Read “Ovde ostavljamo mokre kišobrane.” as a complete thought, not a row of words. The different situation in “Tu pored tebe nalazi se prekidač.” will reveal which parts are flexible.

Here and There in Serbian

A well known poem "Beautiful World" by Jovan Jovanović Zmaj can be the perfect content for learning the words such as:

  • Here - ovde
  • There - onde = tamo
  • Here it is = evo
  • There it is = eno

Song with Here and There

Let's listen to this slow version of the song: 


Ala je lep ovaj svet
Onde potok ovde cvet
Tamo njiva ovde sad
Eno sunce evo hlad
Tamo dunav zlata pun
Onde trava ovde žbun
Slavuj pesmom ljulja lug, ja ga slušam i moj drug.

(translation)


Now it's time to listen to the faster version:



Exercise with HERE and THERE





Ovde, Tu and Tamo Need a Viewpoint

Ovde points near the speaker, tu often points near the listener or an already known place, and tamo indicates greater distance. Gesture while speaking so that the three adverbs acquire a physical meaning.

Latin scriptCyrillic scriptEnglish
Ovde ostavljamo mokre kišobrane.Овде остављамо мокре кишобране.We leave wet umbrellas here.
Tu pored tebe nalazi se prekidač.Ту поред тебе налази се прекидач.The light switch is there beside you.
Tamo iza brda počinje gusta šuma.Тамо иза брда почиње густа шума.The dense forest begins over there beyond the hill.
Dođi ovde da vidiš ovu fotografiju.Дођи овде да видиш ову фотографију.Come here to see this photograph.
Nekada je tu bila mala poslastičarnica.Некада је ту била мала посластичарница.There used to be a small cake shop there.

Stand Here, Point There, Look Further Away

Link “Ovde ostavljamo mokre kišobrane.” with “Tu pored tebe nalazi se prekidač.” only if the combined meaning remains logical. Afterwards place “Tamo iza brda počinje gusta šuma.” in a two-line exchange.

Five Places Seen from One Spot

Finish with “Dođi ovde da vidiš ovu fotografiju.” and “Nekada je tu bila mala poslastičarnica.”. One should become a short dialogue; the other should be recorded twice, with clearer rhythm and more confident recall on the second attempt.

Move the Speaker and Change the Adverb

Translate all five meanings without copying. Use “Ovde ostavljamo mokre kišobrane.” only as a final reference point, and supply both Serbian scripts before checking the complete answers.

  1. We leave wet umbrellas here.
  2. The light switch is there beside you.
  3. The dense forest begins over there beyond the hill.
  4. Come here to see this photograph.
  5. There used to be a small cake shop there.

Answers and both Serbian scripts

  1. Ovde ostavljamo mokre kišobrane.
    Овде остављамо мокре кишобране.
  2. Tu pored tebe nalazi se prekidač.
    Ту поред тебе налази се прекидач.
  3. Tamo iza brda počinje gusta šuma.
    Тамо иза брда почиње густа шума.
  4. Dođi ovde da vidiš ovu fotografiju.
    Дођи овде да видиш ову фотографију.
  5. Nekada je tu bila mala poslastičarnica.
    Некада је ту била мала посластичарница.