Stara knjiga
stara knjiga
Old book
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use 'stara knjiga' to describe any book that isn't new, from a dusty attic find to a medieval manuscript.
- Means: A book that is physically old or was written long ago.
- Used in: Libraries, second-hand shops, or when discussing history and literature.
- Don't confuse: 'Stara' (old) with 'bivša' (former) — books don't have ex-lives!
Explanation at your level:
뜻
A book that was published long ago.
문화적 배경
The 'Miroslavljevo Jevanđelje' is the most famous 'stara knjiga' in Serbia, written in the 12th century. It is kept in the National Museum in Belgrade. Second-hand book stalls are common in city centers like Knez Mihailova in Belgrade, where 'stare knjige' are sold by street vendors. Old liturgical books are often passed down through generations in Serbian families as sacred heirlooms. The Matica Srpska library in Novi Sad is the oldest cultural-scientific institution of the Serbian people, housing thousands of 'stare knjige'.
Gender Check
Always check the ending of the adjective. Since 'knjiga' ends in 'a', 'stara' must also end in 'a'.
Case Changes
Don't forget that 'knjiga' becomes 'knjizi' in Dative and Locative cases. It's a common mistake!
뜻
A book that was published long ago.
Gender Check
Always check the ending of the adjective. Since 'knjiga' ends in 'a', 'stara' must also end in 'a'.
Case Changes
Don't forget that 'knjiga' becomes 'knjizi' in Dative and Locative cases. It's a common mistake!
Antique Hunting
If you want to sound like a local collector, use the word 'antikvarna' instead of 'stara'.
Respect the Book
In Serbia, giving an old, rare book as a gift is a sign of high respect and intellectual connection.
셀프 테스트
Fill in the correct form of the adjective 'star'.
Ovo je ______ knjiga. (This is an old book.)
Since 'knjiga' is feminine and in the nominative case, we use 'stara'.
Choose the correct translation for 'I am reading an old book'.
Čitam...
The object of the verb 'čitati' must be in the accusative case: 'staru knjigu'.
Match the Serbian phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
This tests your knowledge of case endings.
Complete the dialogue at the bookstore.
Kupac: Dobar dan, imate li ______ o istoriji? Prodavac: Da, imamo jednu iz 1950. godine.
The context of 'history' and '1950' implies an old book.
🎉 점수: /4
시각 학습 자료
Stara vs Polovna
Where to find 'stare knjige'
Places
- • Biblioteka
- • Antikvarnica
- • Tavan
- • Buvljak
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문Usually, yes. It refers to the physical book. However, it can metaphorically refer to an old story or a predictable person.
There is no set rule. It could be 20 years old or 500 years old. If it looks or feels old, it's 'stara'.
No, that is grammatically incorrect because 'knjiga' is feminine.
The plural is 'stare knjige'.
It is 'staroj knjizi' due to a grammar rule called sibilarization.
'Stara' means old in age; 'polovna' means second-hand (used by someone else).
Usually no, unless you are referring to the date it was published (e.g., an old edition of an e-book).
You say 'Volim stare knjige'.
It is neutral. It can be used in both formal and informal settings.
It is a shop that specifically sells 'stare i retke knjige' (old and rare books).
관련 표현
polovna knjiga
similarused book
antikvarna knjiga
specialized formantique book
drevna knjiga
specialized formancient book
nova knjiga
contrastnew book
pročitana knjiga
similara read book
어디서 쓸까?
At a flea market
Buyer: Koliko košta ova stara knjiga?
Seller: Samo dvesta dinara, gospodine.
In a library
Student: Tražim jednu staru knjigu iz 1920. godine.
Librarian: Pogledajte u odeljku za retka izdanja.
Cleaning the attic
Child: Mama, vidi! Našao sam staru knjigu!
Mother: To je bila knjiga tvoje bake.
In a bookstore
Customer: Da li prodajete i stare knjige?
Staff: Ne, mi imamo samo nova izdanja.
Gift giving
Friend A: Srećan rođendan! Ovo je jedna stara knjiga koju voliš.
Friend B: Hvala ti! Obožavam stare knjige!
Online shopping
User: Prodajem staru knjigu, očuvana, cena po dogovoru.
Buyer: Može li slika unutrašnjih strana?
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a 'Star' (stara) shining on a 'King' (knjiga) reading a book.
Visual Association
Imagine a dusty, heavy book with a golden 'Star' on the cover sitting in a library.
Rhyme
Stara knjiga, velika briga (Old book, big worry - if you lose it!)
Story
Once there was a 'Star' who wanted to learn. She found a 'Knjiga' in the attic. Now, every 'Stara Knjiga' holds the light of that star.
Word Web
챌린지
Go to a local second-hand bookstore and ask the clerk: 'Imate li neku staru knjigu o istoriji?'
In Other Languages
libro viejo
Word order (Adjective-Noun in Serbian vs Noun-Adjective in Spanish).
vieux livre
Serbian has 7 cases; French has none.
altes Buch
Noun gender (Neuter in German vs Feminine in Serbian).
古い本 (furui hon)
Lack of grammatical gender and cases in Japanese.
كتاب قديم (kitab qadim)
Adjective follows the noun in Arabic.
旧书 (jiùshū)
Chinese is isolating; Serbian is highly inflected.
오래된 책 (oraedoen chaek)
Verbal adjective structure in Korean.
livro velho
Word order and phonology.
Easily Confused
Learners might use 'stari papir' to mean an old book.
Stari papir usually refers to waste paper for recycling.
Using 'bivša' (former) for an old object.
Bivša is for roles or relationships (ex-wife, former president), not objects.
자주 묻는 질문 (10)
Usually, yes. It refers to the physical book. However, it can metaphorically refer to an old story or a predictable person.
There is no set rule. It could be 20 years old or 500 years old. If it looks or feels old, it's 'stara'.
No, that is grammatically incorrect because 'knjiga' is feminine.
The plural is 'stare knjige'.
It is 'staroj knjizi' due to a grammar rule called sibilarization.
'Stara' means old in age; 'polovna' means second-hand (used by someone else).
Usually no, unless you are referring to the date it was published (e.g., an old edition of an e-book).
You say 'Volim stare knjige'.
It is neutral. It can be used in both formal and informal settings.
It is a shop that specifically sells 'stare i retke knjige' (old and rare books).
