Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use 'telefonirati' to describe the act of calling someone on the phone, specifically focusing on the process of communication.
- Means: To communicate via telephone with another person.
- Used in: Scheduling appointments, catching up with friends, or business inquiries.
- Don't confuse: Don't use the accusative case; it always requires the dative case (to someone).
내 수준에 맞는 설명:
뜻
Using a phone to talk to someone.
문화적 배경
Serbians often use the phrase 'Čujemo se' (We'll hear each other) as a standard goodbye, implying a future phone call. In Serbian business culture, 'telefonirati' is often preferred over email for urgent matters, as personal voice contact builds more trust. Younger Serbs might find 'telefonirati' a bit formal and prefer 'cimni me' (ping me) which refers to letting the phone ring once so the other person has the number. For the older generation, 'telefonirati' still carries the weight of a significant event, often involving sitting down and dedicating full attention to the call.
Master the Dative
Always keep a list of Dative pronouns (mi, ti, mu, joj, nam, vam, im) to use after this verb.
Don't over-use it
In very casual settings, 'zvati' is 5x more common. Use 'telefonirati' to sound more precise or professional.
Master the Dative
Always keep a list of Dative pronouns (mi, ti, mu, joj, nam, vam, im) to use after this verb.
Don't over-use it
In very casual settings, 'zvati' is 5x more common. Use 'telefonirati' to sound more precise or professional.
The 'Halo' rule
When you 'telefoniraš' someone, they will answer with 'Halo?'. You should respond with 'Ovde [Your Name]'.
Sports usage
If you play sports in Serbia, use this to describe a predictable opponent.
셀프 테스트
Fill in the correct form of the person being called (Dative case).
Ja telefoniram _______ (mama).
The verb 'telefonirati' always requires the Dative case. 'Mami' is the dative form of 'mama'.
Which sentence is correct?
Choose the most natural sentence:
You call 'to someone' (Dative), so 'Marku' is correct.
Complete the dialogue with the correct verb form.
A: Gde je tata? B: On _______ (telefonirati) u kancelariji.
The subject is 'tata' (he), so the verb must be in the 3rd person singular.
Match the verb to the situation.
You are in a library and your phone rings. You whisper to your friend:
'Telefonirati' is the appropriate verb for making a call.
🎉 점수: /4
시각 학습 자료
Grammar: Telefonirati vs Zvati
연습 문제 은행
5 연습 문제Ja telefoniram _______ (mama).
The verb 'telefonirati' always requires the Dative case. 'Mami' is the dative form of 'mama'.
Choose the most natural sentence:
You call 'to someone' (Dative), so 'Marku' is correct.
A: Gde je tata? B: On _______ (telefonirati) u kancelariji.
The subject is 'tata' (he), so the verb must be in the 3rd person singular.
You are in a library and your phone rings. You whisper to your friend:
'Telefonirati' is the appropriate verb for making a call.
🎉 점수: /5
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문Yes, it applies to landlines, mobile phones, and even VoIP calls like WhatsApp.
Yes, using 'sa' (with) + Instrumental is also correct and very common, implying a mutual conversation.
'Telefonirati' is the process (imperfective), 'nazvati' is the completed act (perfective).
It's generally accepted, but like everywhere, loud conversations in quiet places like buses or libraries are frowned upon.
You can say 'Na telefonu sam' or 'Upravo telefoniram'.
No, for the literal telegraph, we use 'telegrafisati'. 'Telefonirati' is only figurative for 'telegraphing' moves.
No, for texting use 'pisati poruku' or 'slati poruku'.
It's a bit long (5 syllables), so in fast speech, people prefer 'zvati'.
Usually, you don't mention the phone as an object, but if you do, it's 'preko telefona' (via phone).
Yes, 'cimnuti' is the most common slang related to calling.
관련 표현
zvati
synonymto call
nazvati
specialized formto make a call (perfective)
javiti se
builds onto answer or check in
prekinuti vezu
contrastto hang up
biti na vezi
similarto be on the line
어디서 쓸까?
At the office
Šef: Jesi li kontaktirao klijenta?
Zaposleni: Upravo mu telefoniram, javiću vam rezultate.
With a friend
Marko: Gde je Ana?
Jelena: Opet telefonira sa onim dečkom iz Italije.
At home
Dete: Mama, gladan sam!
Mama: Sačekaj, telefoniram baki o receptu.
Doctor's appointment
Pacijent: Pokušao sam da vam telefoniram jutros.
Sestra: Linije su bile zauzete, izvinite.
In a car
Suvozač: Pazi na put!
Vozač: Samo kratko telefoniram, ne brini.
Tech support
Korisnik: Moj internet ne radi.
Agent: Hvala što ste nam telefonirali, proverićemo vezu.
암기하기
기억법
Think of a 'TELEpathic' connection through a 'PHONE' (TELE-FON) that you 'RATE' (i-RATE) because the bill is high.
시각적 연상
Imagine an old-fashioned rotary phone with a long, curly cord that wraps around a person's neck like a scarf while they talk and drink coffee.
Rhyme
Kada želiš da se čuješ ti, moraš mami telefonirati!
Story
Panta Mihajlović brought the first phone to Belgrade. He sat in his office and wanted to tell his friend about it. He didn't just 'call' (zvati), he performed the modern act of 'telefonirati'. Now, every time you use your smartphone, you are following in Panta's footsteps.
In Other Languages
It is almost identical to German 'telefonieren', French 'téléphoner', and Italian 'telefonare'. If you know any Romance or Germanic language, you already know 90% of this word.
Word Web
챌린지
Try to say 'Moram da telefoniram...' followed by 5 different family members in the Dative case (mami, tati, bratu, sestri, baki).
Review this on day 1, 3, and 7. Focus specifically on the '-iram' ending and the Dative case.
발음
Five syllables, rhythmic flow.
격식 수준 스펙트럼
Telefoniram gospodinu direktoru. (Workplace communication)
Telefoniram direktoru. (Workplace communication)
Zovem direktora. (Workplace communication)
Okrećem direktora. (Workplace communication)
Derived from the Greek roots 'tele' (far) and 'phono' (voice), it entered Serbian via the German 'telefonieren'.
재미있는 사실
The first phone call in Serbia was made between a military building and a fire station, likely the most 'formal' use of the verb ever!
문화 노트
Serbians often use the phrase 'Čujemo se' (We'll hear each other) as a standard goodbye, implying a future phone call.
“Hvala na kafi, čujemo se!”
In Serbian business culture, 'telefonirati' is often preferred over email for urgent matters, as personal voice contact builds more trust.
“Bolje je da mu telefoniraš nego da pišeš mejl.”
Younger Serbs might find 'telefonirati' a bit formal and prefer 'cimni me' (ping me) which refers to letting the phone ring once so the other person has the number.
“Cimni me kad stigneš.”
For the older generation, 'telefonirati' still carries the weight of a significant event, often involving sitting down and dedicating full attention to the call.
“Baka telefonira, tišina u kući!”
대화 시작하기
Kome najčešće telefoniraš?
Da li više voliš da telefoniraš ili da šalješ poruke?
Da li si ikada morao da telefoniraš policiji?
자주 하는 실수
Telefoniram moju majku.
Telefoniram mojoj majci.
L1 Interference
Ja sam telefonirao poziv.
Ja sam obavio poziv.
L1 Interference
Telefoniram na tebe.
Telefoniram tebi.
L1 Interference
On telefonira ime.
On viče ime.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Telefonear / Llamar
Spanish uses 'a' (personal a) while Serbian uses the Dative case.
Téléphoner
Almost no difference in usage or structure.
Telefonieren
German uses 'mit' (with) for the person, while Serbian uses the Dative.
電話をかける (denwa o kakeru)
The verb 'kakeru' (to hang/apply) is very different from the Serbian root.
اتصل (ittasala)
Arabic requires the preposition 'bi' (with/by) after the verb.
打电话 (dǎ diànhuà)
The literal meaning 'hitting the phone' is unique to Sinitic languages.
전화하다 (jeonhwahada)
Serbian is a single inflected verb, while Korean is a compound.
Telefonar
Portuguese often uses 'ligar' (to connect) as the most common casual form.
Spotted in the Real World
“Halo, halo, zar se tako telefonira?”
A pop song about a girl waiting for a call.
“Pantiću, ne telefoniraj na službeni račun!”
The boss scolding an employee for using the office phone for private calls.
“Ja dok telefoniram baki 2 sata.”
A meme showing someone looking exhausted while holding a phone.
혼동하기 쉬운
Learners use 'telefonirati' for calling a name, or 'zvati' for everything.
Use 'telefonirati' only for phones; use 'zvati' for names AND phones.
Sometimes confused with 'calling in' an order.
'Poručiti' is to order; 'telefonirati' is the act of calling to do it.
자주 묻는 질문 (10)
Yes, it applies to landlines, mobile phones, and even VoIP calls like WhatsApp.
basic understandingYes, using 'sa' (with) + Instrumental is also correct and very common, implying a mutual conversation.
grammar mechanics'Telefonirati' is the process (imperfective), 'nazvati' is the completed act (perfective).
grammar mechanicsIt's generally accepted, but like everywhere, loud conversations in quiet places like buses or libraries are frowned upon.
cultural usageYou can say 'Na telefonu sam' or 'Upravo telefoniram'.
practical tipsNo, for the literal telegraph, we use 'telegrafisati'. 'Telefonirati' is only figurative for 'telegraphing' moves.
comparisonsNo, for texting use 'pisati poruku' or 'slati poruku'.
usage contextsIt's a bit long (5 syllables), so in fast speech, people prefer 'zvati'.
practical tipsUsually, you don't mention the phone as an object, but if you do, it's 'preko telefona' (via phone).
grammar mechanicsYes, 'cimnuti' is the most common slang related to calling.
cultural usage
