Alright, let's talk about the Serbian word 'slobodan'. This isn't just about being 'free' like a bird. In everyday Serbian, 'slobodan' pops up in a bunch of situations, especially when you're talking about availability, time, or even a seat on the bus. It’s a super practical word, so pay attention to these common uses.
§ At Work
When you're at work, 'slobodan' often means 'available' or 'vacant'. Think about project teams, meeting rooms, or even someone's schedule.
- DEFINITION
- Available for a task or meeting.
Da li je Marko slobodan za sastanak u 3 sata?
Translation hint: Is Marko free/available for a meeting at 3 o'clock?
- DEFINITION
- A room or office is not occupied.
Ova kancelarija je slobodna.
Translation hint: This office is free/vacant.
§ At School
In a school setting, 'slobodan' often comes up when talking about free time, available seats, or even a vacant teacher position.
- DEFINITION
- Having no classes or obligations, free time.
Danas popodne sam slobodan.
Translation hint: I am free this afternoon.
- DEFINITION
- An available seat in a classroom.
Ima li slobodnih mesta?
Translation hint: Are there any free/vacant seats?
§ In the News
When you hear 'slobodan' in the news, it often refers to 'freedom' in a broader sense – like political freedom or independence. It can also refer to vacant positions or spaces being reported.
- DEFINITION
- Political freedom or independence.
Narod se borio za slobodan život.
Translation hint: The people fought for a free life.
- DEFINITION
- A job opening or vacant position.
Objavljen je konkurs za slobodno radno mesto.
Translation hint: A competition has been announced for a vacant job position.
§ Everyday Conversations
This is where 'slobodan' is probably most useful for you. You'll hear it constantly when people are checking availability, asking if a seat is taken, or talking about their day off.
- Asking about availability: When you want to know if someone is free to talk or do something.
- Finding a seat: On public transport, in a cafe, or at a restaurant.
- Talking about days off: If you're discussing your weekend or holiday.
Jesi li slobodan večeras?
Translation hint: Are you free tonight?
Izvinite, je li ovo mesto slobodno?
Translation hint: Excuse me, is this seat free/vacant?
Imam slobodan dan u petak.
Translation hint: I have a free day on Friday.
See? 'Slobodan' is everywhere. Start listening for it and try to use it yourself. It's one of those basic words that will make you sound much more natural in Serbian.
Grammaire à connaître
The adjective 'slobodan' changes its ending to agree with the gender and number of the noun it describes. For masculine singular nouns, it's 'slobodan'.
Ja sam slobodan. (I am free.)
For feminine singular nouns, the ending changes to '-na', making it 'slobodna'.
Ona je slobodna. (She is free.)
For neuter singular nouns, the ending changes to '-no', making it 'slobodno'.
Mesto je slobodno. (The seat is vacant/free.)
For plural nouns of any gender, the ending changes to '-ni' for masculine, '-ne' for feminine, and '-na' for neuter. However, 'slobodan' typically takes 'slobodni' for masculine plural.
Slobodni ljudi. (Free people.)
When 'slobodan' is used as a predicate adjective (after a form of 'biti' - to be), it still agrees in gender and number with the subject.
Jesi li slobodan sutra? (Are you free tomorrow? - masculine singular)
Exemples par niveau
Ja sam slobodan.
I am free (male speaker).
Ti si slobodna.
You are free (female speaker).
On je slobodan.
He is free.
Ona je slobodna.
She is free.
To mesto je slobodno.
That seat/place is free/vacant.
Imam slobodan dan.
I have a free day.
Da li je soba slobodna?
Is the room free/available?
Oni su slobodni.
They are free (masculine plural or mixed group).
Souvent confondu avec
This phrase means 'at liberty' or 'free' in the sense of being released from custody, which is a specific use of 'sloboda' (freedom), the noun form of 'slobodan'.
This means 'free time' or 'leisure time'. It uses 'slobodno', the neuter form of 'slobodan'.
This translates to 'free day' or 'day off'. It uses 'slobodni', the masculine plural form of 'slobodan'.
Facile à confondre
'Besplatan' also means 'free' but in the sense of 'free of charge'. It's often confused with 'slobodan' because both translate to 'free' in English.
'Slobodan' means free (not occupied, not constrained), while 'besplatan' means free (no cost).
Ova voda je besplatna. (This water is free.)
This means 'relaxed' or 'laid-back'. While a 'slobodan' person might be relaxed, the words are not interchangeable.
'Slobodan' refers to a state of being unrestrained or available. 'Opušten' describes a state of mind or body.
Bio je vrlo opušten na odmoru. (He was very relaxed on vacation.)
Meaning 'independent', this can be confused with 'slobodan' in contexts where 'free' implies independence. However, 'slobodan' is broader.
'Slobodan' can describe availability (e.g., a free table), while 'nezavisan' strictly refers to political or personal autonomy.
Srbija je nezavisna država. (Serbia is an independent country.)
When 'slobodan' means 'vacant' or 'empty' (like a seat), it can be confused with 'prazan' which means 'empty'.
'Slobodan' implies something is available or unoccupied. 'Prazan' means something has nothing inside or on it.
Čaša je prazna. (The glass is empty.)
In the context of marital status, 'slobodan' can mean 'single' or 'free'. 'Razveden' means 'divorced'. This can lead to confusion if one assumes 'slobodan' always means single.
'Slobodan' is a general term for not being in a relationship (single). 'Razveden' is a specific marital status.
On je razveden. (He is divorced.)
Teste-toi 30 questions
Ja sam ___ čovek.
Since 'čovek' (man) is masculine, the masculine form 'slobodan' is used.
Ona je ___ devojka.
Since 'devojka' (girl) is feminine, the feminine form 'slobodna' is used.
Mesto je sada ___.
Since 'mesto' (place) is neuter, the neuter form 'slobodno' is used.
Da li je ova soba ___?
'Soba' (room) is feminine, so we use 'slobodna'.
Imam ___ vreme danas.
'Vreme' (time) is neuter, so we use 'slobodno'.
On je ___.
'On' (he) is masculine, so we use 'slobodan'.
Da li je ovo sedište ___?
Sedište is neuter, so the adjective must also be in the neuter form 'slobodno'.
Imam ___ vreme sutra.
Vreme (time) is a neuter noun, so 'slobodno' is the correct form.
On je sada ___.
On (he) is masculine, so 'slobodan' is the correct masculine form.
Jesi li ___ večeras?
The question is directed at 'ti' (you, singular masculine), so 'slobodan' is appropriate.
Soba je ___ za iznajmljivanje.
Soba (room) is a feminine noun, so 'slobodna' is the correct feminine form.
Oni su ___ ljudi.
Ljudi (people) is plural, so 'slobodni' is the correct plural form.
This translates to 'Is this table free?' or 'Is this table available?' in English. The word order 'Da li' is common for forming questions, followed by the verb 'je' (is) and then the adjective 'slobodan' (free/available) describing the noun 'sto' (table).
This means 'I have a free day tomorrow.' 'Imam' is 'I have', 'slobodan' is 'free', 'dan' is 'day', and 'sutra' is 'tomorrow'. The adjective 'slobodan' comes before the noun 'dan' it describes.
This translates to 'He is free to do what he wants.' 'On je' is 'He is', 'slobodan' is 'free', 'da radi' is 'to do', and 'šta želi' is 'what he wants'.
Choose the best synonym for 'slobodan' in the context of being unrestricted by rules.
'Nezavisan' means independent, which aligns with being unrestricted. 'Zarobljen' means captured, 'zauzet' means busy, and 'ograničen' means limited.
Which of the following phrases uses 'slobodan' to describe available time?
'Slobodan dan' translates to 'free day' or 'day off,' indicating available time. 'Slobodan ulaz' is free entry, 'slobodan izbor' is free choice, and 'slobodan pad' is free fall.
In the sentence 'Ona je slobodna da radi šta želi.', what does 'slobodna' imply?
In this context, 'slobodna' means she has the freedom or liberty to act as she wishes. While it can mean unemployed or single, the full sentence clarifies the meaning here.
The sentence 'Svi građani su slobodni da izraze svoje mišljenje.' means 'All citizens are free to express their opinion.'
The translation is accurate. 'Slobodni' here refers to the freedom of speech or expression.
If a parking spot is 'slobodan', it means it is occupied.
If a parking spot is 'slobodan' (vacant), it means it is not occupied, but available.
When someone says 'Slobodno izvolite!', they are inviting you to take something or proceed without hesitation.
'Slobodno izvolite!' is a common expression meaning 'Feel free to help yourself!' or 'Please, go ahead!', implying no restrictions.
The speaker is talking about a feeling of being restricted despite having everything.
The sentence discusses a struggle for open access to something important.
This sentence refers to a long-standing philosophical debate.
Read this aloud:
Kako biste opisali paradoks slobode u savremenom društvu?
Focus: paradoks, slobode, savremenom, društvu
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
Smatrate li da je slobodan pad uvek metafora za nešto negativno ili može imati i pozitivne konotacije?
Focus: slobodan, pad, metafora, negativno, pozitivne, konotacije
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
Šta za vas znači živeti slobodnim životom, oslobođenim od predrasuda i nametnutih normi?
Focus: živeti, slobodnim, životom, oslobođenim, predrasuda, nametnutih, normi
Tu as dit :
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/ 30 correct
Perfect score!
