When you're just starting with Serbian, "hrana" (pronounced HRAH-nah) is one of the most useful words to learn. It simply means food.
You'll hear it a lot in everyday situations, like asking if there's food available or talking about eating. It's a foundational word for discussing meals, grocery shopping, or anything related to what we consume.
hrana in 30 Sekunden
- What we eat
- Nourishment for body
- Meals and snacks
§ What "hrana" means
- Serbian Word
- hrana (noun)
- CEFR Level
- A1
- Definition
- Food
§ Where you actually hear this word — work, school, news
Alright, so you've learned that hrana means "food." Good. Now let's get into where you'll actually encounter this word in Serbia. It's a common word, obviously, so you'll hear it pretty much everywhere people eat, talk about eating, or organize meals. Don't overthink it, but pay attention to how it's used in different contexts.
At work, people often discuss lunch or snacks. You might hear someone ask:
Da li ima neke hrane u frižideru?
This means: "Is there any food in the fridge?" Simple, direct. Or maybe they're planning a team lunch:
Treba nam još hrane za proslavu.
Meaning: "We need more food for the celebration." You get the idea. It's about practical needs.
In schools, children and teachers talk about food for breaks or lunch. Parents might ask their kids:
Jesi li jeo svu hranu koju sam ti spakovao?
This translates to: "Did you eat all the food I packed for you?" Or perhaps a teacher reminding students:
Nema hrane u učionici.
"No food in the classroom." Pretty standard stuff. It's important for discipline and hygiene.
On the news, you'll hear hrana when discussing economics, agriculture, or humanitarian aid. For example, a report might say:
Cene hrane su porasle.
Meaning: "Food prices have risen." Or discussing global issues:
Potrebna je humanitarna pomoć u hrani.
This means: "Humanitarian aid in food is needed." These are more formal uses, but still clearly about "food."
In general conversation, you'll hear it constantly. At home:
"Kupio sam dosta hrane." (I bought a lot of food.)
"Jel' imaš dovoljno hrane za goste?" (Do you have enough food for the guests?)
It's not complicated. Just pay attention, listen for it, and you'll quickly get a feel for its natural usage. The key is exposure. The more you hear and see it, the more it will stick. Don't be afraid to try using it yourself when ordering in a restaurant or discussing groceries. Start with simple sentences and build from there. Nobody expects you to be perfect right away, just to communicate.
Aussprachehilfe
- Ensure the 'h' is pronounced as a soft 'h' sound, similar to the 'h' in 'hat'.
- The 'r' sound is a trilled 'r', but if that's difficult, a tap 'r' (like the 'tt' in 'butter' in American English) is acceptable and understandable.
Beispiele nach Niveau
Kvalitetna hrana je osnova zdravog života.
High-quality food is the basis of a healthy life.
Feminine noun, nominative singular. 'Kvalitetna' (high-quality) is an adjective agreeing in gender, number, and case.
Sva hrana u ovom restoranu je organska i lokalnog porekla.
All the food in this restaurant is organic and locally sourced.
Feminine noun, nominative singular. 'Sva' (all) agrees with 'hrana'.
Nakon dugog puta, prva stvar koju sam želeo bila je topla hrana.
After a long journey, the first thing I wanted was warm food.
Feminine noun, nominative singular. 'Topla' (warm) is an adjective agreeing with 'hrana'.
Ne bacajte hranu, bolje je dajte nekome kome je potrebna.
Don't throw away food, it's better to give it to someone who needs it.
Feminine noun, accusative singular. 'Hranu' is the direct object.
Priprema hrane za proslavu je uvek veliki izazov.
Preparing food for a celebration is always a big challenge.
Feminine noun, genitive singular. 'Hrane' is used here to indicate possession or purpose.
Višak hrane često doniramo lokalnoj narodnoj kuhinji.
We often donate surplus food to the local soup kitchen.
Feminine noun, accusative singular. 'Hranu' is the direct object.
Hrana bogata proteinima pomaže u izgradnji mišića.
Protein-rich food helps build muscles.
Feminine noun, nominative singular. 'Bogata proteinima' (rich in proteins) is a descriptive phrase.
Pobrinite se da uvek imate dovoljno zdrave hrane kod kuće.
Make sure you always have enough healthy food at home.
Feminine noun, genitive singular. 'Zdrave hrane' is used after 'dovoljno' (enough).
Teste dich selbst 54 Fragen
Listen for types of food.
Listen for a question about favorite food.
Listen for a description of the food.
Read this aloud:
Ja volim jesti zdravu hranu.
Focus: hranu
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Read this aloud:
Koja je tvoja omiljena hrana?
Focus: omiljena
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Kupio sam hranu za večeru.
Focus: večeru
Du hast gesagt:
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Write three sentences describing your favorite type of Serbian food. Use the word 'hrana' at least once.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Moja omiljena srpska hrana je sarma. Volim je mnogo. To je veoma ukusna hrana.
Imagine you are at a Serbian restaurant. Write two sentences asking for food and one sentence expressing how delicious it is. Use 'hrana'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Mogu li dobiti još hrane, molim vas? Ova hrana je zaista ukusna!
Describe a typical Serbian breakfast. Include at least three types of food items and use the word 'hrana'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Srpski doručak često uključuje hleb, kajmak i pršutu. To je obično teška hrana za početak dana.
Šta Marko misli o srpskoj hrani?
Read this passage:
Marko voli dobru hranu. On često ide u restoran. Njegova omiljena hrana je roštilj. Misli da je srpska hrana najbolja na svetu.
Šta Marko misli o srpskoj hrani?
U tekstu piše da Marko misli da je srpska hrana najbolja na svetu.
U tekstu piše da Marko misli da je srpska hrana najbolja na svetu.
Kakva je Anina hrana?
Read this passage:
Ana sprema ručak. Ona koristi sveže povrće i meso. Njena hrana je uvek zdrava i ukusna. Prijatelji vole njenu kuhinju.
Kakva je Anina hrana?
Tekst kaže da je Anina hrana uvek zdrava i ukusna.
Tekst kaže da je Anina hrana uvek zdrava i ukusna.
Kakvu hranu deca jedu ponedeljkom?
Read this passage:
Ponedeljkom, deca jedu laganu hranu. Utorkom, jedu nešto teže, kao što je pasulj. Sredom je obično riba. Svaki dan imaju različitu hranu.
Kakvu hranu deca jedu ponedeljkom?
Tekst navodi da deca jedu laganu hranu ponedeljkom.
Tekst navodi da deca jedu laganu hranu ponedeljkom.
Da li voliš ____ u srpskim restoranima?
U ovom kontekstu, 'hranu' (food) je jedina opcija koja ima smisla jer se odnosi na jela koja se služe u restoranima. 'Piće' (drinks), 'muziku' (music) i 'ljude' (people) ne odgovaraju kontekstu pitanja o onome što se voli jesti u restoranima.
Za doručak obično jedem neku laganu ____.
Kada govorimo o onome što jedemo za doručak, 'hranu' (food) je ispravan izbor. 'Odeću' (clothes), 'knjigu' (book) i 'muziku' (music) nemaju veze sa jelom.
Važno je da imamo zdravu ____ svaki dan.
U ovom kontekstu, 'hranu' (food) se odnosi na ishranu koja je bitna za zdravlje. 'Voda' (water) je važna, ali rečenica govori o celokupnoj ishrani. 'Stolica' (chair) i 'knjiga' (book) su netačne.
Uvek ponesem nešto ____ na putovanje.
Na putovanje se obično nosi 'hrana' (food) za jelo. 'Novac' (money), 'odeća' (clothes) i 'knjige' (books) su stvari koje se nose, ali nisu ono što se jede.
Moja omiljena ____ je pica.
Pica je vrsta jela, pa je 'hrana' (food) ispravan odgovor. 'Boja' (color), 'pesma' (song) i 'knjiga' (book) ne odgovaraju ovom kontekstu.
U frižideru je uvek dovoljno ____ za sve nas.
U frižideru se drži 'hrana' (food) za jelo. Iako se i 'voda' (water) može držati u frižideru, kontekst rečenice sugeriše da se misli na nešto što se jede. 'Cveće' (flowers) i 'odeća' (clothes) nisu nešto što se drži u frižideru radi konzumacije.
Choose the most appropriate synonym for 'hrana' in a formal context.
'Namirnica' refers to a foodstuff or ingredient, often used in a more formal or general sense than 'jelo' (dish) or 'obrok' (meal). 'Proizvod' is a product, which can be food but is too general.
Which of these phrases correctly uses 'hrana' in a common idiom?
'Hrana za razmišljanje' (food for thought) is a common idiom. 'Hrana za dušu' (food for the soul) is also used but less common than 'hrana za razmišljanje'. The others are not standard idioms.
In a discussion about healthy eating, which sentence best expresses the importance of 'hrana'?
This sentence directly states the importance of healthy food for a long life, aligning with the context of healthy eating. The other options are either oversimplifications or irrelevant.
The sentence 'Bez hrane nema života' (Without food, there is no life) is a grammatically correct and common expression.
This is a very common and grammatically correct expression in Serbian, emphasizing the fundamental necessity of food for survival.
The phrase 'brza hrana' always refers to food prepared very quickly at home.
'Brza hrana' (fast food) specifically refers to commercially prepared food served quickly, like at a drive-through, not necessarily food prepared quickly at home.
If someone says 'spremiću ti hranu', they mean they will prepare a specific type of meal, not just any food.
'Spremiću ti hranu' generally means 'I will prepare food for you,' without specifying a particular type of meal. It's a general statement about preparing something to eat.
Nije svaka ___ na stolu pogodna za svačiji ukus i dijetu, posebno kada se radi o alergenima.
U ovom kontekstu, 'hrana' se koristi kao opšti termin za sve što se jede, što je adekvatno za rečenicu koja govori o raznovrsnosti i pogodnosti.
Prekomerna konzumacija brze ___ često dovodi do zdravstvenih problema, pa je umerenost ključna.
Genitiv 'hrane' je ispravan jer se odnosi na 'brze hrane', što je ustaljeni izraz za kategoriju namirnica. 'Ishrane' bi se odnosilo na sam proces ishrane, a ne na objekte konzumacije.
Kulturološka raznolikost se često ogleda u pripremi i serviranju ___ koja je karakteristična za određeni region.
Opet se 'hrane' koristi kao opšti termin za kulinarske proizvode i običaje koji su specifični za određeni region, što je širok pojam koji obuhvata sve opcije.
Ekološka proizvodnja ___ postaje sve važnija tema u društvu zbog brige za zdravlje i očuvanje okoline.
'Ekološka proizvodnja hrane' je uobičajen i precizan izraz koji se odnosi na održiv način proizvodnje jestivih proizvoda. 'Namirnica' bi takođe bilo moguće, ali 'hrana' je opštija i prikladnija.
Nakon višesatnog putovanja, bila nam je preko potrebna topla ___ i odmor.
'Topla hrana' je opšti i adekvatan izraz za obrok koji pruža utehu i zasićenje nakon puta. 'Užina' i 'večera' su previše specifični, a 'okrepa' je više o osveženju nego o konkretnom obroku.
Razvijanje svesti o bacanju ___ je ključno za smanjenje otpada i efikasnije korišćenje resursa.
'Bacanje hrane' je standardan izraz koji se odnosi na rasipanje jestivih proizvoda. Iako su druge opcije povezane, 'hrane' je najdirektniji i najčešće korišćen termin u ovom kontekstu.
The sentence is about the importance of good food for health.
The speaker is asking if you've tried the homemade food and praises it.
The speaker misses grandmother's cooking and traditional food.
Read this aloud:
Zdrava hrana je ključna za dug i ispunjen život.
Focus: Zdrava, ključna, ispunjen
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Read this aloud:
Gde se može naći najukusnija lokalna hrana u ovom gradu?
Focus: najukusnija, lokalna, gradu
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Izbegavam brzu hranu zbog njenog negativnog uticaja na zdravlje.
Focus: Izbegavam, brzu, uticaja
Du hast gesagt:
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Koji od sledećih pojmova najbolje opisuje pojam 'hrana' u kontekstu održivog razvoja i globalne bezbednosti?
Opcija A najpotpunije obuhvata širinu koncepta 'hrane' kada se razmatra na globalnom nivou, uključujući ekološke, društvene, ekonomske i političke aspekte.
U filozofskom diskursu, kako se 'hrana' može tumačiti u odnosu na egzistencijalne potrebe i ontološku sigurnost?
Opcija A naglašava esencijalnu ulogu hrane ne samo za fizičko preživljavanje, već i za oblikovanje iskustva i svesti pojedinca, što je često tema u filozofiji egzistencijalizma.
Ako se 'hrana' posmatra kao medij za prenošenje kulturnog identiteta, koja od sledećih tvrdnji bi bila najtačnija?
Opcija A ističe višedimenzionalnu ulogu hrane kao nosioca kulturnih vrednosti, tradicija i identiteta, što je ključno za razumevanje njene dublje socijalne funkcije.
Globalizacija je dovela do homogenizacije prehrambenih navika, čime je smanjena kulturna raznolikost 'hrane' širom sveta.
Iako globalizacija može dovesti do izvesne unifikacije, ona takođe podstiče razmenu i fuziju kulinarskih tradicija, što može rezultirati novim oblicima raznolikosti, a ne nužno njenim smanjenjem. Lokalni identiteti i dalje opstaju i transformišu se.
Kriza snabdevanja 'hranom' u savremenom svetu primarno je posledica nedostatka proizvodnih kapaciteta, a ne problema u distribuciji i pristupu.
Često se navodi da svet proizvodi dovoljno hrane za sve, ali problem leži u neefikasnim sistemima distribucije, političkim faktorima, siromaštvu i konfliktnim situacijama koje ograničavaju pristup 'hrani'. Nedostatak proizvodnje je redje primarni uzrok.
Analiza 'hrane' u antropološkom kontekstu isključivo se fokusira na nutritivne vrednosti i biološke funkcije.
Antropologija hrane se bavi mnogo širim aspektima, uključujući društvene rituale, simboliku, identitet, ekonomske sisteme i kulturne prakse povezane sa hranom, prevazilazeći puke nutritivne aspekte.
Focus on understanding the concept of 'quality food' as a foundation for a 'healthy life.'
Listen for the description of what is needed to prepare 'traditional Serbian food.'
Understand the growing trend of 'fresh, organic food' in 'urban areas.'
Read this aloud:
Objasnite značaj raznovrsne hrane za ljudsko zdravlje.
Focus: raznovrsne hrane
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Opišite svoj omiljeni obrok i zašto vam se baš ta hrana dopada.
Focus: omiljeni obrok
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Uporedite prehrambene navike modernog društva sa onima iz prošlosti, posebno u kontekstu dostupnosti hrane.
Focus: prehrambene navike
Du hast gesagt:
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This sentence translates to 'Healthy food is important for the body.' The correct order follows the standard Serbian sentence structure: Adjective + Noun + Verb + Adjective + Preposition + Noun.
This sentence means 'I often prepare food for the family at home.' The adverb 'često' (often) typically comes before the verb in Serbian. The phrase 'kod kuće' (at home) acts as a location modifier.
This translates to 'Diverse food is the key to good health.' The adjective 'raznovrsna' (diverse) precedes the noun 'hrana' (food). The phrase 'ključ za' (key to) is a common collocation.
/ 54 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Hrana is the fundamental term for all edible substances that sustain life.
- What we eat
- Nourishment for body
- Meals and snacks
