Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use 'Imati vremena' to express availability or the lack thereof in daily Serbian life.
- Means: To have time or to be free for an activity.
- Used in: Making plans, declining invitations, or discussing busy schedules.
- Don't confuse: 'Vreme' (time) with 'Sat' (clock/hour) when asking for availability.
توضیح در سطح شما:
معنی
Being free to do something.
زمینه فرهنگی
In Serbia, 'imati vremena' is a prerequisite for friendship. If you don't have time for a 2-hour coffee, you are seen as 'u gužvi' (in a crowd/busy), which is a state people try to avoid. Even in business, meetings often start with small talk to show that the parties 'have time' for each other as humans, not just as business entities. The phrase is deeply tied to 'polako' (slowly). Saying you have time is a way of rejecting the stress of modern life. In rural areas, 'imati vremena' often refers to the seasons and agricultural tasks, whereas in Belgrade, it's about traffic and office hours.
The 'Nemam' Rule
Never say 'ne imam'. It is the most obvious sign of a beginner. Always use 'nemam'.
The Soft No
If a Serbian says 'Videću da li imam vremena', it's often a polite 'maybe' or a soft 'no'.
The 'Nemam' Rule
Never say 'ne imam'. It is the most obvious sign of a beginner. Always use 'nemam'.
The Soft No
If a Serbian says 'Videću da li imam vremena', it's often a polite 'maybe' or a soft 'no'.
Vreme vs Sat
Remember: Vreme is the concept, Sat is the tool/hour. Don't mix them up!
خودت رو بسنج
Fill in the correct form of 'imati' (negative or positive).
Izvini, ja ______ vremena danas, veoma sam zauzet.
The context 'veoma sam zauzet' (I am very busy) requires the negative form 'nemam'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Select the correct way to ask a friend for coffee.
The noun must be in the genitive 'vremena' and the verb must be 'imati'.
Match the Serbian phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are the four most common variations of the phrase.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Hoćeš li u bioskop? B: Rado, ali stvarno ______ (I don't have) vremena.
The phrase 'nemam vremena' is the standard way to decline an invitation due to a busy schedule.
🎉 امتیاز: /4
ابزارهای بصری یادگیری
Positive vs Negative
بانک تمرین
5 تمرینهاIzvini, ja ______ vremena danas, veoma sam zauzet.
The context 'veoma sam zauzet' (I am very busy) requires the negative form 'nemam'.
Select the correct way to ask a friend for coffee.
The noun must be in the genitive 'vremena' and the verb must be 'imati'.
هر مورد سمت چپ را با جفتش در سمت راست مطابقت دهید:
These are the four most common variations of the phrase.
A: Hoćeš li u bioskop? B: Rado, ali stvarno ______ (I don't have) vremena.
The phrase 'nemam vremena' is the standard way to decline an invitation due to a busy schedule.
🎉 امتیاز: /5
سوالات متداول
10 سوالTechnically no. In Serbian, we use the genitive 'vremena' because you have 'some' of the time, not the entire concept of time.
You can say 'Nemam vremena' or 'Zauzet sam' (I am occupied).
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
No, it also means 'weather'. But in this phrase, it always means 'time'.
Use 'Imaš li minut?' or 'Imaš li trenutak?'.
Imao sam vremena (masculine) or Imala sam vremena (feminine).
Yes, 'Imam vremena do pet sati' (I have time until 5 o'clock).
It can be if said too quickly. Add 'izvini' (sorry) to make it softer.
There isn't a direct slang word for 'time', but 'bleja' is used for free time to hang out.
Use 'Stvoriću vreme' (I will create time) or 'Naći ću vremena'.
عبارات مرتبط
Naći vremena
similarTo find time
Gubiti vreme
contrastTo waste time
Slobodno vreme
builds onFree time
Uštedeti vreme
similarTo save time
Isteklo je vreme
contrastTime is up
کجا استفاده کنیم
Inviting a friend for coffee
Marko: Ćao, imaš li vremena za kafu?
Jelena: Imam, vidimo se u pet!
At the office
Šef: Imate li vremena za kratak razgovor?
Zaposleni: Naravno, izvolite.
Declining a salesperson
Prodavac: Dobar dan, nudimo vam novu uslugu...
Građanin: Izvinite, nemam vremena.
Catching a bus
Putnik 1: Brže! Autobus kreće!
Putnik 2: Ne brini, imamo još vremena.
Dating
Dečko: Želim da te vidim opet.
Devojka: Naći ću vremena za tebe sledeće nedelje.
Asking for the time (Common Mistake context)
Prolaznik: Izvinite, da li imate vremena?
Osoba: Imam, zašto pitate? (Confused)
حفظ کنید
روش یادسپاری
Think of 'Imam' as 'I am' holding a 'Vreme' (clock). If you 'Imam Vremena', you 'Am holding time'.
تداعی تصویری
Imagine a giant hourglass that you are holding in your hands. If the sand is flowing, you 'Imam' (have) it. If it's empty, you 'Nemam' (don't have) it.
Rhyme
Imam vremena, nema problema! (I have time, no problem!)
Story
Marko wants to drink coffee. He calls Ana and asks 'Imaš li vremena?'. Ana looks at her watch and sees she is free. She says 'Imam vremena!'. They meet at the kafana and talk for hours because in Serbia, everyone 'ima vremena' for friends.
In Other Languages
It is very similar to the English 'to have time' and the Spanish 'tener tiempo'. In most European languages, time is treated as a possession.
شبکه واژگان
چالش
Try to ask three different people 'Da li imaš vremena za kafu?' today, even if it's just in your head or via text.
Review the negative form 'nemam' on day 1, 3, and 7, as it's the most common place for errors.
تلفظ
Short falling accent on the first 'i'.
The 'v' is soft, and the 'r' is rolled.
طیف رسمیت
Nažalost, trenutno nisam u mogućnosti da vam posvetim vreme. (Refusing a task or topic)
Nemam vremena za to sada. (Refusing a task or topic)
Ma nemam vremena za te gluposti. (Refusing a task or topic)
Brate, nemam vremena na bacanje. (Refusing a task or topic)
From Proto-Slavic *jěti (to take/have) and *vremę (time/weather). The concept of 'having' time is a linguistic metaphor where time is treated as a physical object one can hold.
نکته جالب
In Serbian, the word for 'time' (vreme) is the same as the word for 'weather'. So 'Imati vremena' could technically mean 'to have weather', though it never does in practice!
نکات فرهنگی
In Serbia, 'imati vremena' is a prerequisite for friendship. If you don't have time for a 2-hour coffee, you are seen as 'u gužvi' (in a crowd/busy), which is a state people try to avoid.
“Idemo na kafu, imaš vremena!”
Even in business, meetings often start with small talk to show that the parties 'have time' for each other as humans, not just as business entities.
“Prvo kafa, pa onda posao.”
The phrase is deeply tied to 'polako' (slowly). Saying you have time is a way of rejecting the stress of modern life.
“Samo polako, imamo vremena.”
In rural areas, 'imati vremena' often refers to the seasons and agricultural tasks, whereas in Belgrade, it's about traffic and office hours.
“Seljak ima vremena zimi, a Beograđanin nikad.”
شروعکنندههای مکالمه
Da li imaš vremena za kafu ovog vikenda?
Za šta uvek nađeš vremena, bez obzira na sve?
Da li misliš da ljudi danas imaju manje vremena nego ranije?
اشتباهات رایج
Ne imam vremena.
Nemam vremena.
L1 Interference
Imam vreme.
Imam vremena.
L1 Interference
Da li imaš vremena? (When asking for the clock time)
Koliko je sati?
L1 Interference
Ja sam vremena.
Imam vremena.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Tener tiempo
Spanish uses 'tener' for many states where Serbian uses 'imati', but Serbian requires the genitive case 'vremena'.
Avoir le temps
French uses the definite article 'le', while Serbian uses the genitive case without an article.
Zeit haben
German word order changes in questions (Hast du Zeit?), whereas Serbian often uses 'Da li'.
時間がある (Jikan ga aru)
The subject is 'time' in Japanese, whereas the subject is 'I' in Serbian.
لديه وقت (Ladaiya waqt)
Serbian uses a direct verb 'imati', while Arabic uses a locative structure.
有时间 (Yǒu shíjiān)
Chinese has no case markings or conjugations, unlike Serbian's genitive 'vremena'.
시간이 있다 (Sigani itda)
Serbian focuses on the person 'having', Korean focuses on the time 'existing'.
Ter tempo
In Brazilian Portuguese, 'ter' is also used for 'there is', similar to how Serbian 'ima' can mean 'there is'.
Spotted in the Real World
“Nemam vremena za to, nemam vremena za to...”
A popular pop song about not having time for drama or toxic relationships.
“Giga, nemam ja vremena za tvoje gluposti!”
A classic Yugoslav TV show where the mother often tells the father she has no time for his nonsense.
“Brate, nema se vremena, mora da se krene.”
Urban youth culture in Belgrade.
بهراحتی اشتباه گرفته میشود
Learners use 'Da li imaš vremena?' to ask for the clock time.
Use 'sati' for the clock and 'vremena' for availability.
Both mean 'to be free'.
'Biti slobodan' can also mean 'to be single' or 'to be at liberty'. 'Imati vremena' is safer for schedules.
سوالات متداول (10)
Technically no. In Serbian, we use the genitive 'vremena' because you have 'some' of the time, not the entire concept of time.
grammar mechanicsYou can say 'Nemam vremena' or 'Zauzet sam' (I am occupied).
practical tipsIt is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
usage contextsNo, it also means 'weather'. But in this phrase, it always means 'time'.
basic understandingUse 'Imaš li minut?' or 'Imaš li trenutak?'.
practical tipsImao sam vremena (masculine) or Imala sam vremena (feminine).
grammar mechanicsYes, 'Imam vremena do pet sati' (I have time until 5 o'clock).
usage contextsIt can be if said too quickly. Add 'izvini' (sorry) to make it softer.
cultural usageThere isn't a direct slang word for 'time', but 'bleja' is used for free time to hang out.
comparisonsUse 'Stvoriću vreme' (I will create time) or 'Naći ću vremena'.
practical tips
