When you're talking about a child in Serbian, you'll use the word dete. It's a neutral noun, so it doesn't change based on gender, like 'the child' in English. It's a singular form, so if you're talking about more than one child, you'll need a different word. You might hear it in sentences like, 'To je moje dete,' meaning 'That is my child.' Remember this one, it's very common!
When using the word dete in Serbian, it's important to remember its gender. Dete is a neutral noun, even though it refers to a living being. This means it will take neutral adjective endings and verb agreements.
For example, you would say 'To je malo dete' (That is a small child), using the neutral form of 'mali' (small). When referring to multiple children, the plural form is deca. This plural form is also neutral, and you would say 'Sva deca spavaju' (All the children are sleeping).
dete en 30 secondes
- Use 'dete' for 'child' in Serbian.
- It's a neuter noun, so it takes neuter endings.
- Can also mean 'kid' or 'offspring'.
§ What does it mean and when do people use it?
The Serbian word dete (pronounced: DEH-teh) directly translates to 'child' in English. It's a fundamental word you'll hear and use very frequently in Serbia, just as you would in any English-speaking country. This word is used for any person from birth up to adolescence. It's gender-neutral, meaning it can refer to a boy or a girl. You'll use it in everyday conversations, in formal settings, and even in written contexts like news articles or books.
- DEFINITION
- Child
Think of all the times you'd say 'child' or 'children' in English. That's exactly when you'd use dete in Serbian. It’s used to talk about someone’s offspring, a young person in general, or sometimes even figuratively for someone who is naive or immature, though this is less common for beginners.
To dete je veoma pametno.
Translation hint: That child is very smart.
When you're talking about more than one child, the plural form of dete is 'deca' (pronounced: DEH-tsah). This is an irregular plural, so don't try to add '-i' or '-ovi' like you might with some other nouns. Just remember 'deca' for 'children'.
Imam troje dece.
Translation hint: I have three children.
You'll often hear dete used in phrases describing family relationships, like 'moje dete' (my child) or 'njeno dete' (her child). It's also frequently used in contexts discussing education, playing, or simply the presence of young people.
Vidi, to je moje dete!
Translation hint: Look, that is my child!
Understanding dete and its plural 'deca' is crucial for basic conversation. It allows you to talk about families, ages, and general demographics. As an A1 learner, mastering this word will immediately expand your ability to describe your own family or talk about others.
Consider these scenarios where you would use dete or 'deca':
- Talking about the number of kids someone has.
- Describing a playground or a park where children are present.
- Asking if someone has a child.
- Referring to young students.
It's straightforward. If you'd say 'child' in English, use dete. If you'd say 'children', use 'deca'. No need to overthink it.
§ Understanding 'dete' - The Basics
The Serbian word for 'child' is dete. It's a fundamental word, and you'll hear and use it a lot. It's an A1 CEFR level word, meaning it's one of the first words you should learn.
- DEFINITION
- Child
Unlike many nouns in Serbian, dete is a bit special. While it ends with 'e', which often indicates feminine nouns, 'dete' is actually a neuter noun. This is important for how it changes in sentences.
§ Singular and Plural: dete / deca
The plural of dete is deca. This is an irregular plural, so you just need to memorize it. 'Deca' is a collective noun, meaning it refers to a group of children. Even though it ends with 'a' (which usually indicates a feminine singular noun), it's treated as a feminine plural when it comes to verb agreement.
To je srećno dete.
- HINT
- That is a happy child.
Gde su deca?
- HINT
- Where are the children?
§ Using 'dete' with Cases
Serbian uses grammatical cases, which means words change their endings depending on their function in a sentence. Here's how dete and deca change:
- Nominative (subject):
This is the basic form. Who or what is doing the action?
Dete spava.
- HINT
- The child is sleeping.
Deca se igraju.
- HINT
- The children are playing.
- Genitive (possession, after prepositions):
This case shows possession (of a child) or is used after certain prepositions like 'bez' (without) or 'od' (from/of).
- Singular: deteta
- Plural: dece
Ovo je knjiga deteta.
- HINT
- This is the child's book (the book of the child).
Bez dece je tiho.
- HINT
- Without children, it's quiet.
- Dative (to/for a child):
Indicates the indirect object of an action.
- Singular: detetu
- Plural: deci
Dao sam loptu detetu.
- HINT
- I gave the ball to the child.
Kupio sam igračke deci.
- HINT
- I bought toys for the children.
- Accusative (direct object):
This case is for the direct object of a verb. Who or what receives the action?
- Singular: dete (same as nominative for neuter nouns)
- Plural: decu
Vidim dete.
- HINT
- I see a child.
Volim svoju decu.
- HINT
- I love my children.
- Vocative (direct address):
Used when directly addressing someone. It's less common for 'dete' itself but good to know.
- Singular: dete
- Plural: deco
Hej, dete!
- HINT
- Hey, child!
Dođite, deco!
- HINT
- Come, children!
- Instrumental (with/by a child):
Used to indicate the instrument or means by which an action is performed, often with the preposition 'sa' (with).
- Singular: detetom
- Plural: decom
Igrao sam se sa detetom.
- HINT
- I played with the child.
Ponosan sam na svoju decom.
- HINT
- I am proud of my children.
- Locative (about/on a child):
Used with prepositions like 'o' (about) or 'na' (on).
- Singular: detetu
- Plural: deci
Pričali smo o detetu.
- HINT
- We talked about the child.
Knjiga je o deci.
- HINT
- The book is about children.
§ Common Phrases with 'dete' / 'deca'
Here are some practical phrases:
- Moje dete - My child
- Nema deteta - There is no child (using genitive for negation)
- Imam decu - I have children
- Deca su u školi - The children are at school
Exemples par niveau
Sva deca se raduju letnjem raspustu.
All children look forward to summer vacation.
Ona je veoma pametno dete i brzo uči.
She is a very smart child and learns quickly.
Igralište je puno dece koja se smeju i trče.
The playground is full of children who are laughing and running.
Svako dete zaslužuje ljubav i pažnju.
Every child deserves love and attention.
To dete ima neverovatnu maštu.
That child has an incredible imagination.
Roditelji se trude da svojoj deci obezbede srećno detinjstvo.
Parents strive to provide their children with a happy childhood.
Kada sam bio dete, često sam se igrao u dvorištu.
When I was a child, I often played in the yard.
Njeno dete je upravo naučilo da hoda.
Her child just learned to walk.
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
Ovo dete je gladno.
This child is hungry.
Gde je dete?
Where is the child?
Dete spava.
The child is sleeping.
Imaš li dete?
Do you have a child?
Ja volim dete.
I love the child.
Dete se igra.
The child is playing.
Ona ima jedno dete.
She has one child.
Dete plače.
The child is crying.
Dete jede.
The child is eating.
Dete je malo.
The child is small.
Expressions idiomatiques
"biti dobro dete"
to be a good child (often used figuratively to mean to be well-behaved or obedient)
Ako budeš dobro dete, dobićeš čokoladu. (If you are a good child, you will get chocolate.)
neutral"dete sreće"
child of fortune (someone who is very lucky)
On je pravo dete sreće, uvek mu se posreći. (He is a true child of fortune, he always gets lucky.)
neutral"kao malo dete"
like a small child (implying naivety, excitement, or silliness)
Radovao se kao malo dete kad je video poklon. (He was happy like a small child when he saw the present.)
neutral"bogato dete"
rich kid (often with a slightly negative connotation of being spoiled)
On se ponaša kao razmaženo bogato dete. (He acts like a spoiled rich kid.)
informal"dete za primer"
a child to be an example (a model child, well-behaved)
Njeno dete je uvek bilo dete za primer. (Her child was always a child to be an example.)
neutral"nije dete od juče"
not a child from yesterday (someone who is experienced, not easily fooled)
Nemoj da misliš da je glup, on nije dete od juče. (Don't think he's stupid, he's not a child from yesterday.)
informal"igrati se kao dete"
to play like a child (to be carefree and playful)
Pustili su se i igrali se kao deca. (They let loose and played like children.)
neutral"svako dete ima svoju priču"
every child has their own story (everyone has their own unique experiences)
Nemoj suditi prebrzo, svako dete ima svoju priču. (Don't judge too quickly, every child has their own story.)
neutral"dete cveća"
flower child (a hippy)
Moja tetka je bila dete cveća u mladosti. (My aunt was a flower child in her youth.)
neutral"radost kao dete"
joy like a child (pure, unbridled joy)
Njena radost je bila kao radost deteta. (Her joy was like the joy of a child.)
neutralAstuces
Learn the gender
Nouns in Serbian have grammatical gender. 'Dete' is a neuter noun. This is important for agreements with adjectives and other words.
Plural form
The plural form of 'dete' (child) is 'deca' (children). Note that 'deca' is grammatically feminine singular, even though it refers to multiple children. This is an exception you'll need to remember.
Common phrases
Practice using 'dete' in simple phrases like 'Moje dete' (My child) or 'Malo dete' (A small child).
Diminutive form
A common diminutive for 'dete' is 'detence', meaning 'little child' or 'kiddo'. It expresses affection.
Related words
Knowing related words helps. For example, 'dečak' means 'boy' and 'devojčica' means 'girl'. These are specific types of children.
Use with verbs
Combine 'dete' with common verbs. 'Dete spava' (The child is sleeping) or 'Dete jede' (The child is eating).
Context is key
Pay attention to context when you hear 'dete' to understand if it's being used generally or specifically. Sometimes 'deca' can refer to offspring of any age in a broader sense, similar to 'my kids' in English.
Pronunciation
Listen carefully to the pronunciation of 'dete'. The 'e' is pronounced like the 'e' in 'bet'.
Memorize case endings
As you advance, you'll learn about cases. 'Dete' will change endings depending on its function in a sentence. For example, in genitive, it's 'deteta' (of a child).
Importance of family
Children (deca) are central to Serbian family life. You'll hear this word often in conversations about family, which is very important in Serbian culture.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Imagine a **de**lightful, **te**rrific child playing.
Association visuelle
Picture a tiny, happy child. Maybe they're playing with a toy or laughing. Focus on their small size and innocence to connect with the word 'dete'.
Word Web
Défi
Try to use 'dete' in a few simple sentences. For example: - Moje dete spava. (My child is sleeping.) - Volim ovo dete. (I love this child.) - Dete se igra. (The child is playing.)
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsThe Serbian word for 'child' is dete.
Even though 'dete' refers to a child, which can be male or female, 'dete' is a neuter noun in Serbian. This means it behaves grammatically like words such as 'sunce' (sun) or 'selo' (village).
Yes, dete is a gender-neutral term and can be used to refer to any child, whether a boy or a girl. If you need to specify, you'd use 'dečak' for boy and 'devojčica' for girl.
The plural form of dete is deca. It's an irregular plural, so you just have to remember it.
Here are some examples:
- Dete spava. (The child is sleeping.)
- Moje dete voli sladoled. (My child loves ice cream.)
The word dete is an A1 level word, meaning it's one of the first words you'll learn in Serbian.
While dete is the most common and general term, you might hear 'malo dete' (little child) for emphasis, or 'dečak' (boy) and 'devojčica' (girl) if you need to specify gender.
The pronunciation is roughly 'deh-teh', with the 'e' sound similar to the 'e' in 'bed'.
Yes, like many nouns in Serbian, dete will change its ending based on its grammatical role in a sentence (case). For example, 'moje dete' (my child) vs. 'sa detetom' (with the child).
A common phrase is 'Imam jedno dete.' (I have one child.)
Teste-toi 24 questions
Choose the correct translation for 'child'.
'dete' means 'child' in Serbian.
Which sentence correctly uses 'dete' in the plural form?
The plural of 'dete' (child) is 'deca' (children).
Complete the sentence: 'Moje ___ voli da se igra.' (My ___ loves to play.)
The sentence needs a noun that loves to play, and 'dete' (child) fits perfectly.
The word 'dete' refers to an adult.
'dete' refers to a child, not an adult.
In Serbian, 'dete' is a singular noun.
'dete' is the singular form meaning 'child'. Its plural is 'deca'.
You can use 'dete' to describe a baby.
'dete' is a general term for a child and can include babies.
This sentence translates to 'My child loves to play in the park.' The word order is typical for Serbian sentences.
This question means 'Where is your child now?' The interrogative word 'Gde' (Where) starts the sentence.
This sentence means 'Every child deserves a happy childhood.' The word 'dete' comes after the adjective 'Svako' (Every).
Ona brine o svom ___ (dete) svakodnevno.
Here, 'dete' is in the dative case because 'brine o' (to care about) takes the dative. 'Detetu' is the dative singular form.
Videli smo ___ (dete) kako se igra u parku.
Here, 'dete' is the direct object of 'videli smo' (we saw), so it remains in the nominative/accusative singular form for neuter nouns.
Roditelji su ponosni na svoje ___ (dete).
The preposition 'na' (on/at) with the verb 'ponosni' (proud) takes the instrumental case. 'Detetom' is the instrumental singular form.
Knjiga je namenjena ___ (dete) predškolskog uzrasta.
The phrase 'namenjena' (intended for) takes the dative case. 'Detetu' is the dative singular form.
On je pričao o ___ (dete) koje je upoznao.
The preposition 'o' (about) takes the locative case. 'Detetu' is the locative singular form.
Nema nijednog ___ (dete) u sobi.
The phrase 'nema nijednog' (there isn't a single) requires the genitive case. 'Deteta' is the genitive singular form.
You are writing an article about the future of education in Serbia. Discuss how different educational approaches can benefit children (dete) from diverse backgrounds. Consider early childhood development, inclusive education, and preparing children for the modern world.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Budućnost obrazovanja u Srbiji mora da se fokusira na inkluzivne pristupe koji će osigurati da svako dete, bez obzira na poreklo, ima jednake šanse. Rano detinjstvo je ključno za razvoj i zato je važno ulagati u programe koji podstiču kognitivne i socijalne veštine. Kroz inovativne metode učenja, možemo bolje pripremiti našu decu za izazove modernog sveta i osigurati im svetliju budućnost.
Write a formal letter to a local government official advocating for better public services for children (dete) in your community. Highlight specific areas that need improvement, such as playgrounds, healthcare, or educational facilities.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Poštovani/a, pišem Vam kako bih izneo/la zabrinutost u vezi sa javnim uslugama za decu u našoj zajednici. Nedostaju nam adekvatna igrališta i pristup kvalitetnoj zdravstvenoj zaštiti za svako dete. Takođe, smatramo da je neophodno poboljšati obrazovne ustanove kako bi se obezbedilo optimalno okruženje za učenje i razvoj naše dece. Nadamo se Vašoj podršci u rešavanju ovih važnih pitanja.
Imagine you are a social worker presenting a case study on a child (dete) facing significant challenges. Describe the child's situation, the contributing factors, and potential strategies for intervention and support.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Predmet ovog izveštaja je dete (ime izostavljeno radi zaštite privatnosti) koje se suočava sa značajnim izazovima u porodičnom okruženju. Faktori koji doprinose ovoj situaciji uključuju socio-ekonomske poteškoće i nedostatak adekvatne podrške. Predložene strategije intervencije obuhvataju psihološko savetovanje, pomoć pri obrazovanju i aktivno uključivanje u programe socijalne podrške kako bi se osiguralo dete ima svetliju budućnost.
Prema tekstu, šta je ključno za dobrobit i razvoj najmlađih?
Read this passage:
U savremenom društvu, zaštita prava svakog deteta (dete) je od izuzetne važnosti. Konvencija Ujedinjenih nacija o pravima deteta postavlja standarde koje vlade moraju da poštuju kako bi osigurale dobrobit i razvoj najmlađih. Ipak, mnoge zemlje se i dalje suočavaju sa izazovima u implementaciji ovih prava, posebno u pogledu pristupa obrazovanju i zdravstvenoj zaštiti za svako dete. Neophodno je stalno raditi na podizanju svesti o ovim pitanjima.
Prema tekstu, šta je ključno za dobrobit i razvoj najmlađih?
Tekst eksplicitno navodi da Konvencija Ujedinjenih nacija o pravima deteta postavlja standarde koje vlade moraju da poštuju kako bi osigurale dobrobit i razvoj najmlađih.
Tekst eksplicitno navodi da Konvencija Ujedinjenih nacija o pravima deteta postavlja standarde koje vlade moraju da poštuju kako bi osigurale dobrobit i razvoj najmlađih.
Šta, prema psiholozima, doprinosi stvaranju stabilnog okruženja za dete?
Read this passage:
Psiholozi naglašavaju da je interakcija između roditelja i deteta (dete) ključna za formiranje ličnosti i emocionalni razvoj. Kvalitetno vreme provedeno zajedno, podrška i razumevanje, doprinose stvaranju stabilnog okruženja. Kada je dete okruženo ljubavlju i sigurnošću, ono lakše razvija samopouzdanje i sposobnost suočavanja sa životnim izazovima. Nedostatak takve interakcije može imati dugoročne posledice na mentalno zdravlje deteta.
Šta, prema psiholozima, doprinosi stvaranju stabilnog okruženja za dete?
Pasus navodi da "Kvalitetno vreme provedeno zajedno, podrška i razumevanje, doprinose stvaranju stabilnog okruženja."
Pasus navodi da "Kvalitetno vreme provedeno zajedno, podrška i razumevanje, doprinose stvaranju stabilnog okruženja."
Koji je glavni cilj globalne kampanje spomenute u tekstu?
Read this passage:
Globalna kampanja za obrazovanje svakog deteta (dete) ima za cilj da osigura pristup kvalitetnom obrazovanju za svu decu širom sveta. Ova inicijativa se bori protiv nejednakosti u obrazovanju, posebno u regionima pogođenim sukobima i siromaštvom. Kroz donacije i volonterski rad, nastoji se obezbediti da svako dete ima priliku za učenje i ostvarenje svog punog potencijala, jer obrazovanje je temelj za bolju budućnost.
Koji je glavni cilj globalne kampanje spomenute u tekstu?
Tekst jasno kaže: "Globalna kampanja za obrazovanje svakog deteta (dete) ima za cilj da osigura pristup kvalitetnom obrazovanju za svu decu širom sveta."
Tekst jasno kaže: "Globalna kampanja za obrazovanje svakog deteta (dete) ima za cilj da osigura pristup kvalitetnom obrazovanju za svu decu širom sveta."
/ 24 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Dete is the Serbian word for child, used for young people and sometimes affectionately for one's own children.
- Use 'dete' for 'child' in Serbian.
- It's a neuter noun, so it takes neuter endings.
- Can also mean 'kid' or 'offspring'.
Learn the gender
Nouns in Serbian have grammatical gender. 'Dete' is a neuter noun. This is important for agreements with adjectives and other words.
Plural form
The plural form of 'dete' (child) is 'deca' (children). Note that 'deca' is grammatically feminine singular, even though it refers to multiple children. This is an exception you'll need to remember.
Common phrases
Practice using 'dete' in simple phrases like 'Moje dete' (My child) or 'Malo dete' (A small child).
Diminutive form
A common diminutive for 'dete' is 'detence', meaning 'little child' or 'kiddo'. It expresses affection.
