putovati

§ Don't confuse 'putovati' with 'ići' (to go)

Many English speakers, when learning Serbian, often use 'ići' (to go) interchangeably with 'putovati' (to travel). While 'ići' means to go, it's a more general verb for movement. 'Putovati' specifically implies traveling, often over a longer distance or with a more defined purpose of a journey.

Wrong usage

Ja idem u Srbiju svake godine.

§ Incorrect tense formation

Serbian verb tenses can be tricky. A common mistake is to incorrectly form past or future tenses with 'putovati'. Always pay attention to the auxiliary verb 'biti' (to be) and the correct form of the participle.

Wrong past tense

Mi smo putovao. (We traveled.)

§ Forgetting to use appropriate prepositions

When using 'putovati' to express traveling to a place, you need the correct preposition. This often involves 'u' (into/to) for countries and cities, or 'na' (on/to) for islands or events, followed by the correct case.

Wrong preposition

Putujem Beograd. (I travel Belgrade.)

§ Misunderstanding the aspect of the verb

Serbian verbs have aspects: perfective (completed action) and imperfective (ongoing or repeated action). 'Putovati' is an imperfective verb, meaning it describes an ongoing or repeated action of traveling. If you want to talk about a completed journey, you might need a different verb or context.

• Imperfective: Ona često putuje. (She often travels.) - ongoing/repeated

• Perfective (related concept): Ona je otputovala. (She traveled off/departed.) - completed

Example

Ne mogu da kažem 'Ja sam putovao Rim' to mean 'I have traveled to Rome' as a completed single trip without more context.

§ putovati: To travel

The Serbian verb 'putovati' (путовати) is your go-to word for 'to travel'. It's an imperfective verb, which means it describes an ongoing or repeated action. If you're talking about the act of traveling in general, or traveling somewhere regularly, this is the verb you'll use.

This translates to: "I love to travel." Simple and direct. You can use it when discussing your hobbies, future plans, or past experiences where the journey itself is the focus.

Meaning: "They often travel abroad." Here, 'često' (often) emphasizes the repeated nature of their travel.

§ Similar words and when to use them

While 'putovati' is your main word for 'to travel', Serbian has other verbs that are related but have slightly different nuances. Let's look at some of them:

ići / otići (to go)

These verbs are more general and mean 'to go'. While traveling implies going somewhere, 'ići'/'otići' don't carry the same sense of a journey or exploration. 'Ići' is imperfective (ongoing/repeated), and 'otići' is perfective (completed action of leaving/going). You would use these when the simple act of moving from one place to another is the focus, without the broader 'travel' connotation.

Translation: "I have to go home." This is a simple movement, not a journey.

putovati (to travel)

Use 'putovati' when you want to emphasize the act of making a journey, covering distance, or experiencing different places. It implies a more significant trip than just 'going' somewhere.

This means: "I want to travel the world." Here, the emphasis is on the extensive journey.

otputovati (to depart, to set off on a journey - perfective)

This is the perfective counterpart to 'putovati'. You use 'otputovati' when you are talking about the *completion* of the act of starting a journey, or the specific instance of departing. It's about the action of setting off.

Translation: "When will you depart/set off on your journey?" This asks about the specific point in time when the travel begins.

posetiti (to visit - perfective)

While traveling often involves visiting places, 'posetiti' specifically means 'to visit'. You would use this when the focus is on spending time at a particular location or with specific people, rather than the journey itself.

Meaning: "I want to visit Belgrade." The goal is the visit, not just the travel to get there.

§ Key Differences Summarized

• Putovati: General act of traveling, ongoing journeys, repeated travel.
• Ići/Otići: Simple movement 'to go', less emphasis on the journey aspect.
• Otputovati: To depart, to set off on a specific journey (perfective aspect).
• Posetiti: To visit a place or person.

Understanding these subtle differences will help you choose the correct verb and sound more natural when speaking Serbian. When in doubt, 'putovati' is usually a safe bet for talking about travel in a general sense.