When we want to say that we are in a state of happiness, we use the adjective srećan (happy) in Serbian. The form changes based on the gender and number of the noun it describes.
For example, for a male, you would say Srećan sam (I am happy), while for a female, it's Srećna sam (I am happy). If you're talking about multiple people, you might say Srećni smo (We are happy) for a group that includes males or is mixed, and Srećne smo for a group of females.
It can also be used with nouns, like Srećan dan! (Happy day!). Remember to pay attention to these endings to sound natural in Serbian.
§ Understanding 'sretan'
The Serbian word 'sretan' means 'happy'. It's an adjective, which means its form will change depending on the gender and number of the noun it describes. This is a fundamental concept in Serbian grammar, and we'll break it down so it's easy to understand.
- Word
- sretan (adjective)
- Meaning
- Happy
§ Forms of 'sretan'
Here are the main forms of 'sretan' you'll use most often:
- Sretan: Masculine singular (e.g., for a happy man)
- Sretna: Feminine singular (e.g., for a happy woman)
- Sretno: Neuter singular (e.g., for a happy child, or 'happy' as an adverb)
- Sretni: Masculine plural (e.g., for happy men)
- Sretne: Feminine plural (e.g., for happy women)
- Sretna: Neuter plural (e.g., for happy children)
§ Using 'sretan' with nouns
Let's look at some examples of how to use 'sretan' with different nouns.
On je sretan čovek.
- Hint
- He is a happy man.
Ona je sretna žena.
- Hint
- She is a happy woman.
To je sretno dete.
- Hint
- That is a happy child.
Mi smo sretni ljudi.
- Hint
- We are happy people.
One su sretne devojke.
- Hint
- They are happy girls.
§ Common expressions with 'sretan'
'Sretan' is used in many common Serbian greetings and expressions. You'll hear these often.
Sretan rođendan!
- Hint
- Happy birthday!
Sretna Nova godina!
- Hint
- Happy New Year!
Sretno putovanje!
- Hint
- Happy journey! (Have a good trip!)
Notice how the ending of 'sretan' changes to match the gender of the noun that follows it. For example, 'rođendan' (birthday) is masculine, so it's 'sretan'. 'Godina' (year) is feminine, so it's 'sretna'. 'Putovanje' (journey) is neuter, so it's 'sretno'.
§ 'Sretan' as an adverb ('sretno')
The neuter singular form 'sretno' can also function as an adverb, meaning 'happily' or 'fortunately'. It's also used to wish someone good luck, similar to 'good luck!' or 'have a good one!'
Živeli su sretno do kraja života.
- Hint
- They lived happily ever after.
Idem na ispit. – Sretno!
- Hint
- I'm going to take an exam. – Good luck!
Understanding these different forms and uses will help you sound more natural when speaking Serbian. Practice using them in different sentences to get comfortable with the changes.
Gramática que debes saber
Like most Serbian adjectives, 'sretan' changes its ending to agree in gender and number with the noun it describes. For masculine singular nouns, it's 'sretan' (e.g., 'sretan čovek' - a happy man).
On je sretan čovek. (He is a happy man.)
For feminine singular nouns, the ending changes to '-na', making it 'sretna' (e.g., 'sretna žena' - a happy woman).
Ona je sretna žena. (She is a happy woman.)
For neuter singular nouns, the ending changes to '-no', making it 'sretno' (e.g., 'sretno dete' - a happy child).
To je sretno dete. (That is a happy child.)
For masculine plural nouns, it becomes 'sretni' (e.g., 'sretni ljudi' - happy people).
Oni su sretni ljudi. (They are happy people.)
For feminine and neuter plural nouns, it becomes 'sretne' (e.g., 'sretne žene' - happy women, 'sretne dece' - happy children).
Mi smo sretne žene. (We are happy women.) Sretne dece trče. (Happy children are running.)
Consejos
Learn the basic meaning of sretan
Sretan means happy. It's a common adjective you'll use often.
Use sretan for emotions
You can use sretan to describe a person's emotional state, like 'Ja sam sretan' (I am happy).
Sretan for 'lucky'
Sometimes, sretan can also mean lucky. For example, 'Sretan sam što te vidim' (I am lucky to see you).
Common phrases with sretan
Learn common phrases like 'Sretan rođendan!' (Happy birthday!) or 'Sretna Nova godina!' (Happy New Year!).
Gender agreement with sretan
Remember that adjectives in Serbian change based on gender. So, for a female, it's 'sretna', and for a neutral noun, it's 'sretno'. For example, 'sretna žena' (happy woman).
Plural forms of sretan
For plural nouns, sretan also changes. For example, 'sretni ljudi' (happy people).
Opposite of sretan
The opposite of sretan is 'nesretan' (unhappy or unlucky). This prefix 'ne-' often indicates the opposite.
Practice using sretan in sentences
Try to form simple sentences using sretan. For example, 'On je sretan čovek' (He is a happy man).
Listen for sretan in conversations
Pay attention to how native speakers use sretan in different contexts. This will help you understand its nuances.
Don't confuse sretan with radostan
While both mean happy, 'radostan' often implies a more profound, joyful happiness. Sretan is more general.
Ponte a prueba 36 preguntas
Write a short sentence describing something that makes you happy. Use the word 'sretan'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Ja sam sretan kada sunce sija. (I am happy when the sun shines.)
Imagine you received good news. Write a two-sentence response expressing your happiness. Use 'sretan'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Veoma sam sretan zbog ovih vesti! Hvala ti. (I am very happy about this news! Thank you.)
Complete the sentence: 'Ona je sretna kada...' (She is happy when...)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Ona je sretna kada čita knjigu. (She is happy when she reads a book.)
Zašto je Marko sretan danas?
Read this passage:
Marko je danas sretan. Dobio je novi posao i ide na odmor. Njegova porodica je takođe sretna zbog njega.
Zašto je Marko sretan danas?
Marko je sretan jer je dobio novi posao i ide na odmor, a njegova porodica je srećna zbog njega.
Marko je sretan jer je dobio novi posao i ide na odmor, a njegova porodica je srećna zbog njega.
Kako Ana pokazuje da je sretna?
Read this passage:
Moja drugarica Ana je uvek sretna. Ona voli da pomaže ljudima i uvek ima osmeh na licu. Njena sreća je zarazna.
Kako Ana pokazuje da je sretna?
Ana je sretna jer ima osmeh na licu i voli da pomaže ljudima.
Ana je sretna jer ima osmeh na licu i voli da pomaže ljudima.
Šta je učinilo pisca sretnim?
Read this passage:
Bio sam sretan juče jer sam video starog prijatelja. Razgovarali smo dugo i prisetili se starih vremena. To me je mnogo obradovalo.
Šta je učinilo pisca sretnim?
Pisac je bio sretan jer je video starog prijatelja i razgovarao s njim.
Pisac je bio sretan jer je video starog prijatelja i razgovarao s njim.
Ona je uvek ___ kad vidi svog psa.
The adjective 'sretna' is used for feminine singular nouns, agreeing with 'ona' (she).
Mi smo veoma ___ što smo vas upoznali.
The adjective 'sretni' is used for masculine plural nouns or mixed gender plural, agreeing with 'mi' (we).
Dete je bilo ___ zbog novog poklona.
The adjective 'sretno' is used for neuter singular nouns, agreeing with 'dete' (child).
On je ___ što je dobio povišicu.
The adjective 'sretan' is used for masculine singular nouns, agreeing with 'on' (he).
Želim ti ___ Božić i Novu Godinu!
'Božić' (Christmas) is a masculine noun, so it requires the masculine singular adjective 'sretan'.
Uvek sam ___ kada putujem.
If 'ja' (I) refers to a male speaker, 'sretan' is used. If 'ja' refers to a female speaker, 'sretna' would be used. Without context, 'sretan' is often the default or can imply a male speaker.
Marko's birthday wish
Her reaction to good news
His feeling about the meeting's outcome
Read this aloud:
Kako izražavaš sreću na srpskom?
Focus: sreću
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Zamislite da ste dobili dobar posao. Recite: 'Veoma sam srećan zbog ovoga!'
Focus: Veoma sam srećan
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Opisite situaciju koja vas čini srećnim. Počnite sa: 'Srećan sam kada...'
Focus: Srećan sam kada
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence structure is common for expressing happiness about an event. 'Bio je sretan' (He was happy) is followed by 'što' (that/because) and then the reason.
This is a direct way to say 'I am happy that I can help you'. 'Sretan sam' is followed by 'što' and the action.
This construction uses 'zbog' (because of/due to) to explain the reason for happiness. 'Bila je sretna' (She was happy) is followed by 'zbog' and the noun phrase.
Nakon teškog perioda, Ana je bila _____ da ponovo vidi svoju porodicu.
U ovom kontekstu, 'sretna' znači 'happy' i najbolje odgovara situaciji ponovnog susreta sa porodicom nakon teškog perioda.
Vest o unapređenju učinila je Petra vrlo _____.
Unapređenje obično izaziva sreću, pa je 'sretnim' (happy) najprikladniji pridev.
Bili smo _____ što smo uspeli da uhvatimo poslednji autobus.
Hvatanje poslednjeg autobusa, pogotovo kada je to važno, obično donosi osećaj sreće ili olakšanja, pa je 'sretni' (happy) odgovarajući izbor.
Nikad nisam video Mariju tako _____ kao kada je dobila diplomu.
Dobijanje diplome je značajan događaj koji obično izaziva veliku radost i sreću, stoga je 'sretnu' (happy) najbolji izbor.
Da li si _____ sa svojim novim poslom?
Ovo je direktno pitanje o osećanjima vezanim za novi posao. 'Sretan' (happy) je najprikladniji odgovor ako se pita o zadovoljstvu poslom.
Uvek sam _____ kada provodim vreme sa svojim prijateljima.
Provođenje vremena sa prijateljima obično donosi radost, pa je 'sretan' (happy) najprirodniji osećaj u ovom kontekstu.
The speaker is expressing happiness about meeting again.
The speaker is referring to a fortunate event.
A question about the relationship between money and happiness.
Read this aloud:
Kako bi opisao srećan trenutak u svom životu?
Focus: trenutak
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Šta te čini srećnim na kraju radnog dana?
Focus: čini
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Da li je sreća uvek u velikim stvarima ili može biti i u malim?
Focus: sreća
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
/ 36 correct
Perfect score!
Learn the basic meaning of sretan
Sretan means happy. It's a common adjective you'll use often.
Use sretan for emotions
You can use sretan to describe a person's emotional state, like 'Ja sam sretan' (I am happy).
Sretan for 'lucky'
Sometimes, sretan can also mean lucky. For example, 'Sretan sam što te vidim' (I am lucky to see you).
Common phrases with sretan
Learn common phrases like 'Sretan rođendan!' (Happy birthday!) or 'Sretna Nova godina!' (Happy New Year!).
