A1 Collocation خنثی

Imati vremena

imati vremena

To have time

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use 'Imati vremena' to express availability or the lack thereof in daily Serbian life.

  • Means: To have time or to be free for an activity.
  • Used in: Making plans, declining invitations, or discussing busy schedules.
  • Don't confuse: 'Vreme' (time) with 'Sat' (clock/hour) when asking for availability.
👤 + ⏳ = ✅ (Available) / 👤 + ⏳ = ❌ (Busy)

Explanation at your level:

At this level, you just need to know how to say 'I have time' or 'I don't have time.' It is used for simple plans. You use 'imam vremena' for 'yes' and 'nemam vremena' for 'no.' It is very easy because it works like English.
You can now add details. You use 'za' to say what you have time for, like 'za kafu' or 'za bioskop.' You also learn to use it in the past tense ('imao sam vremena') to explain why you did or didn't do something yesterday.
At the intermediate level, you use the phrase to negotiate. You might say 'Naći ću vremena' (I will find time) to show you are busy but helpful. You understand that 'vremena' is the genitive case and can use it correctly with other quantifiers like 'malo' (a little) or 'dosta' (enough/a lot).
You use the phrase in more complex structures, such as conditional sentences: 'Da sam imao vremena, došao bih' (If I had had time, I would have come). You also start to recognize the nuance between 'imati vremena' and 'raspolagati vremenom' in professional environments.
You can analyze the phrase's role in Serbian discourse. You use it idiomatically to comment on social trends, such as the 'lack of time' in modern society. You can use it sarcastically or in literary contexts to discuss the passage of time and existential availability.
You master the cognitive linguistics behind the phrase, understanding how the Slavic conceptualization of 'vreme' (time/weather) influences the speaker's perception of availability. You can use the phrase in high-level diplomatic or philosophical debates about 'vreme' as a resource versus 'vreme' as an experience.

معنی

Being free to do something.

🌍

زمینه فرهنگی

In Serbia, 'imati vremena' is a prerequisite for friendship. If you don't have time for a 2-hour coffee, you are seen as 'u gužvi' (in a crowd/busy), which is a state people try to avoid. Even in business, meetings often start with small talk to show that the parties 'have time' for each other as humans, not just as business entities. The phrase is deeply tied to 'polako' (slowly). Saying you have time is a way of rejecting the stress of modern life. In rural areas, 'imati vremena' often refers to the seasons and agricultural tasks, whereas in Belgrade, it's about traffic and office hours.

🎯

The 'Nemam' Rule

Never say 'ne imam'. It is the most obvious sign of a beginner. Always use 'nemam'.

💬

The Soft No

If a Serbian says 'Videću da li imam vremena', it's often a polite 'maybe' or a soft 'no'.

معنی

Being free to do something.

🎯

The 'Nemam' Rule

Never say 'ne imam'. It is the most obvious sign of a beginner. Always use 'nemam'.

💬

The Soft No

If a Serbian says 'Videću da li imam vremena', it's often a polite 'maybe' or a soft 'no'.

⚠️

Vreme vs Sat

Remember: Vreme is the concept, Sat is the tool/hour. Don't mix them up!

خودت رو بسنج

Fill in the correct form of 'imati' (negative or positive).

Izvini, ja ______ vremena danas, veoma sam zauzet.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: nemam

The context 'veoma sam zauzet' (I am very busy) requires the negative form 'nemam'.

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

Select the correct way to ask a friend for coffee.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: Da li imaš vremena za kafu?

The noun must be in the genitive 'vremena' and the verb must be 'imati'.

Match the Serbian phrase with its English meaning.

Match the following:

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: Imam vremena - I have time; Nemam vremena - I don't have time; Naći ću vremena - I will find time; Gubim vreme - I am wasting time

These are the four most common variations of the phrase.

Complete the dialogue.

A: Hoćeš li u bioskop? B: Rado, ali stvarno ______ (I don't have) vremena.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: nemam

The phrase 'nemam vremena' is the standard way to decline an invitation due to a busy schedule.

🎉 امتیاز: /4

ابزارهای بصری یادگیری

Positive vs Negative

Imam Vremena
Slobodan sam I am free
Nemam Vremena
Zauzet sam I am busy

سوالات متداول

10 سوال

Technically no. In Serbian, we use the genitive 'vremena' because you have 'some' of the time, not the entire concept of time.

You can say 'Nemam vremena' or 'Zauzet sam' (I am occupied).

It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.

No, it also means 'weather'. But in this phrase, it always means 'time'.

Use 'Imaš li minut?' or 'Imaš li trenutak?'.

Imao sam vremena (masculine) or Imala sam vremena (feminine).

Yes, 'Imam vremena do pet sati' (I have time until 5 o'clock).

It can be if said too quickly. Add 'izvini' (sorry) to make it softer.

There isn't a direct slang word for 'time', but 'bleja' is used for free time to hang out.

Use 'Stvoriću vreme' (I will create time) or 'Naći ću vremena'.

عبارات مرتبط

🔗

Naći vremena

similar

To find time

🔗

Gubiti vreme

contrast

To waste time

🔗

Slobodno vreme

builds on

Free time

🔗

Uštedeti vreme

similar

To save time

🔗

Isteklo je vreme

contrast

Time is up

کجا استفاده کنیم

☕

Inviting a friend for coffee

Marko: Ćao, imaš li vremena za kafu?

Jelena: Imam, vidimo se u pet!

informal
💼

At the office

Šef: Imate li vremena za kratak razgovor?

Zaposleni: Naravno, izvolite.

formal
📞

Declining a salesperson

Prodavac: Dobar dan, nudimo vam novu uslugu...

Građanin: Izvinite, nemam vremena.

neutral
🚌

Catching a bus

Putnik 1: Brže! Autobus kreće!

Putnik 2: Ne brini, imamo još vremena.

neutral
❤️

Dating

Dečko: Želim da te vidim opet.

Devojka: Naći ću vremena za tebe sledeće nedelje.

informal
⌚

Asking for the time (Common Mistake context)

Prolaznik: Izvinite, da li imate vremena?

Osoba: Imam, zašto pitate? (Confused)

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Imam' as 'I am' holding a 'Vreme' (clock). If you 'Imam Vremena', you 'Am holding time'.

Visual Association

Imagine a giant hourglass that you are holding in your hands. If the sand is flowing, you 'Imam' (have) it. If it's empty, you 'Nemam' (don't have) it.

Rhyme

Imam vremena, nema problema! (I have time, no problem!)

Story

Marko wants to drink coffee. He calls Ana and asks 'Imaš li vremena?'. Ana looks at her watch and sees she is free. She says 'Imam vremena!'. They meet at the kafana and talk for hours because in Serbia, everyone 'ima vremena' for friends.

Word Web

VremeSatMinutSlobodnoKafaSastanakŽurbaPolako

چالش

Try to ask three different people 'Da li imaš vremena za kafu?' today, even if it's just in your head or via text.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Tener tiempo

Spanish uses 'tener' for many states where Serbian uses 'imati', but Serbian requires the genitive case 'vremena'.

French high

Avoir le temps

French uses the definite article 'le', while Serbian uses the genitive case without an article.

German high

Zeit haben

German word order changes in questions (Hast du Zeit?), whereas Serbian often uses 'Da li'.

Japanese moderate

時間がある (Jikan ga aru)

The subject is 'time' in Japanese, whereas the subject is 'I' in Serbian.

Arabic partial

لديه وقت (Ladaiya waqt)

Serbian uses a direct verb 'imati', while Arabic uses a locative structure.

Chinese high

有时间 (Yǒu shíjiān)

Chinese has no case markings or conjugations, unlike Serbian's genitive 'vremena'.

Korean moderate

시간이 있다 (Sigani itda)

Serbian focuses on the person 'having', Korean focuses on the time 'existing'.

Portuguese high

Ter tempo

In Brazilian Portuguese, 'ter' is also used for 'there is', similar to how Serbian 'ima' can mean 'there is'.

Easily Confused

Imati vremena در مقابل Koliko je sati?

Learners use 'Da li imaš vremena?' to ask for the clock time.

Use 'sati' for the clock and 'vremena' for availability.

Imati vremena در مقابل Biti slobodan

Both mean 'to be free'.

'Biti slobodan' can also mean 'to be single' or 'to be at liberty'. 'Imati vremena' is safer for schedules.

سوالات متداول (10)

Technically no. In Serbian, we use the genitive 'vremena' because you have 'some' of the time, not the entire concept of time.

You can say 'Nemam vremena' or 'Zauzet sam' (I am occupied).

It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.

No, it also means 'weather'. But in this phrase, it always means 'time'.

Use 'Imaš li minut?' or 'Imaš li trenutak?'.

Imao sam vremena (masculine) or Imala sam vremena (feminine).

Yes, 'Imam vremena do pet sati' (I have time until 5 o'clock).

It can be if said too quickly. Add 'izvini' (sorry) to make it softer.

There isn't a direct slang word for 'time', but 'bleja' is used for free time to hang out.

Use 'Stvoriću vreme' (I will create time) or 'Naći ću vremena'.

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