Significado
Used when making a toast.
Contexto cultural
The 'Eye Contact' rule is non-negotiable. If you don't look the person in the eye, you are signaling distrust or lack of interest. In a kafana, it is common to toast not just your table, but sometimes the musicians or even the whole room if the mood is right. During a Slava, the first toast is usually made by the host with a special 'Slavski kolač' (cake) and wine. It is a deeply spiritual moment. Rakija is sipped, not taken as a shot, despite the small glasses. Each sip can be preceded by a small 'Živeli' if the conversation is flowing.
Eye Contact
Always look the person in the eye. It's the most important part of the toast!
No Water
Avoid toasting with water if you want to follow old-school traditions.
Significado
Used when making a toast.
Eye Contact
Always look the person in the eye. It's the most important part of the toast!
No Water
Avoid toasting with water if you want to follow old-school traditions.
Gender Matters
Use 'Živeo' for your bro and 'Živela' for your girl to sound like a native.
The Clink
Clink the bottom of small rakija glasses, not the top.
Ponte a prueba
You are at a birthday party and want to toast your male friend, Jovan. What do you say?
Choose the best singular toast for Jovan:
Jovan is male, so we use the masculine singular form 'Živeo!'.
Complete the dialogue in a kafana.
Marko: 'Evo rakije! ______!' Nikola: 'Živeli, Marko!'
When the rakija arrives, the standard toast is 'Živeli!'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
1. Someone sneezes. 2. Someone raises a glass of wine.
Nazdravlje is for sneezing, Živeli is for drinking.
Finish the toast for a bride (mlada).
Kum: 'Za našu prelepu mladu, ______!'
Mlada (bride) is feminine, so 'Živela' is correct.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
When to say what?
Drinking
- • Živeli!
- • U zdravlje!
- • Živeo!
Sneezing
- • Nazdravlje!
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosChoose the best singular toast for Jovan:
Jovan is male, so we use the masculine singular form 'Živeo!'.
Marko: 'Evo rakije! ______!' Nikola: 'Živeli, Marko!'
When the rakija arrives, the standard toast is 'Živeli!'.
1. Someone sneezes. 2. Someone raises a glass of wine.
Nazdravlje is for sneezing, Živeli is for drinking.
Kum: 'Za našu prelepu mladu, ______!'
Mlada (bride) is feminine, so 'Živela' is correct.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasTechnically yes, but it's rare. Usually, you just start drinking coffee. It's mostly for alcoholic drinks or celebratory sodas.
Always use the plural 'Živeli!'. It covers everyone.
It's written 'Živeli'. The 'Ž' sounds like 'zh'.
No, 'Živeli' is just a toast. If you want someone to finish the glass, you say 'Na eks!'.
Not at all! Beer is perfectly fine for 'Živeli'.
It means 'To health' and is a common alternative to 'Živeli'.
Sometimes after toasting, people touch the table before drinking. It's an extra sign of respect or a local habit.
Yes, if you are at a social event and they have a glass in their hand, it is perfectly appropriate.
A 'Zdravica' is a longer speech made before saying 'Živeli'.
Yes, it is used across all ex-Yugoslav countries, though some regions might prefer 'Uzdravlje'.
Frases relacionadas
U zdravlje
synonymTo health
Nazdravlje
similarBless you / To health
Na eks
specialized formBottoms up
Zdravica
builds onA toast (the speech)
Živeo
specialized formLong live (him)
