Signification
Putting money aside for future use.
Contexte culturel
The 'Slamarica' (straw mattress) is a cultural icon of saving at home rather than in banks, stemming from the 1993 hyperinflation crisis. Saving is often associated with building a 'kamena kuća' (stone house), a symbol of permanence and family legacy. There is a stereotype that people from Vojvodina are particularly 'štedljivi' (thrifty) and careful with their household budgets. Many Serbians working abroad (gastarbajteri) live very frugally to save money and send it back home to build large houses.
Use 'pare' for friends
In casual conversation, 'štedim pare' sounds more natural than 'štedim novac'.
Don't say 'spasim'
Remember, 'spasiti' is for saving a cat from a tree, not money from a shop!
Signification
Putting money aside for future use.
Use 'pare' for friends
In casual conversation, 'štedim pare' sounds more natural than 'štedim novac'.
Don't say 'spasim'
Remember, 'spasiti' is for saving a cat from a tree, not money from a shop!
Perfective vs Imperfective
Use 'štedim' for the habit, and 'uštedeo sam' when you finally have enough for that new iPhone.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'štedeti' in the present tense.
Ja ______ novac za novi auto.
The subject is 'Ja' (I), so the verb ending must be '-im'.
Which sentence is correct?
How do you say 'They are saving money'?
The third-person plural form of 'štedeti' is 'štede'.
Complete the dialogue.
Marko: Zašto ne kupiš taj telefon? Ana: Zato što ______ novac za stan.
Ana is explaining why she isn't spending money, so 'štedim' (I am saving) is the logical choice.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are at the bank and want to open a savings account.
'Štedeti' is the verb used for banking savings.
Match the Serbian phrase with its English translation.
1. Štedim novac. 2. Štediš novac. 3. Štedimo novac.
Matching the correct person/number to the translation.
🎉 Score : /5
Aides visuelles
Štedeti vs. Spasiti
Ways to Save
Formal
- • Štedni račun
- • Oročena štednja
Informal
- • Slamarica
- • Kasica prasica
Banque d exercices
5 exercicesJa ______ novac za novi auto.
The subject is 'Ja' (I), so the verb ending must be '-im'.
How do you say 'They are saving money'?
The third-person plural form of 'štedeti' is 'štede'.
Marko: Zašto ne kupiš taj telefon? Ana: Zato što ______ novac za stan.
Ana is explaining why she isn't spending money, so 'štedim' (I am saving) is the logical choice.
You are at the bank and want to open a savings account.
'Štedeti' is the verb used for banking savings.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
Matching the correct person/number to the translation.
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
14 questionsIt is neutral. You can use it with anyone, from your boss to your brother.
'Novac' is more formal/standard, while 'pare' is informal and very common in speech.
It is called 'štedni račun'.
Yes, 'štedeti vreme' (to save time) is perfectly correct.
The opposite is 'trošiti' (to spend).
In Serbia (Ekavian), it is 'štedeti'. In Croatia or Bosnia (Ijekavian), it is 'štedjeti'.
It takes the Accusative case (direct object).
It is 'kasica prasica'.
Yes, but many people prefer saving in Euros rather than Dinars due to history.
No, the verb itself is neutral. To call someone stingy, use 'škrt' or 'stipsa'.
Ja sam štedeo (m), Ja sam štedela (f).
Yes, 'štedeti na [nečemu]' means to save by spending less on that specific thing.
A 'štediša' is a person who saves money (a saver).
Yes, 'štekati' is very common slang for saving or hiding money.
Expressions liées
Ostavljati sa strane
similarTo put aside
Trošiti novac
contrastTo spend money
Rasipati se
contrastTo squander/waste money
Uštedeti
specialized formTo have saved (perfective)
Štednja
builds onSavings (noun)
Škrtost
similarStinginess
