When talking about people and things, you can use the word star to mean 'old.' It's a common adjective that you'll hear a lot. For example, if you want to say 'old man,' you would say star čovek. If you're talking about an old house, you'd say stara kuća. Remember that like many Serbian adjectives, star changes its ending to match the gender and number of the noun it describes.
When talking about people, like someone's age, you can use star. For example, Moj deda je star means 'My grandpa is old'.
You can also use star when referring to things that are old, such as objects or buildings. For instance, Ovo je stara knjiga translates to 'This is an old book'.
It's important to remember that like many Serbian adjectives, star will change its ending to agree with the noun it describes in terms of gender, number, and case. So you might see forms like stara (feminine), staro (neuter), stari (plural masculine), etc.
For example, if you're talking about an old woman, you would say stara žena. If it's old shoes, you'd say stare cipele.
star 30 सेकंड में
- Not new; having lived or existed for a long time.
- Applicable to people, objects, and abstract concepts.
- A fundamental adjective for describing age.
§ Understanding "star"
Alright, let's talk about the Serbian word "star." It's an adjective that means "old." Simple enough, right? But like many words, it has nuances depending on how you use it. We'll break down how to use "star" in different situations, so you sound natural when speaking Serbian.
- DEFINITION
- The Serbian word "star" (pronounced STAR) is an adjective used to describe something as old. It changes its ending based on the gender and number of the noun it describes. This is very common in Serbian, so pay attention!
§ "Star" in everyday conversations
You'll hear "star" all the time when people talk about the age of things or people. It's one of those fundamental words you absolutely need to know. Let's look at some common scenarios:
- Describing people: When talking about someone's age.
- Describing objects: Cars, houses, clothes – anything that can get old.
- Describing concepts: Sometimes even ideas or traditions can be "old."
Moj deda je star čovek. (My grandfather is an old man.)
Ova kuća je veoma stara. (This house is very old.)
Imam staru knjigu. (I have an old book.)
Notice how "star" changed to "stara" and "staru"? That's the agreement we talked about. "Kuća" (house) is feminine, so it's "stara." "Knjiga" (book) is also feminine, and here it's in the accusative case (because you "have" it), so it becomes "staru." Don't get too hung up on cases right now, just observe the changes.
§ "Star" at work or school
In more formal settings, "star" is still common. You might use it to describe equipment, documents, or even policies.
Ovaj kompjuter je star i spor. (This computer is old and slow.)
Našli smo neke stare dokumente u arhivi. (We found some old documents in the archive.)
Here, "dokumenti" (documents) is masculine plural, so "star" becomes "stare" in the plural form when describing them.
§ "Star" in the news
When reading news or listening to reports, you'll see "star" used to describe anything from historical artifacts to the age of a person involved in a story.
Arheolozi su otkrili stari grad. (Archaeologists discovered an old city.)
Vest je o staroj tradiciji. (The news is about an old tradition.)
Again, observe the changes: "grad" (city) is masculine, so it's "stari." "Tradicija" (tradition) is feminine, and here in the locative case (about a tradition), it becomes "staroj."
§ Practice makes perfect
The best way to get comfortable with "star" and its forms is to practice. Try to describe things around you using different forms of "star." Is your phone old? Is your shirt old? Is your friend old (be careful with that one!)? The more you use it, the more natural it will feel.
§ Mistakes people make with 'star'
The Serbian word 'star' (old) seems straightforward, right? But like many words, it has nuances that can trip up English speakers. Let's look at the most common mistakes and how to avoid them.
§ Mistake 1: Using 'star' for people's age without context
In English, you can say "My car is old" and "My dad is old." In Serbian, 'star' works perfectly for objects. However, when talking about people, saying "On je star" (He is old) can sound a bit harsh or even disrespectful, implying frailty or being past their prime, especially if you're talking about someone still active and healthy. It's not always wrong, but there are better ways.
Moja majka ima šezdeset godina.
- Hint
- My mother is sixty years old.
If you do use 'star' for a person, ensure the context is clear and not potentially offensive. For example, talking about a 'starac' (old man) or 'starica' (old woman) in a general sense, or when discussing a truly elderly person.
§ Mistake 2: Forgetting gender and number agreement
'Star' is an adjective, and like all Serbian adjectives, it must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes. This is a fundamental rule, but it's easy to forget when you're just starting out.
- Masculine singular: star (stari, depending on definite/indefinite form, but for A1, 'star' is fine for now)
- Feminine singular: stara
- Neuter singular: staro
- Masculine plural: stari
- Feminine plural: stare
- Neuter plural: stara
To je stara kuća.
- Hint
- That is an old house (kuća is feminine).
Imam star auto.
- Hint
- I have an old car (auto is neuter, but here used as a loanword, often treated as masculine in some contexts or for 'car' specific cases, but its original gender is neuter; 'staro auto' is also correct and perhaps more technically consistent). For A1, stick to the most common usage.
Mistakes here won't necessarily make you unintelligible, but they will make your Serbian sound less natural.
§ Mistake 3: Overusing 'star' for everything old
While 'star' is the primary word for 'old', sometimes other words are more specific or natural depending on the context.
- For ancient/very old things: you might hear 'drevni' (ancient) or 'antički' (antique).
- For worn out/dilapidated things: 'istrošen' (worn out), 'dotrajao' (dilapidated).
- For old news/outdated information: 'zastar(e)o' (outdated/obsolete).
Ovo je zastarela informacija.
- Hint
- This is outdated information.
By being mindful of these common pitfalls, you'll use 'star' more accurately and effectively in your Serbian conversations. Remember, practice makes perfect!
स्तर के अनुसार उदाहरण
Ovo je moj stari auto.
This is my old car.
Moja baka je vrlo stara.
My grandmother is very old.
On je moj stari prijatelj.
He is my old friend.
Ona živi u staroj kući.
She lives in an old house.
Kupio sam stare farmerke.
I bought old jeans.
Ova knjiga je veoma stara.
This book is very old.
Imamo starog psa.
We have an old dog.
Video sam starog čoveka.
I saw an old man.
Moj deka je star, ali još uvek voli da šeta parkom.
My grandpa is old, but he still likes to walk in the park.
deka - grandpa (masculine noun), star - old (masculine adjective)
Ovo je veoma stara knjiga, možda čak iz devetnaestog veka.
This is a very old book, maybe even from the nineteenth century.
stara - old (feminine adjective), knjiga - book (feminine noun)
Kupili smo staru kuću koju planiramo da renoviramo.
We bought an old house that we plan to renovate.
staru - old (accusative feminine adjective), kuću - house (accusative feminine noun)
On ima starog psa koji spava skoro ceo dan.
He has an old dog who sleeps almost all day.
starog - old (accusative masculine adjective), psa - dog (accusative masculine noun)
U starom gradu ima mnogo prelepih zgrada.
There are many beautiful buildings in the old town.
starom - old (locative masculine adjective), gradu - town (locative masculine noun)
Sviđa mi se ova stara pesma, podseća me na detinjstvo.
I like this old song, it reminds me of my childhood.
stara - old (feminine adjective), pesma - song (feminine noun)
Nema ništa lepše od starog drvenog nameštaja.
There's nothing more beautiful than old wooden furniture.
starog - old (genitive masculine adjective), drvenog - wooden (genitive masculine adjective), nameštaja - furniture (genitive masculine noun)
Ova tradicija je vrlo stara i prenosi se generacijama.
This tradition is very old and has been passed down for generations.
stara - old (feminine adjective), tradicija - tradition (feminine noun)
Iako je automobil star, motor mu je i dalje u odličnom stanju.
Although the car is old, its engine is still in excellent condition.
Njegovo lice, izborano od godina i briga, pričalo je priču o dugom i ispunjenom životu, punom uspona i padova.
His face, wrinkled from years and worries, told a story of a long and fulfilling life, full of ups and downs.
Uprkos tome što je bila stara i krhka, baka je svakog jutra pešačila kilometar do pijace.
Despite being old and frail, grandmother walked a kilometer to the market every morning.
Nekada je ova zgrada bila grandiozna, ali sada je staro zdanje koje vapi za restauracijom.
Once this building was grandiose, but now it is an old edifice crying out for restoration.
On je moj stari prijatelj iz detinjstva, delimo bezbroj uspomena i tajni.
He is my old childhood friend; we share countless memories and secrets.
Stari Rimljani su ostavili za sobom impresivnu arhitekturu koja i danas svedoči o njihovoj moći.
The ancient Romans left behind impressive architecture that still testifies to their power today.
Iako je tehnologija napredovala, neki stari zanati se i dalje cene zbog svoje autentičnosti i kvaliteta.
Although technology has advanced, some old crafts are still valued for their authenticity and quality.
Sakupljam stare gramofonske ploče jer volim zvuk vinila i nostalgiju koju donosi.
I collect old vinyl records because I love the sound of vinyl and the nostalgia it brings.
सामान्य शब्द संयोजन
सामान्य वाक्यांश
Koliko si star?
How old are you?
Ja sam star.
I am old.
On je star.
He is old.
Ona je stara.
She is old.
To je staro.
That is old.
Ovo je vrlo staro.
This is very old.
Nisam tako star.
I am not that old.
Moj auto je star.
My car is old.
Gde je stari grad?
Where is the old town?
Volim stare knjige.
I like old books.
व्याकरण पैटर्न
वाक्य संरचनाएँ
Ja sam star.
Ja sam star. (I am old.)
Ti si star.
Ti si star. (You are old.)
On je star.
On je star. (He is old.)
Ona je stara.
Ona je stara. (She is old.)
Ono je staro.
Ono je staro. (It is old.)
Mi smo stari.
Mi smo stari. (We are old.)
Vi ste stari.
Vi ste stari. (You (plural/formal) are old.)
Oni su stari.
Oni su stari. (They are old.)
सुझाव
Basic Meaning of 'Star'
The most common meaning of star in Serbian is 'old,' referring to age. For example, star čovek means 'old man.'
Gender Agreement for 'Star'
Like many Serbian adjectives, star changes its ending to agree with the gender of the noun it describes. For a feminine noun, it becomes stara (e.g., stara žena - 'old woman'). For a neuter noun, it's staro (e.g., staro selo - 'old village').
Plural Forms of 'Star'
When describing multiple old things or people, star also changes for the plural. For masculine nouns, it's stari (e.g., stari automobili - 'old cars'). For feminine, it's stare (e.g., stare knjige - 'old books'). For neuter, it's stara (e.g., stara sela - 'old villages').
Using 'Star' for Objects
You can use star for both people and objects. For example, stara kuća means 'old house' and star auto means 'old car.' This is the same as in English.
Comparatives with 'Star'
To say 'older' in Serbian, you use stariji (masculine), starija (feminine), or starije (neuter). For example, On je stariji od mene means 'He is older than me.'
Superlatives with 'Star'
To say 'oldest,' you use najstariji (masculine), najstarija (feminine), or najstarije (neuter). For example, To je najstarija zgrada means 'That is the oldest building.'
Don't Confuse with 'Zreo'
While star means 'old' in terms of age, 'zreo' means 'ripe' or 'mature.' For fruit, you'd say zrelo voće ('ripe fruit'), not staro voće, unless you mean rotten.
Pronunciation of 'Star'
The 'a' in star is pronounced like the 'a' in 'car,' and the 'r' is a rolled 'r' sound. Make sure to practice this to sound more natural.
Common Phrase: 'Star koliko...'
To ask 'How old are you?' in Serbian, you say Koliko si star/stara? (masculine/feminine). The answer is usually Ja sam (broj) godina star/stara ('I am (number) years old').
Respect for Elders
In Serbian culture, there is a strong emphasis on respect for elders. Using star in a respectful context, like 'stariji čovek' (older man), is common and appreciated.
खुद को परखो 30 सवाल
Which word means 'old'?
'Star' means old. 'Nov' means new, 'veliki' means big, and 'mali' means small.
My car is old. How do you say 'old' in this sentence in Serbian?
The word 'star' is the correct translation for 'old' in Serbian.
Which of these words is the opposite of 'nov' (new)?
'Star' means old, which is the opposite of 'nov' (new). 'Lep' means beautiful, 'brz' means fast, and 'spor' means slow.
The word 'star' means 'new' in Serbian.
'Star' means 'old', not 'new'.
You can use 'star' to describe an old book.
'Star' is an adjective meaning 'old' and can be used to describe objects like books.
The Serbian word 'star' is pronounced similarly to the English word 'star'.
Yes, the pronunciation is quite similar, which can help with memorization.
This is an old house. Focus on 'stara'.
My car is old. Pay attention to 'star'.
We have an old dog. Listen for 'starog'.
Read this aloud:
Recite: Moja kuća je stara.
Focus: stara
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Recite: On je star.
Focus: star
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Recite: Imam staru knjigu.
Focus: staru
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Your elderly Serbian neighbor, wearing traditional clothes, tells you a story about how life in their village was 70 years ago. Describe the scene, their clothing, and summarize the story they told you, focusing on details that highlight the 'old' way of life.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Moja stara komšinica, obučena u tradicionalnu nošnju, ispričala mi je priču o životu u njenom selu pre sedamdeset godina. Nosila je vezanu maramu i dugu suknju. Govorila je o tome kako su se ljudi oslanjali na poljoprivredu, ručni rad i snažne porodične veze. Njen glas je bio pun nostalgije dok je opisivala stara vremena.
Imagine you are explaining to a friend why you prefer to buy 'starinski' (old-fashioned/vintage) items rather than new ones. Discuss the charm, durability, and any historical significance these older items might have. Use 'star' in various forms.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Volim starinske stvari jer imaju poseban šarm koji nove stvari nemaju. Na primer, moj stari drveni ormar je mnogo kvalitetniji od bilo kog novog. Svaki stari predmet nosi neku priču i ima istorijsku vrednost, što mi je mnogo zanimljivije.
You are writing a review for a play based on an 'old' Serbian folk tale. Describe the play's interpretation of the 'star' (old) elements of the tale and how it connects to a modern audience. Did it feel dated or timeless?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Predstava je odlično oživela staru srpsku narodnu priču. Iako je priča stara, njena interpretacija je bila toliko sveža da je delovala bezvremeno. Reditelj je uspeo da stare teme poveže sa savremenom publikom, što je zaista impresivno.
Koja je glavna ideja ovog teksta?
Read this passage:
U srcu Beograda, na Kalemegdanu, stoji stara tvrđava koja je vekovima svedočila burnoj istoriji. Mnogi su je osvajali, ali je ona uvek ostajala ponosna i neosvojiva. Danas, njeni stari zidovi pričaju priče o vitezovima i carstvima, privlačeći turiste iz celog sveta koji žele da osete duh prošlih vremena. Kroz svoje staro kamenje, tvrđava spaja prošlost i sadašnjost.
Koja je glavna ideja ovog teksta?
Tekst se fokusira na istorijsku ulogu Kalemegdanske tvrđave i njenu sposobnost da priča priče kroz vekove, koristeći izraz 'stara tvrđava' i 'stari zidovi' da naglasi njenu dugotrajnost i značaj.
Tekst se fokusira na istorijsku ulogu Kalemegdanske tvrđave i njenu sposobnost da priča priče kroz vekove, koristeći izraz 'stara tvrđava' i 'stari zidovi' da naglasi njenu dugotrajnost i značaj.
Šta je deda mislio o reci?
Read this passage:
Moj deda je bio stari ribar koji je celog života živeo pored reke. Svakog jutra, pre izlaska sunca, on bi se spremao i sa svojim starim štapom išao na obalu. Govorio je da reka ima svoje tajne i da samo stari ribari mogu da ih razumeju. Njegove ruke, iako stare i naborane, bile su spretne i snažne, pune iskustva. Uvek je poštovao reku i njene stanovnike.
Šta je deda mislio o reci?
Tekst jasno navodi da je deda govorio 'da reka ima svoje tajne i da samo stari ribari mogu da ih razumeju', naglašavajući njegovo dugogodišnje iskustvo i mudrost povezanu sa rekom.
Tekst jasno navodi da je deda govorio 'da reka ima svoje tajne i da samo stari ribari mogu da ih razumeju', naglašavajući njegovo dugogodišnje iskustvo i mudrost povezanu sa rekom.
Kako se opisuje seosko imanje?
Read this passage:
Bilo je to staro, napušteno seosko imanje, skriveno duboko u šumi. Drvena kuća je imala ispucale zidove i krivi krov, ali je i dalje odavala osećaj nekadašnje topline. Stara jabuka u dvorištu je i dalje rađala plodove, svedočeći o životu koji je nekada cvetao na tom mestu. Činilo se da je vreme stalo na tom starom imanju, ostavljajući tragove prošlosti na svakom koraku.
Kako se opisuje seosko imanje?
Tekst opisuje imanje kao 'staro, napušteno', ali naglašava da je 'odavala osećaj nekadašnje topline' i da je 'stara jabuka u dvorištu i dalje rađala plodove', ukazujući na prisustvo prošlog života.
Tekst opisuje imanje kao 'staro, napušteno', ali naglašava da je 'odavala osećaj nekadašnje topline' i da je 'stara jabuka u dvorištu i dalje rađala plodove', ukazujući na prisustvo prošlog života.
This sentence describes an older grandfather who is still energetic, emphasizing the contrast with 'star' (old).
This sentence illustrates the practical reason for replacing an old (stari) phone because it was too slow.
This sentence highlights the superlative 'najstarija' (oldest) in the context of a house in a city.
This phrase describes 'his old knowledge about the history of the region.' The adjective 'staro' (old) modifies the noun 'znanje' (knowledge).
This sentence translates to 'Her old way of thinking was an obstacle to innovation.' 'Stari' (old) modifies 'način razmišljanja' (way of thinking).
This means 'Despite its old appearance, the car was extremely reliable.' 'Starom' (old) modifies 'izgledu' (appearance) and is in the dative case.
/ 30 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Understand 'star' as the basic Serbian word for 'old', applicable in many contexts.
- Not new; having lived or existed for a long time.
- Applicable to people, objects, and abstract concepts.
- A fundamental adjective for describing age.
Basic Meaning of 'Star'
The most common meaning of star in Serbian is 'old,' referring to age. For example, star čovek means 'old man.'
Gender Agreement for 'Star'
Like many Serbian adjectives, star changes its ending to agree with the gender of the noun it describes. For a feminine noun, it becomes stara (e.g., stara žena - 'old woman'). For a neuter noun, it's staro (e.g., staro selo - 'old village').
Plural Forms of 'Star'
When describing multiple old things or people, star also changes for the plural. For masculine nouns, it's stari (e.g., stari automobili - 'old cars'). For feminine, it's stare (e.g., stare knjige - 'old books'). For neuter, it's stara (e.g., stara sela - 'old villages').
Using 'Star' for Objects
You can use star for both people and objects. For example, stara kuća means 'old house' and star auto means 'old car.' This is the same as in English.
