When talking about rooms in Serbian, the word is soba. It's a feminine noun, so it will take feminine endings. For example, if you want to say 'my room', you would say 'moja soba'. If you're talking about multiple rooms, it becomes 'sobe'. This word is very common and useful for describing places like houses or apartments.
When talking about rooms in Serbian, remember that "soba" is a feminine noun. This means adjectives describing it will take feminine endings. For example, a big room is "velika soba."
If you're referring to a specific type of room, like a living room or bedroom, you often combine "soba" with another word. For instance, "dnevna soba" for living room (literally "day room") or "spavaća soba" for bedroom (literally "sleeping room").
When expressing location, you'll generally use the preposition "u" (in) followed by the locative case. So, "u sobi" means "in the room."
Remember that Serbian distinguishes between types of rooms more precisely than English sometimes does. For instance, a small, enclosed space for storage might be called "ostava" (pantry/storage room) rather than just a "small room."
§ What does 'soba' mean?
Alright, let's get straight to it. You want to learn Serbian, and that means starting with useful, everyday words. Today, we're looking at 'soba'. It's a fundamental word you'll use constantly.
- DEFINITION
- Room
Simple as that. 'Soba' means 'room'. Just like in English, it refers to any enclosed space within a building, usually with walls, a floor, and a ceiling. You'll hear this word from Belgrade to Novi Sad, in homes, hotels, and apartments.
§ When do people use 'soba'?
Serbian speakers use 'soba' in pretty much the same way English speakers use 'room'. Think about all the different types of rooms you have in your house:
- Bedroom
- Living room
- Dining room
- Bathroom (though there's a more specific word for this, 'soba' can still be used in a general sense, but it's not the primary term)
The word 'soba' is versatile. You'll use it when you're talking about:
- Your home: "Moja soba je velika." (My room is big.)
- Looking for accommodation: "Da li imate slobodnu sobu?" (Do you have a free room?)
- Describing a space: "Ovo je svetla soba." (This is a bright room.)
§ Examples of 'soba' in use
Let's look at some real-world examples. Pay attention to how 'soba' fits into the sentence. Don't worry about understanding every single word yet; focus on 'soba' and the overall meaning.
Imam lepu sobu u Beogradu.
Hint: I have a nice room in Belgrade.
Koliko soba imaš u stanu?
Hint: How many rooms do you have in the apartment?
Ovo je moja spavaća soba.
Hint: This is my bedroom. ('Spavaća' means 'sleeping' or 'for sleeping'.)
Tražim sobu sa pogledom na more.
Hint: I'm looking for a room with a sea view.
§ Common phrases with 'soba'
You'll often hear 'soba' combined with other words to specify the type of room. Here are a few essential ones:
- Spavaća soba: Bedroom (literally 'sleeping room')
- Dnevna soba: Living room (literally 'day room' or 'daily room')
- Dečija soba: Children's room
- Gostinska soba: Guest room
- Hotelska soba: Hotel room
Notice how the adjective comes before 'soba'. This is a common pattern in Serbian for describing nouns.
So, there you have it. 'Soba' is 'room'. It's a word you need, and now you know how to use it in basic contexts. Practice these examples, try to form your own, and you'll be one step closer to speaking Serbian like a local.
§ Don't Confuse 'Soba' with 'Prostorija'
Many beginners tend to use 'prostorija' when they really mean 'soba'. While both words refer to a space within a building, 'prostorija' is a more general term for 'space' or 'area', while 'soba' specifically means 'room'. Think of it this way: all 'soba' are 'prostorija', but not all 'prostorija' are 'soba'. For instance, a hallway is a 'prostorija', but it's not a 'soba'.
Moja spavaća soba je velika. (My bedroom is big.)
Ovo je veoma prostrana prostorija. (This is a very spacious area.)
§ Gender and Declension
'Soba' is a feminine noun. This means it will change its ending depending on its role in the sentence (its case). This is a common hurdle for English speakers, as English doesn't have grammatical gender or extensive case declension.
- DEFINITION
- Nominative: soba (the room)
- DEFINITION
- Genitive: sobe (of the room)
- DEFINITION
- Dative: sobi (to the room)
Uđite u sobu. (Enter the room.) - Accusative case here
Don't get too hung up on memorizing all the cases at once. The key is to recognize that 'soba' will change. Pay attention to context and listen to native speakers. Over time, it will become more natural.
§ Plural Forms
The plural of 'soba' is 'sobe'. This is straightforward for feminine nouns ending in '-a'. However, remember that the noun will still decline in the plural form as well. While at A1 level you might not encounter all plural cases often, it's good to be aware.
Koliko ima soba? (How many rooms are there?) - Genitive plural here.
Notice how 'soba' changes to 'soba' in the genitive plural. This is a common pattern for feminine nouns. Don't worry if it seems complex now; consistent exposure and practice will make it easier.
§ Common Collocations
Another common mistake is to translate word-for-word from English without considering natural Serbian collocations. Here are some correct ways to refer to specific types of rooms:
- DEFINITION
- Spavaća soba (Bedroom)
- DEFINITION
- Dnevna soba (Living room)
- DEFINITION
- Gostinska soba (Guest room)
You will almost always use 'spavaća soba' for a bedroom, not just 'soba' unless the context is absolutely clear. The same applies to 'dnevna soba' for a living room.
U mojoj dnevnoj sobi je udobna sofa. (There is a comfortable sofa in my living room.)
Exemples par niveau
Ovo je moja soba.
This is my room.
Possessive adjective 'moja' (my) agrees in gender and number with 'soba' (room).
Soba je velika.
The room is big.
Adjective 'velika' (big) agrees in gender and number with 'soba'.
Gde je tvoja soba?
Where is your room?
'Gde' means 'where'. 'Tvoja' (your) agrees with 'soba'.
Imam sobu.
I have a room.
Verb 'imati' (to have) followed by the noun in the accusative case.
Soba ima prozor.
The room has a window.
The subject 'soba' (room) is singular, so the verb 'ima' (has) is in the third person singular.
Nema sobe ovde.
There is no room here.
'Nema' means 'there is no'. 'Sobe' is in the genitive case after 'nema'.
Želim sobu.
I want a room.
Verb 'želeti' (to want) followed by the noun in the accusative case.
Soba je čista.
The room is clean.
Adjective 'čista' (clean) agrees in gender and number with 'soba'.
Modèles grammaticaux
Structures de phrases
Gde je moja {noun}?
Gde je moja soba? (Where is my room?)
Ovo je {pronoun} {noun}.
Ovo je moja soba. (This is my room.)
Da li je {pronoun} {noun} velika?
Da li je tvoja soba velika? (Is your room big?)
Moja {noun} je {adjective}.
Moja soba je čista. (My room is clean.)
On je u {noun}.
On je u sobi. (He is in the room.)
U {noun} je {noun}.
U sobi je sto. (In the room there is a table.)
Imam {number} {noun}.
Imam jednu sobu. (I have one room.)
Želim {adjective} {noun}.
Želim veliku sobu. (I want a big room.)
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsSoba means 'room' in Serbian. It's a very common word you'll use often.
It's pronounced like 'SO-bah'. The 'o' is like in 'go', and the 'a' is like in 'father'. Pay attention to the stress on the first syllable.
Soba is a feminine noun in Serbian. This is important because it affects how adjectives and other words change around it.
Sure!
'Moja soba je velika.' (My room is big.)
'Ovo je moja soba.' (This is my room.)
Yes, you can specify the type of room. For example:
'spavaća soba' (bedroom)
'dnevna soba' (living room)
'kupatilo' (bathroom - not 'soba')
Since 'soba' is feminine, you'd say 'moja soba'. If it were masculine, it would be 'moj'. This is basic Serbian gender agreement.
Serbian doesn't have indefinite articles like 'a' or 'an'. You just say 'soba'. The context tells you if it's 'a room' or 'the room'.
The plural of soba is 'sobe'.
Example: 'Imamo tri sobe.' (We have three rooms.)
Not really common idioms directly using 'soba' that would be useful at A1 level. Just remember it's for 'room'.
You would say: 'Gde je soba?' (Where is the room?) 'Gde' means 'where' and 'je' means 'is'.
Teste-toi 48 questions
This is my room.
The room is big.
There is a table in the room.
Read this aloud:
Moja soba je svetla.
Focus: soba
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
Koliko soba imaš?
Focus: koliko
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
Volim svoju sobu.
Focus: svoju
Tu as dit :
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Moja ___ je velika i svetla. (My room is big and bright.)
The sentence describes 'my room' as big and bright. 'Soba' means room.
Imam televizor u svojoj ___. (I have a TV in my room.)
The context implies having a TV in a personal living space. 'Sobi' is the locative case of 'soba' (room).
Deca se igraju u dečijoj ___. (The children are playing in the children's room.)
Children usually play in a 'room'. 'Sobi' is the locative case of 'soba'.
Želim da preuredim svoju ___ ove godine. (I want to redecorate my room this year.)
You redecorate a 'room'. 'Sobu' is the accusative case of 'soba'.
Svaki gost ima svoju privatnu ___. (Every guest has their own private room.)
Guests typically have a private 'room'. 'Sobu' is the accusative case of 'soba'.
Gde je tvoja ___? (Where is your room?)
The question is asking about the location of 'your room'. 'Soba' means room.
This sentence translates to 'My room is big.' The order of words is crucial for correct meaning in Serbian.
This sentence means 'He sleeps in his room.' Remember to use 'u' for 'in' and 'svojoj' (his/her own) with 'sobi'.
This question asks, 'Do you have a room with a balcony?' 'Da li' is used to form yes/no questions.
This sentence means 'My room is big and bright.' The correct order is subject (Moja soba), verb (je), and then adjectives describing the room.
This sentence means 'I learn and work in my room.' The prepositional phrase 'U svojoj sobi' comes first, followed by the verbs 'učim i radim'.
This sentence means 'I want a new color for the walls of my room.' The structure is 'Želim (I want) + direct object (novu boju) + prepositional phrase (za zidove moje sobe).
Nakon dugog putovanja, konačno smo stigli u našu ____ hotelsku sobu.
The adjective needs to agree in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. 'Soba' is feminine, singular, and in the accusative case here (object of 'u'). Therefore, 'udobnu' is the correct form.
Preuređenje dečije sobe zahtevalo je mnogo truda, ali je rezultat ____.
Here, 'rezultat' is masculine, singular, and in the nominative case. The adjective 'izvanredan' correctly modifies it.
Uvek ostavljam ključeve od ____ sobe na stolu u hodniku.
The possessive adjective 'moje' (my) agrees with 'sobe' (room) in feminine gender, singular number, and genitive case, as it indicates possession ('of my room').
Zbog nedostatka prostora, dve devojke su morale da dele jednu ____.
The phrase 'jednu veliku sobu' (one large room) is in the accusative case because it's the direct object of the verb 'deleti' (to share). 'Veliku' is the correct feminine accusative singular form of 'velik'.
Kada sam ušao u sobu, primetio sam da je ____ svetla i prozračna.
'Soba' (room) is a feminine noun, so the feminine pronoun 'ona' (she/it) is used to refer to it.
Miris sveže pečenog hleba širio se iz ____ kuhinje u susednu sobu.
The preposition 'iz' (from) requires the genitive case. 'Kuhinje' is feminine, singular, genitive. Therefore, 'mirisne' (fragrant) is the correct adjectival form to agree with 'kuhinje'.
This sentence asks for directions to the meeting room. 'Možeš li da mi kažeš' means 'Can you tell me', 'gde je' means 'where is', and 'soba za sastanke' means 'meeting room'.
This sentence describes the location of a large wardrobe in the corner of the room. 'U uglu sobe' means 'In the corner of the room', 'nalazi se' means 'there is' or 'is located', and 'veliki ormar' means 'large wardrobe'.
This sentence expresses a desire to book a room with a sea view. 'Želeo bih da rezervišem' means 'I would like to book', 'sobu' is the accusative case of 'soba' (room), and 'sa pogledom na more' means 'with a sea view'.
Izaberite najprikladniji sinonim za reč "soba" u kontekstu hotelskog smeštaja.
Dok 'apartman' može biti vrsta sobe, a 'odaja' je arhaičniji izraz, 'prostorija' je najopštiji i najprikladniji sinonim koji se može koristiti za 'sobu' u različitim kontekstima, uključujući hotelski smeštaj, bez gubljenja specifičnog značenja.
U kojoj od sledećih rečenica reč "soba" ima preneseno značenje?
U ovoj rečenici 'soba' se koristi u prenesenom značenju 'prostora' ili 'manevarskog prostora', što je uobičajen idiomatski izraz.
Koja od sledećih opcija najbolje opisuje kolokvijalnu upotrebu reči "soba" u srpskom jeziku?
U kolokvijalnom govoru, 'soba' se često koristi kao opšti termin za bilo koju prostoriju u kući ili zgradi, ne samo spavaće sobe.
Reč "soba" se isključivo odnosi na stambene prostore.
Iako se 'soba' najčešće odnosi na stambene prostore, može se koristiti i u širem kontekstu, npr. 'konferencijska soba', 'radna soba' u kancelariji.
Izraz 'soba s pogledom' implicira da soba ima prozor koji gleda na nešto zanimljivo ili lepo.
Fraza 'soba s pogledom' uvek podrazumeva da soba nudi vizuelno privlačan pogled kroz prozor, bilo na prirodu, grad ili neku drugu atrakciju.
Kada se kaže 'soba za goste', to uvek znači da je reč o jednoj, specifičnoj sobi koja je trajno namenjena samo za goste.
'Soba za goste' može biti soba koja se koristi za goste kada su prisutni, ali to ne znači da je trajno i isključivo namenjena samo za tu svrhu. Često je to multifunkcionalna soba.
This sentence describes a very demanding room renovation project. 'Preuređenje' (renovation) is the subject, followed by 'sobe' (of the room). 'Je bilo' means 'was'. 'Izuzetno zahtevno' (extremely demanding) modifies 'projekat' (project).
This sentence emphasizes the excellent opportunities that a spacious room often provides. 'Prostranost' (spaciousness) is the subject, modified by 'velike sobe' (of a large room). 'Često' (often) is an adverb. 'Nudi' (offers) is the verb, followed by the object 'izvanredne mogućnosti' (excellent opportunities).
This sentence explains how the aesthetic design of a room reflects the owner's taste. 'Estetski dizajn' (aesthetic design) is the subject, modified by 'sobe' (of the room). 'Odražava' (reflects) is the verb. 'Vlasnikov ukus' (owner's taste) is the object.
/ 48 correct
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