'Putovati' is the primary Serbian verb for the ongoing process of traveling to a destination.
Word in 30 Seconds
- To travel or journey from one location to another.
- An imperfective verb focusing on the duration of the trip.
- Used with 'u/na' for destinations and instrumental for transport.
Pregled
Glagol 'putovati' je nesvršeni glagol koji opisuje samu radnju ili proces kretanja ka nekom cilju koji nije u neposrednoj blizini. On je jedan od osnovnih glagola kretanja u srpskom jeziku i uči se na samom početku učenja jezika. 2) Obrasci upotrebe: Glagol se menja po pravilima za glagole koji se završavaju na -ovati, gde se sufiks menja u -ujem (npr. ja putujem). Najčešće se koristi sa predlozima 'u' (za gradove i države: putujem u Pariz) ili 'na' (za planine, ostrva ili događaje: putujem na more). Takođe, često se koristi instrumental bez predloga za prevozno sredstvo (putujem vozom, putujem avionom). 3) Uobičajeni konteksti: Najčešće se sreće u kontekstu turizma, godišnjih odmora i poslovnih putovanja. Može se koristiti i u prenesenom značenju, kao što je 'putovati kroz vreme' ili 'putovati mislima'. 4) Poređenje sličnih reči: Glavna razlika postoji između 'putovati' (nesvršeni vid - proces koji traje) i 'otputovati' (svršeni vid - trenutak odlaska). Dok 'ići' može značiti bilo kakvo kretanje, 'putovati' skoro uvek podrazumeva dužu distancu i neku vrstu pripreme ili prtljaga.
Examples
Volim da putujem sam jer tako najbolje upoznajem ljude.
everydayI like to travel alone because that's how I meet people best.
Naš tim putuje u London na međunarodnu konferenciju.
formalOur team is traveling to London for an international conference.
Gde putuješ za vikend?
informalWhere are you traveling for the weekend?
U prošlosti su ljudi putovali mesecima da bi stigli do drugog kontinenta.
academicIn the past, people traveled for months to reach another continent.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
Srećan put!
Have a nice trip!
Putovati na budžetu
To travel on a budget
Putovati bez prtljaga
To travel without luggage
Often Confused With
Otputovati is perfective, focusing on the departure or the completed action of leaving, while putovati is the process of being on a journey.
Ići is a general verb for 'to go', whereas putovati specifically implies a longer trip or travel experience.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
The verb is neutral and can be used in any social setting. It is essentially the only word used for the concept of 'traveling' in a general sense. In very formal documents, you might see 'vršiti putovanje', but 'putovati' is almost always preferred.
Common Mistakes
The most common mistake for English speakers is saying 'putovati sa' followed by a vehicle (e.g., 'putovati sa busom'). Always use the instrumental case alone. Another mistake is using the wrong stem in present tense (e.g., 'putovam' instead of 'putujem').
Tips
Master the 'ov' to 'uj' change
Remember that verbs ending in -ovati like 'putovati' always change to -ujem in the present tense.
Avoid using 'sa' for transport
In Serbian, you travel 'by' something using only the instrumental case, never 'with' (sa) the vehicle.
The importance of 'Godišnji odmor'
Serbians highly value their summer travel, often referring to it simply as 'putovanje na more' (traveling to the sea).
Word Origin
Derived from the Proto-Slavic word 'pǫtь' (meaning way or road), which shares the same root as the English word 'path'.
Cultural Context
Traveling is a major topic of conversation in Serbia, especially during 'slava' or family gatherings where people discuss their 'zimovanje' (winter holiday) or 'letovanje' (summer holiday).
Memory Tip
Think of the Serbian word for 'road' which is 'put'. 'Putovati' is simply the action of being on the 'put'.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsPrezent glasi: ja putujem, ti putuješ, on putuje, mi putujemo, vi putujete, oni putuju.
Ne, pravilno je reći 'putujem vozom' (instrumental bez predloga) kada se misli na prevozno sredstvo.
Svršeni par je glagol 'otputovati', koji označava da je neko krenuo na put ili završio čin odlaska.
Za većinu država koristi se predlog 'u' uz akuzativ, na primer: 'Putujem u Srbiju' ili 'Putujem u Nemačku'.
Test Yourself
Moja sestra često ___ u inostranstvo.
Treće lice jednine prezenta glagola putovati je 'putuje'.
Koji je pravilan način da kažete čime putujete?
Prevozno sredstvo se izražava instrumentalom bez predloga.
mi / u / sutra / Grčku / putujemo
Standardni red reči je Subjekat + Prilog + Glagol + Predlog + Objekat.
Score: /3
Summary
'Putovati' is the primary Serbian verb for the ongoing process of traveling to a destination.
- To travel or journey from one location to another.
- An imperfective verb focusing on the duration of the trip.
- Used with 'u/na' for destinations and instrumental for transport.
Master the 'ov' to 'uj' change
Remember that verbs ending in -ovati like 'putovati' always change to -ujem in the present tense.
Avoid using 'sa' for transport
In Serbian, you travel 'by' something using only the instrumental case, never 'with' (sa) the vehicle.
The importance of 'Godišnji odmor'
Serbians highly value their summer travel, often referring to it simply as 'putovanje na more' (traveling to the sea).
Examples
4 of 4Volim da putujem sam jer tako najbolje upoznajem ljude.
I like to travel alone because that's how I meet people best.
Naš tim putuje u London na međunarodnu konferenciju.
Our team is traveling to London for an international conference.
Gde putuješ za vikend?
Where are you traveling for the weekend?
U prošlosti su ljudi putovali mesecima da bi stigli do drugog kontinenta.
In the past, people traveled for months to reach another continent.
