When you're just starting out in Serbian, you'll quickly notice how often the word za pops up. It's a small but mighty word that usually means 'for' in English. Think of it as your go-to word when you want to express purpose, destination, or even a period of time. You'll use it in phrases like 'this is for you' or 'I'm going for a walk.' Mastering za early on will make a big difference in how quickly you can form basic sentences.
When za is followed by the accusative case (which is typically for direct objects), it expresses purpose or intention. For example, Idem u prodavnicu za hleb means I'm going to the store for bread. You're going there with the purpose of getting bread. It can also indicate a destination or direction in some contexts, such as Idemo za Beograd which means We're going to Belgrade.
When used with the accusative case, za usually means “for.” It expresses purpose or destination, for example, za mene (for me), za tebe (for you), za nas (for us), za vas (for you, plural or formal), za njega (for him), za nju (for her), and za njih (for them).
Za can also indicate a period of time, as in za vikend (for the weekend) or za praznike (for the holidays). When expressing an exchange or trade, za can mean “for,” such as kupiti nešto za novac (to buy something for money).
Additionally, za can be used to express a consequence or result, as in za kaznu (as punishment) or za dobrobit (for the benefit of). It can also denote a point in time by which something is to be done, such as za sutra (for tomorrow).
Finally, za is used in various idiomatic expressions, such as biti za nešto (to be in favor of something) or boriti se za nešto (to fight for something). Understanding these different uses of za is crucial for mastering its application in Serbian.
§ "Za" at Work
The Serbian word "za" is very common, meaning "for." You'll hear it all the time, especially in professional settings. Here's how it pops up when people talk about work.
- DEFINITION
- For
Ovo je izveštaj za klijenta.
Translation hint: This is the report for the client.
Imam sastanak za deset minuta.
Translation hint: I have a meeting in ten minutes.
§ "Za" in School and Learning
Whether you're a student or just talking about education, "za" is a word you'll frequently encounter. It's used to discuss purposes, goals, and even what something is intended for.
Ovo je knjiga za učenje srpskog jezika.
Translation hint: This is a book for learning the Serbian language.
Spremam se za ispit.
Translation hint: I am preparing for the exam.
§ "Za" in the News
News reports, both written and spoken, use "za" constantly. It helps to explain reasons, support, and timeframes. Pay attention to it in headlines and during interviews.
Građani glasaju za promene.
Translation hint: Citizens are voting for changes.
On se zalaže za mir.
Translation hint: He advocates for peace.
§ Other Common Uses
Beyond these specific contexts, "za" is incredibly versatile. Here are some more general examples you'll hear in everyday Serbian:
Hvala za pomoć.
Translation hint: Thanks for the help.
Ovo je poklon za tebe.
Translation hint: This is a gift for you.
Idemo za Beograd.
Translation hint: We are going to Belgrade.
As you can see, "za" is a fundamental part of Serbian. Paying attention to how it's used in different contexts will greatly improve your understanding and ability to speak naturally.
The Serbian preposition za is a versatile word, most commonly translating to 'for' in English. However, its usage can extend to 'behind', 'after', or 'in exchange for', depending on the context and the case it governs. This guide focuses on its primary meaning of 'for' and helps you understand when to use it.
§ Basic meaning: For
- Serbian Word
- za
- Definition
- For
When you want to express purpose, destination, or duration, za is often your go-to word. It typically takes the accusative case.
Ovo je poklon za tebe.
This is a gift for you.
Idemo za Beograd.
We are going for Belgrade (meaning 'to Belgrade').
Čekaću te za sat vremena.
I will wait for you for an hour.
§ When to use za vs. other prepositions
While za is frequently used for 'for', there are situations where other prepositions are more appropriate or convey slightly different nuances.
- Purpose or intention: Use za + accusative.
- Exchange or substitution: Za can also mean 'in exchange for' or 'instead of'.
- Duration (with time expressions): Za is often used with time to indicate how long something will take or how long it has been.
Uradili smo to za bolju budućnost.
We did it for a better future.
Kupio sam knjigu za deset evra.
I bought the book for ten euros.
Vraćam se za pet minuta.
I'll be back in five minutes.
§ Alternatives and nuances
While za is common, consider these points:
- 'Radi' or 'zbog': These also mean 'for the sake of' or 'because of'.
- 'Kao': Means 'as' or 'like'. Don't confuse it with za.
Učim srpski radi posla.
I am learning Serbian for work (for the sake of work).
Radi kao učitelj.
He works as a teacher.
趣味小知识
The Serbian preposition 'za' shares a common ancestor with similar prepositions in other Slavic languages, such as 'za' in Croatian, Bosnian, and Russian, and 'za' in Polish. It also has cognates in non-Slavic Indo-European languages, reflecting its ancient origin. The core meaning 'behind' or 'after' evolved to include 'for' (purpose/beneficiary) and 'during' (time).
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常见搭配
常用短语
Ovo je za tebe.
This is for you.
Kupio sam ovo za moju majku.
I bought this for my mother.
Imam nešto za tebe.
I have something for you.
Ovo nije za nas.
This is not for us.
Šta radiš za život?
What do you do for a living?
Idemo u grad za vikend.
We are going to the city for the weekend.
Čekam te za pet minuta.
I'll wait for you in five minutes.
Hvala ti za pomoć.
Thank you for the help.
Ovo je važno za sve.
This is important for everyone.
On je dobar za taj posao.
He is good for that job.
习语与表达
"ići za rukom"
to go hand in hand, to succeed
Ide mi za rukom da učim srpski. (I am successful at learning Serbian.)
neutral"stati iza nekoga/nečega"
to stand behind someone/something, to support
Ja sam uvek tu da stanem iza tebe. (I am always here to stand behind you.)
neutral"biti za dlaku"
to be by a hair's breadth, to narrowly escape/succeed
Bio je za dlaku da padne. (He was by a hair's breadth from falling.)
informal"uzeti za ozbiljno"
to take seriously
Nemoj da me ne uzimaš za ozbiljno. (Don't not take me seriously.)
neutral"držati se za glavu"
to hold one's head, to be in despair/shock
Držao se za glavu od stresa. (He was holding his head from stress.)
informal"ići za inat"
to do something out of spite
On to radi samo za inat. (He does it just out of spite.)
informal"biti za primer"
to be an example
Njegovo ponašanje je za primer. (His behavior is an example.)
neutral"otići za večno"
to go forever, to die
Njena baka je otišla za večno. (Her grandmother went forever.)
formal"raditi za nekoga/nešto"
to work for someone/something
Ja radim za veliku firmu. (I work for a big company.)
neutral"boriti se za nešto"
to fight for something
Moramo se boriti za naša prava. (We must fight for our rights.)
neutral如何使用
The most common and basic meaning of 'za' is 'for'. It's super versatile and you'll hear it all the time. Think of it as a direct translation of 'for' in many contexts, like 'I'm buying this for you' or 'This is for the cat'.
A common mistake is trying to use 'za' in situations where English uses 'for' but Serbian would use a different preposition or simply an infinitive. For example, 'I'm leaving for Belgrade' is not 'Idem za Beograd' (that would mean 'I'm going after Belgrade'). Instead, you'd say 'Idem u Beograd' (I'm going to Belgrade). Another one: 'I'm waiting for you' is not 'Čekam za tebe'. It's just 'Čekam te' (the verb 'čekati' already includes the idea of 'for').
词源
Proto-Slavic
原始含义： *za
Indo-European文化背景
When learning 'za', pay attention to its versatility. It's often used where English might use 'for', 'behind', 'after', or even 'during'. For example, <i>'Hvala za pomoć'</i> means 'Thanks for the help', and <i>'Ići za nekim'</i> means 'To go after someone'. It's a very common and essential preposition in daily Serbian communication, so mastering its various uses will significantly improve your fluency.
常见问题
10 个问题The most common uses of 'za' are to express purpose (for, in order to), direction (towards, behind), or time (for a period, after a certain time). For example, 'za tebe' means 'for you'.
Not always. While 'for' is a very common translation, 'za' can also mean 'behind', 'after', 'in exchange for', or indicate a purpose. It really depends on the context of the sentence.
To express purpose, you'll often see 'za' followed by a noun or a verb. For instance, 'Idem u prodavnicu za hleb' (I'm going to the shop for bread) or 'Ovo je za jelo' (This is for eating).
Yes, it can. For example, 'Vidimo se za pet minuta' means 'We'll see each other in five minutes'. It often indicates a point in the future or a duration.
Both 'za' and 'po' can sometimes be translated as 'for', but they have different nuances. 'Za' often implies purpose or a specific direction, while 'po' can mean 'for' in the sense of going to get something, or 'according to'. For example, 'Idem po vodu' (I'm going for water) versus 'Ovo je za vodu' (This is for water).
Yes, when 'za' indicates purpose, direction, or time, it almost always takes the accusative case. Make sure you adjust the noun endings accordingly.
Certainly. 'On stoji za stolom' means 'He is standing behind the table'. Here, it indicates a spatial relationship.
You would say 'Hvala ti za...' (Thank you for...) or 'Hvala vam za...' (Thank you all/formal for...). For example, 'Hvala ti za pomoć' (Thank you for your help).
Absolutely! A very common phrase is 'Zašto?' which means 'Why?' (literally 'for what'). Another is 'Zaista?' meaning 'Really?'.
You could say 'Dao sam mu knjigu za olovku' which means 'I gave him a book for (in exchange for) a pencil'.
自我测试 60 个问题
Ovo je poklon ___ tebe.
'Za' means 'for'. So, 'Ovo je poklon za tebe' means 'This is a gift for you.'
Idemo u prodavnicu ___ hleb.
'Za' is used here to indicate purpose, meaning 'for bread'.
Čekam ___ autobus.
When you are waiting for something, you use 'za' in Serbian. 'Čekam za autobus' means 'I am waiting for the bus.'
Ovo je važno ___ mene.
'Za' means 'for'. So, 'Ovo je važno za mene' means 'This is important for me.'
Kupio sam cveće ___ mamu.
Here, 'za' shows the recipient of the flowers. 'Kupio sam cveće za mamu' means 'I bought flowers for mom.'
Hvala ___ pomoć.
'Hvala za pomoć' is a common phrase meaning 'Thanks for the help.'
This is a gift for you.
I bought bread for breakfast.
We are going for a walk in an hour.
Read this aloud:
Hvala za pomoć.
Focus: za
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
To je važno za nas.
Focus: za
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Da li imaš vremena za kafu?
Focus: za
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Ovaj poklon je ___ tebe.
The preposition 'za' means 'for' in this context. 'This gift is for you.'
Idemo u prodavnicu ___ hleb.
When going to get something, 'po' is used. 'Idemo po hleb' means 'We are going for bread/to get bread'. While 'za' can mean 'for', 'po' is more appropriate when indicating the purpose of going somewhere to acquire something.
Imam vremena ___ sve to.
The preposition 'za' means 'for' in this context. 'I have time for all that.'
Ovo je važno ___ nas.
The preposition 'za' means 'for' in this context. 'This is important for us.'
Pripremamo se ___ put.
The preposition 'za' means 'for' in this context. 'We are preparing for the trip.'
Kupio sam cveće ___ majku.
The preposition 'za' means 'for' in this context. 'I bought flowers for my mother.'
This is a gift for you.
We are getting ready for a trip.
I bought tickets for the concert.
Read this aloud:
Šta planiraš za večeru?
Focus: Šta planiraš za večeru?
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Treba mi pomoć za ovaj zadatak.
Focus: Treba mi pomoć za ovaj zadatak.
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
On je odgovoran za ceo projekat.
Focus: On je odgovoran za ceo projekat.
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Ona uči srpski ___ sebe, ne samo za školu. (She learns Serbian ___ herself, not just for school.)
The preposition 'za' is used here to mean 'for' or 'on behalf of' herself.
Ovo pismo je ___ vas, molim vas, pročitajte ga. (This letter is ___ you, please read it.)
Here, 'za' means 'for' in the sense of being intended for someone.
Uvek je tu ___ prijatelje, bez obzira na sve. (He's always there ___ his friends, no matter what.)
The preposition 'za' indicates support or being there for someone.
Imam iznenađenje ___ tebe! (I have a surprise ___ you!)
In this context, 'za' means 'for' and indicates the recipient of the surprise.
Da li ste spremni ___ putovanje? (Are you ready ___ the trip?)
When expressing readiness 'for' something, 'za' is used.
Ne brini, ja sam tu ___ tebe. (Don't worry, I'm here ___ you.)
This usage of 'za' means 'for' in the sense of offering support or presence.
Choose the correct sentence: Koji je tačan prevod rečenice 'This gift is for you'?
'Za' in Serbian translates to 'for' in English. The other prepositions change the meaning significantly.
Which sentence correctly uses 'za' to express purpose or intention? Koja rečenica pravilno koristi 'za' za izražavanje svrhe ili namere?
Here, 'za mleko' means 'for milk,' indicating the purpose of going to the store.
Complete the sentence: 'Imam mnogo posla ___ sutra.' (I have a lot of work ___ tomorrow.)
'Za sutra' means 'for tomorrow' in the context of a deadline or planned activity.
The sentence 'Ovo je za mene teško' means 'This is difficult for me.'
In this context, 'za mene' correctly translates to 'for me', expressing who the difficulty applies to.
If someone says 'Hvala za pomoć', they are thanking you 'with help'.
'Hvala za pomoć' means 'Thanks for the help', with 'za' indicating the reason for gratitude, not the manner.
The phrase 'za stolom' means 'at the table'.
'Za stolom' is a common idiomatic expression in Serbian meaning 'at the table'.
The speaker is asking about the importance of considering options.
Listen for what he took responsibility for.
The sentence discusses needing experts for a complex situation.
Read this aloud:
On je uvek bio poznat po svom talentu za rešavanje najzamršenijih zadataka.
Focus: za rešavanje
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Pokušaj da naglasiš 'za' kada govoriš o svrsi nekog predmeta ili akcije.
Focus: za svrhu
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Objasni zašto je važno pripremiti se za intervju temeljno.
Focus: zašto je, za intervju
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Write a short paragraph (3-4 sentences) about a time you made a significant sacrifice 'za' someone or something you care deeply about. Use at least two different contexts for 'za'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Jednom sam žrtvovao svoj odmor za dobrobit porodičnog posla, radeći prekovremeno. Bilo je teško, ali sam znao da je to za bolju budućnost svih nas. Moja posvećenost porodici je uvek bila prioritet i spreman sam za još takvih izazova.
Describe a complex problem you faced and the steps you took 'za' (in order to) solve it. Focus on the motivation and the purpose behind your actions.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Suočio sam se sa izazovom organizovanja velikog događaja za kratko vreme. Prvo sam morao da napravim detaljan plan za raspodelu zadataka. Zatim sam mobilisao tim za efikasnu implementaciju. Sve je bilo za uspešno odvijanje događaja i zadovoljstvo učesnika.
Imagine you are writing a letter to a friend, explaining why you made a difficult decision 'za' the greater good. Explain your reasoning and the potential impact of your choice.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Dragi prijatelju, Pišem ti da objasnim moju nedavnu odluku. Znam da je bilo teško, ali verujem da je to za opšte dobro našeg tima. Dugoročne posledice će, nadam se, biti pozitivne za sve. Nadam se da ćeš razumeti moje motive.
Prema tekstu, za koga su, prema mišljenju nekih analitičara, kreirane ekonomske politike?
Read this passage:
Neki politički analitičari tvrde da je trenutna ekonomska politika osmišljena isključivo za bogate, dok se interesi običnih građana zanemaruju. Oni smatraju da su neophodne radikalne promene za pravedniju raspodelu resursa. Međutim, vladajuća stranka brani svoje odluke, tvrdeći da su one za dugoročnu stabilnost i prosperitet zemlje.
Prema tekstu, za koga su, prema mišljenju nekih analitičara, kreirane ekonomske politike?
Tekst eksplicitno navodi da 'neki politički analitičari tvrde da je trenutna ekonomska politika osmišljena isključivo za bogate'.
Tekst eksplicitno navodi da 'neki politički analitičari tvrde da je trenutna ekonomska politika osmišljena isključivo za bogate'.
Šta je umetnik žrtvovao za svoju strast?
Read this passage:
Umetnik je proveo godine usavršavajući svoju tehniku, sve za stvaranje remek-dela koje bi prenosilo duboke emocije. Njegova posvećenost bila je izuzetna, žrtvujući lični život za svoju strast. Konačno delo je bilo trijumf forme i osećaja, postajući simbol nade za mnoge koji su ga videli.
Šta je umetnik žrtvovao za svoju strast?
U tekstu piše: 'Njegova posvećenost bila je izuzetna, žrtvujući lični život za svoju strast.'
U tekstu piše: 'Njegova posvećenost bila je izuzetna, žrtvujući lični život za svoju strast.'
Zašto su istraživači proveli decenije radeći na projektu?
Read this passage:
Nova naučna studija pruža dokaze za postojanje nepoznate čestice. Istraživači su proveli decenije radeći na ovom projektu, svesni da su rezultati ključni za razumevanje fundamentalnih zakona univerzuma. Otkriće ima potencijal da otvori vrata za nove tehnologije i medicinske proboje.
Zašto su istraživači proveli decenije radeći na projektu?
Tekst navodi: 'Istraživači su proveli decenije radeći na ovom projektu, svesni da su rezultati ključni za razumevanje fundamentalnih zakona univerzuma.'
Tekst navodi: 'Istraživači su proveli decenije radeći na ovom projektu, svesni da su rezultati ključni za razumevanje fundamentalnih zakona univerzuma.'
Listen for the meaning of 'za' in a sentence about preparedness and hope.
Pay attention to 'za' when discussing a crucial solution for the company's future.
Focus on 'za' in the context of resources needed for project implementation.
Read this aloud:
Kandidati za ovu poziciju moraju imati izvanredno iskustvo.
Focus: za
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Svi napori su usmereni za postizanje zajedničkog cilja.
Focus: za
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Uprkos svim izazovima, naša odlučnost za uspeh je nepoljuljana.
Focus: za
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence discusses the necessity of an interdisciplinary approach for understanding complex social phenomena.
This sentence emphasizes the unavoidable need for redefining global economic parameters to achieve a more just world order.
This sentence explains that quantum entanglement is a fundamental phenomenon with implications for future quantum technologies.
/ 60 correct
Perfect score!
