode' meaning is preserved.
Sometimes it can imply someone is 'sneaky' or 'dangerous because they are quiet,' but 90% of the time it is positive.
The closest are 'Still waters run deep' and 'Slow and steady wins the race.'
It's usually a hill or a steep riverbank. A mountain is 'planina'.
Place your tongue behind your upper teeth and let it vibrate briefly. It's a 'tap' R.
No, that would be a mistake. The proverb is fixed with 'breg'.
No, it is a secular folk proverb based on nature.
Most nouns ending in -a in Serbian are feminine. This is a basic rule of the language.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Strpljen, spašen
similarHe who is patient is saved.
Kamen po kamen, palača
similarStone by stone, a palace.
Ispeci pa reci
builds onBake it, then say it (Think before you speak).
Bujica breg nosi
contrastA torrent carries the hill away.
