Signification
Referring to a person, usually a male.
Contexte culturel
In Belgrade, 'lik' is part of the 'asfalt' vocabulary. It's used to create a sense of belonging to the city's fast-paced, cool social scene. Cult movies like 'Munje!' and 'Kad porastem biću Kengur' popularized 'lik' as the defining term for the youth of the 2000s. While 'lik' is universal, in Vojvodina (North), you might also hear 'tip' or 'momak' more often, while in the South, 'bećar' might be used for a specific kind of 'lik'. Serbian meme pages often use 'lik' to describe archetypal characters, like 'onaj lik koji uvek kasni' (that guy who is always late).
The 'Likčina' Compliment
If you want to make a Serbian friend for life, call them a 'likčina' after they do you a favor. It's the ultimate 'bro' compliment.
Gender Matters
Don't use 'lik' for your female boss. Use 'Gospodja' or her name. 'Likuša' is too casual for her too.
Signification
Referring to a person, usually a male.
The 'Likčina' Compliment
If you want to make a Serbian friend for life, call them a 'likčina' after they do you a favor. It's the ultimate 'bro' compliment.
Gender Matters
Don't use 'lik' for your female boss. Use 'Gospodja' or her name. 'Likuša' is too casual for her too.
The Belgrade 'Lik'
In Belgrade, calling someone 'lik' is almost a default. Don't take it as a lack of respect; it's just the local dialect of the street.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of 'lik' (remember the animate rule!).
Juče sam video onog ______ u parku.
Since you 'see' the guy, he is the object (Accusative). For people, Accusative = Genitive (-a).
Which sentence is the most appropriate for a job interview?
How would you describe a former colleague?
'Lik' and 'likčina' are too informal for a professional setting.
Match the slang term with its meaning.
Match the following:
These variations change the gender or the intensity of the word.
Complete the dialogue with the most natural slang.
A: Jesi li video novog komšiju? B: Jesam, deluje kao ______.
'Skroz okej lik' is a very common way to say someone seems like a nice guy.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Formality Scale
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesJuče sam video onog ______ u parku.
Since you 'see' the guy, he is the object (Accusative). For people, Accusative = Genitive (-a).
How would you describe a former colleague?
'Lik' and 'likčina' are too informal for a professional setting.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These variations change the gender or the intensity of the word.
A: Jesi li video novog komšiju? B: Jesam, deluje kao ______.
'Skroz okej lik' is a very common way to say someone seems like a nice guy.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsTechnically no, 'likuša' is the female form. However, in very young urban circles, you might hear it used neutrally, but it's safer to stick to 'likuša' or 'devojka'.
It's not rude, but it is informal. It's like 'guy' in English. You wouldn't call the President 'that guy' to his face, right?
'Lik' is more slangy and urban. 'Tip' is slightly more neutral. Both are very common.
You use the plural: 'ti likovi'.
In very old or poetic Serbian, yes. In modern Serbian, 'lice' is used for face.
Yes, it almost always implies the person is a 'legend' or a 'great guy'.
It's an exclamation meaning 'What a character!' or 'What a guy!'. It can be positive or negative depending on the tone.
Yes, 'lik' is understood and used across the entire ex-Yugoslav region, though it's particularly iconic in Belgrade slang.
Usually no. For a child, you'd use 'mali' or 'dečak'. 'Lik' implies an adult or at least a teenager.
You could say 'loš lik' or 'težak lik' (a difficult/heavy guy).
Expressions liées
Pozitivan lik
specialized formA positive/good guy
Čudan lik
specialized formA weird guy
Likčina
builds onA great guy / legend
Likuša
specialized formA girl / chick
Glavni lik
similarMain character
