CSV entry 23 is but, the conjunction of contrast: small but good, I'd like to, but I can't. Serbian's everyday word for it is али. Скупо је, али добро: it's expensive, but it's good. Хтео бих, али не могу: I'd like to, but I can't. It joins two statements that pull against each other, and the second one usually wins.
English uses one word for several kinds of contrast. Serbian divides that work among five words, and a learner needs to tell them apart early. Али is the general but. А marks a gentler contrast, closer to and or whereas: ја пијем чај, а он кафу, I drink tea, and he drinks coffee. Но means the same as али but belongs to books and poetry. Него and већ follow a negative and put the right thing in place of the wrong one: није плава, него зелена, it isn't blue, it's green. That last case is where English speakers most often go wrong, because English says not blue but green, and али cannot be used there.
Али is an old Slavic word, and Serbian's neighbours in the family use the same one: Polish and Czech ale both mean but. In poetry and quick speech it is often shortened to ал', with an apostrophe marking the dropped vowel. The Section F citation opens its contrast with that short form.
Key Takeaways
- али is the ordinary but: уморна сам, али срећна - A comma always comes before али, а, но, него and већ when they join two clauses - а is a softer contrast, and/whereas: ја пијем чај, а он кафу - но means али in written and literary language; in speech it sounds bookish - After a negative, not X but Y is не X, него Y (or већ Y), never али - ипак (still, all the same) often follows али: али је ипак хладно - ал' is the shortened form of verse and song
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23.1a Скупо expensive-NEUT је is али but добро good-NEUT 23.1b Skupo (SKOO-po) expensive-NEUT je (yeh) is ali (A-lee) but dobro (DO-bro) good-NEUT
23.2a Хтео wanted-MASC бих I-would али but не not могу I-can 23.2b Hteo (HTE-o) wanted-MASC bih (beeh) I-would ali (A-lee) but ne (neh) not mogu (MO-goo) I-can
23.3a Ауто car је is стар old-MASC али but добар good-MASC 23.3b Auto (A-oo-to) car je (yeh) is star (stahr) old-MASC ali (A-lee) but dobar (DO-bar) good-MASC
23.4a Уморна tired-FEM сам I-am али but срећна happy-FEM 23.4b Umorna (OO-mor-na) tired-FEM sam (sahm) I-am ali (A-lee) but srećna (SRECH-na) happy-FEM
23.5a Пада falls киша rain али but идемо we-go 23.5b Pada (PA-da) falls kiša (KEE-sha) rain ali (A-lee) but idemo (EE-de-mo) we-go
23.6a Звао called-MASC сам I-am те you-ACC али but ниси you-are-not одговорила answered-FEM 23.6b Zvao (ZVA-o) called-MASC sam (sahm) I-am te (teh) you-ACC ali (A-lee) but nisi (NEE-see) you-are-not odgovorila (od-go-VO-ree-la) answered-FEM
23.7a Не not говорим I-speak добро well српски Serbian али but све everything разумем I-understand 23.7b Ne (neh) not govorim (GO-vo-reem) I-speak dobro (DO-bro) well srpski (SRP-skee) Serbian ali (A-lee) but sve (sveh) everything razumem (RA-zoo-mem) I-understand
23.8a Сунце sun сија shines али but је is ипак still хладно cold-NEUT 23.8b Sunce (SOON-tse) sun sija (SEE-ya) shines ali (A-lee) but je (yeh) is ipak (EE-pak) still hladno (HLAD-no) cold-NEUT
23.9a Хтела wanted-FEM је is да to дође she-comes али but је is морала had-to-FEM да to ради she-works 23.9b Htela (HTE-la) wanted-FEM je (yeh) is da (dah) to dođe (DO-je) she-comes ali (A-lee) but je (yeh) is morala (MO-ra-la) had-to-FEM da (dah) to radi (RA-dee) she-works
23.10a Стан flat није is-not велик big-MASC али but има has леп beautiful-MASC поглед view-ACC на onto реку river-ACC 23.10b Stan (stahn) flat nije (NEE-ye) is-not velik (VE-leek) big-MASC ali (A-lee) but ima (EE-ma) has lep (lep) beautiful-MASC pogled (POG-led) view-ACC na (nah) onto reku (RE-koo) river-ACC
23.11a Знао known-MASC сам I-am одговор answer-ACC али but нисам I-am-not смео dared-MASC да to кажем I-say 23.11b Znao (ZNA-o) known-MASC sam (sahm) I-am odgovor (OD-go-vor) answer-ACC ali (A-lee) but nisam (NEE-sahm) I-am-not smeo (SME-o) dared-MASC da (dah) to kažem (KA-zhem) I-say
23.12a Можда maybe је is тачно true-NEUT али but ја I у in то that-ACC не not верујем I-believe 23.12b Možda (MOZH-da) maybe je (yeh) is tačno (TACH-no) true-NEUT ali (A-lee) but ja (yah) I u (oo) in to (toh) that-ACC ne (neh) not verujem (VE-roo-yem) I-believe
23.13a Обећао promised-MASC је is да that ће will позвати call-INF али but до until данас today није is-not позвао called-MASC 23.13b Obećao (o-BE-cha-o) promised-MASC je (yeh) is da (dah) that će (cheh) will pozvati (POZ-va-tee) call-INF ali (A-lee) but do (do) until danas (DA-nas) today nije (NEE-ye) is-not pozvao (POZ-va-o) called-MASC
23.14a Није is-not лако easy-NEUT учити learn-INF језик language-ACC али but није is-not ни either немогуће impossible-NEUT 23.14b Nije (NEE-ye) is-not lako (LA-ko) easy-NEUT učiti (OO-chee-tee) learn-INF jezik (YE-zeek) language-ACC ali (A-lee) but nije (NEE-ye) is-not ni (nee) either nemoguće (NE-mo-goo-che) impossible-NEUT
23.15a Бог God је is спор slow-MASC али but достижан reaching-MASC 23.15b Bog (bog) God je (yeh) is spor (spor) slow-MASC ali (A-lee) but dostižan (DOS-tee-zhan) reaching-MASC
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23.1 Скупо је, али добро. "It's expensive, but it's good."
23.2 Хтео бих, али не могу. "I'd like to, but I can't."
23.3 Ауто је стар, али добар. "The car is old, but it's a good one."
23.4 Уморна сам, али срећна. "I'm tired, but happy."
23.5 Пада киша, али идемо. "It's raining, but we're going."
23.6 Звао сам те, али ниси одговорила. "I called you, but you didn't answer."
23.7 Не говорим добро српски, али све разумем. "I don't speak Serbian well, but I understand everything."
23.8 Сунце сија, али је ипак хладно. "The sun is shining, but it's cold all the same."
23.9 Хтела је да дође, али је морала да ради. "She wanted to come, but she had to work."
23.10 Стан није велик, али има леп поглед на реку. "The flat isn't big, but it has a lovely view of the river."
23.11 Знао сам одговор, али нисам смео да кажем. "I knew the answer, but I didn't dare say it."
23.12 Можда је тачно, али ја у то не верујем. "It may be true, but I don't believe it."
23.13 Обећао је да ће позвати, али до данас није позвао. "He promised he would call, but he still hasn't."
23.14 Није лако учити језик, али није ни немогуће. "Learning a language isn't easy, but it isn't impossible either."
23.15 Бог је спор, али достижан. "God is slow, but He gets there." (proverb)
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23.1 Скупо је, али добро.
23.2 Хтео бих, али не могу.
23.3 Ауто је стар, али добар.
23.4 Уморна сам, али срећна.
23.5 Пада киша, али идемо.
23.6 Звао сам те, али ниси одговорила.
23.7 Не говорим добро српски, али све разумем.
23.8 Сунце сија, али је ипак хладно.
23.9 Хтела је да дође, али је морала да ради.
23.10 Стан није велик, али има леп поглед на реку.
23.11 Знао сам одговор, али нисам смео да кажем.
23.12 Можда је тачно, али ја у то не верујем.
23.13 Обећао је да ће позвати, али до данас није позвао.
23.14 Није лако учити језик, али није ни немогуће.
23.15 Бог је спор, али достижан.
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These are the rules for али and the other Serbian words for but.
1. Али, the general but. Али joins two clauses, or two words, whose meanings pull against each other: something expected and something that goes against it.
two clauses: Пада киша, али идемо. two adjectives: уморна, али срећна; стар, али добар two predicates with one subject: Знао сам одговор, али нисам смео да кажем.
Grammarians call these супротне реченице, adversative clauses, and али an adversative conjunction (супротни везник).
2. The comma is obligatory. Serbian puts a comma before every adversative conjunction: Скупо је, али добро. English often leaves it out (small but good); Serbian does not.
3. А, the soft contrast. А sets two things side by side as different, without one cancelling the other. It often translates as and, while or whereas:
Ја пијем чај, а он кафу. — I drink tea, and he drinks coffee. Она ради, а ја учим. — She works, while I study.
Wherever two different subjects or two different things are contrasted, Serbian prefers а to и. И simply adds; а adds and contrasts. А also opens a question that turns the conversation: А ти? — And you?
4. Но, the literary but. Но means what али means. It is common in older literature, in poetry, and in formal writing; in conversation it sounds bookish. Read it, and recognise it, but use али in speech.
5. Него and већ, but rather. When the first clause denies something and the second gives the right answer, Serbian uses него or већ, never али:
Није плава, него зелена. — It isn't blue, it's green. Није то рекао он, већ његов брат. — It wasn't he who said it, but his brother. Нећемо шетати, него ћемо играти карте. — We won't go walking; we'll play cards instead.
The test: if English but could be replaced by but rather or instead, the Serbian word is него or већ. Него is the more common in speech; већ is a little more formal. Него has a second job as than after a comparative: боље него ја, better than me.
6. Ипак and међутим. Али is often strengthened by ипак, still, all the same: Сунце сија, али је ипак хладно. Ипак can also stand alone at the head of the clause, carrying the contrast by itself: Сунце сија. Ипак, хладно је. Међутим, however, is an adverb rather than a conjunction. It is set off by commas and can move within its clause: Обећао је. Међутим, није позвао. — Он, међутим, није позвао.
7. Иако, although. A concession can be put the other way round, with иако in the first clause: Иако је скупо, добро је. — Although it's expensive, it's good. Careful Serbian avoids putting али in the second clause as well (иако …, али …); one marker of contrast is enough. Ипак may follow: Иако је скупо, ипак је добро.
8. Ни after али. In али није ни немогуће (23.14), ни means not … either and adds a second negative to the first. Serbian, unlike standard English, piles negatives up: није ни немогуће, нико ништа не зна.
9. Word order and clitics. Али stands at the head of its clause, and the clitics can come straight after it: али је ипак хладно, али ти не верујем. After а, a clitic waits for the next stressed word: а ја ћу кувати, а жена ми је лекарка.
10. Ал'. In poetry, song and fast speech али loses its final vowel: ал' мога ми дина (Section F). Write it with an apostrophe; in ordinary prose use the full form.
Common Mistakes
Using али after a negative where a correction follows: *није плава, али зелена. Say није плава, него зелена.
Leaving out the comma: *скупо је али добро. Write скупо је, али добро.
Using и where two different things are contrasted: *ја пијем чај и он кафу. Say ја пијем чај, а он кафу.
Doubling the contrast: *иако је скупо, али је добро. Say иако је скупо, добро је, or скупо је, али је добро.
Using но in everyday conversation. It is correct, but sounds like reading aloud; али is the spoken word.
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Бог је спор, али достижан (23.15) — God is slow, but He catches up — is one of the most quoted Serbian proverbs: whoever has done wrong will be reached in the end, however long it takes. It is said of injustice that has gone unpunished, sometimes with resignation and sometimes as a warning. Like many proverbs, it hangs on али: the first half states the disappointment, and the second half reverses it.
Да, али … — yes, but … — is the polite way to disagree in Serbian conversation, as in English. Agreement is given first, and the objection follows. A conversation can run through a series of да, али before anyone gives way, as the dialogue in this lesson shows.
А is everywhere in ordinary speech, more than any English and or but. А ти? answers a question with a question: Како си? — Добро, а ти? How are you? — Fine, and you? That exchange is the first а most learners meet, and it is used daily by every speaker of the language.
Него шта! — literally but what (else)! — is the colloquial of course!, you bet!: Идеш ли с нама? — Него шта! It is an emphatic yes, and very common in speech.
Ал' belongs to song. The shortened form fills out the syllable count of a line, and it is heard constantly in folk songs and in the севдалинка, the slow love song of Bosnia. Šantić's poem Емина, quoted in Section F, became one of the best known of all sevdalinkas once it was set to music, and its ал' has been sung across the former Yugoslavia for more than a century.
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Four lines from Емина by Алекса Шантић (Aleksa Šantić, 1868–1924), the poet of Mostar. The poem was first published in the magazine Коло in 1902 and printed again in a collection of his poems in 1903. Emina was a real young woman, Emina Sefić, the daughter of an imam who lived near Šantić in Mostar. The speaker, passing her garden, greets her; she ignores him. The refusal is set out in two contrasts, one with ал' and one with но. Šantić wrote in the ijekavian pronunciation of Herzegovina (лијепа, not лепа), and the poem is full of Turkish loanwords from the Bosnian town: селам, дин, ибрик, ђул.
F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
F.1a Ја I јој her-DAT назвах I-offered-AOR селам greeting-ACC Ал' but мога my-GEN ми me-DAT дина faith-GEN F.1b Ja (yah) I joj (yoy) her-DAT nazvah (NAZ-vah) I-offered-AOR selam (SE-lahm) greeting-ACC Al' (ahl) but moga (MO-ga) my-GEN mi (mee) me-DAT dina (DEE-na) faith-GEN
F.2a Не not шће wanted-AOR ни not-even да to чује she-hears лијепа beautiful-FEM Емина Emina F.2b Ne (neh) not šće (shcheh) wanted-AOR ni (nee) not-even da (dah) to čuje (CHOO-ye) she-hears lijepa (LEE-ye-pa) beautiful-FEM Emina (E-mee-na) Emina
F.3a Но but у into сребрен silver-MASC ибрик ewer-ACC захитила scooped-FEM воде water-GEN F.3b No (no) but u (oo) into srebren (SRE-bren) silver-MASC ibrik (EE-breek) ewer-ACC zahitila (za-HEE-tee-la) scooped-FEM vode (VO-de) water-GEN
F.4a Па then по around башти garden-LOC ђуле roses-ACC.PL заливати water-INF оде went-AOR F.4b Pa (pah) then po (po) around bašti (BASH-tee) garden-LOC đule (JOO-le) roses-ACC.PL zalivati (za-LEE-va-tee) water-INF ode (O-de) went-AOR
F-B: Natural Text with Translation
Ја јој назвах селам. Ал' мога ми дина, Не шће ни да чује лијепа Емина, Но у сребрен ибрик захитила воде Па по башти ђуле заливати оде;
"I gave her my greeting. But, by my faith, lovely Emina would not even hear it; instead she scooped water into a silver ewer and went off round the garden to water the roses;"
F-C: Original Only
Ја јој назвах селам. Ал' мога ми дина, Не шће ни да чује лијепа Емина, Но у сребрен ибрик захитила воде Па по башти ђуле заливати оде;
F-D: Grammar and Vocabulary Notes
Ал' (F.1) — the shortened али of Section D §10. It opens the first contrast: the greeting was given, but it was not received. This is али in its ordinary sense, the expected outcome reversed.
Но (F.3) — the second contrast is of the other kind. The line before it is negative (не шће ни да чује), and what follows is not a reversal but a replacement: she did not listen, she watered the roses instead. Modern prose would say него or већ here (Section D §5). In older and poetic Serbian но covers both senses, and Šantić's verse uses the two words of this lesson side by side.
Мога ми дина — an oath, by my faith. Дин is the Turkish and Arabic word for religion or faith, and мога is the short genitive of мој (modern мог, мојег). The dative ми is the speaker's own involvement, as in богами, by God. The oath sets the speaker's indignation in the voice of the Muslim town.
Назвах селам — назвати (to call out) with a greeting as its object means to greet: назвати селам, to give the Muslim greeting селам. Назвах is the aorist, first person singular, with the -х ending noted in Lesson 22.
Не шће — шће is an old contracted aorist of хтети (ijekavian хтјети), wanted: modern Serbian would say није хтела. Ни да чује — not even to hear: ни adds not even to the да clause of Lesson 12.
Захитила воде — захитити is to scoop up (water from a well or fountain). The form is a past participle without its auxiliary је, as verse often has it. Воде is a partitive genitive, some water. У сребрен ибрик takes the accusative after у because the water goes into the ewer.
Ђуле заливати оде — went to water the roses. After a verb of motion, the infinitive gives the purpose: оде заливати, went (off) watering. Ђул is the Turkish gül, rose; ђуле is its accusative plural. Оде is the aorist, third person singular, of отићи.
The text is given as printed in modern editions of Šantić's poems. Printed versions of the poem differ in small details of wording and punctuation (the opening couplet among them), and some editions place a comma after Ал'.
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Part A — Intralinear Construed Text
23.16a Хтела wanted-FEM бих I-would да to идем I-go на to Златибор Zlatibor-ACC али but не not знам I-know с with ким whom-INST 23.16b Htela (HTE-la) wanted-FEM bih (beeh) I-would da (dah) to idem (EE-dem) I-go na (nah) to Zlatibor (ZLA-tee-bor) Zlatibor-ACC ali (A-lee) but ne (neh) not znam (znahm) I-know s (s) with kim (keem) whom-INST
23.17a Ја I бих would ишао gone-MASC али but немам I-don't-have ауто car 23.17b Ja (yah) I bih (beeh) would išao (EE-sha-o) gone-MASC ali (A-lee) but nemam (NE-mahm) I-don't-have auto (A-oo-to) car
23.18a Ауто car није is-not проблем problem Има there-is аутобус bus а and карта ticket није is-not скупа expensive-FEM 23.18b Auto (A-oo-to) car nije (NEE-ye) is-not problem (PROB-lem) problem Ima (EE-ma) there-is autobus (A-oo-to-boos) bus a (ah) and karta (KAR-ta) ticket nije (NEE-ye) is-not skupa (SKOO-pa) expensive-FEM
23.19a Добро good али but где where ћемо we-will да to спавамо we-sleep 23.19b Dobro (DO-bro) good ali (A-lee) but gde (gdeh) where ćemo (CHE-mo) we-will da (dah) to spavamo (SPA-va-mo) we-sleep
23.20a Моја my-FEM тетка aunt има has кућу house-ACC тамо there Мала small-FEM је is али but има has две two собе rooms 23.20b Moja (MO-ya) my-FEM tetka (TET-ka) aunt ima (EE-ma) has kuću (KOO-choo) house-ACC tamo (TA-mo) there Mala (MA-la) small-FEM je (yeh) is ali (A-lee) but ima (EE-ma) has dve (dveh) two sobe (SO-be) rooms
23.21a Одлично excellent Али but шта what ако if пада falls киша rain 23.21b Odlično (OD-leech-no) excellent Ali (A-lee) but šta (shtah) what ako (A-ko) if pada (PA-da) falls kiša (KEE-sha) rain
23.22a Ако if пада falls киша rain нећемо we-won't шетати walk-INF него but-rather ћемо we-will играти play-INF карте cards-ACC 23.22b Ako (A-ko) if pada (PA-da) falls kiša (KEE-sha) rain nećemo (NE-che-mo) we-won't šetati (SHE-ta-tee) walk-INF nego (NE-go) but-rather ćemo (CHE-mo) we-will igrati (EE-gra-tee) play-INF karte (KAR-te) cards-ACC
23.23a Ти you увек always имаш you-have одговор answer-ACC Али but ја I не not волим I-like карте cards-ACC 23.23b Ti (tee) you uvek (OO-vek) always imaš (EE-mash) you-have odgovor (OD-go-vor) answer-ACC Ali (A-lee) but ja (yah) I ne (neh) not volim (VO-leem) I-like karte (KAR-te) cards-ACC
23.24a Онда then ти you читај read-IMP а and ја I ћу will кувати cook-INF 23.24b Onda (ON-da) then ti (tee) you čitaj (CHEE-tai) read-IMP a (ah) and ja (yah) I ću (choo) will kuvati (KOO-va-tee) cook-INF
23.25a Ти you да that куваш you-cook Волим I-love те you-ACC али but ти you-DAT не not верујем I-trust 23.25b Ti (tee) you da (dah) that kuvaš (KOO-vash) you-cook Volim (VO-leem) I-love te (teh) you-ACC ali (A-lee) but ti (tee) you-DAT ne (neh) not verujem (VE-roo-yem) I-trust
23.26a Онда then ће will кувати cook-INF тетка aunt Она she живи lives тамо there али but је is сама alone-FEM и and радоваће will-be-glad се REFL гостима guests-DAT 23.26b Onda (ON-da) then će (cheh) will kuvati (KOO-va-tee) cook-INF tetka (TET-ka) aunt Ona (O-na) she živi (ZHEE-vee) lives tamo (TA-mo) there ali (A-lee) but je (yeh) is sama (SA-ma) alone-FEM i (ee) and radovaće (ra-DO-va-che) will-be-glad se (seh) REFL gostima (GOS-tee-ma) guests-DAT
23.27a Добро good Али but још still једно one-NEUT питање question шта what ће will рећи say-INF моја my-FEM мама mum 23.27b Dobro (DO-bro) good Ali (A-lee) but još (yosh) still jedno (YED-no) one-NEUT pitanje (PEE-ta-nye) question šta (shtah) what će (cheh) will reći (RE-chee) say-INF moja (MO-ya) my-FEM mama (MA-ma) mum
23.28a Рећи say-INF ће she-will Иди go-IMP сине son-VOC али but јави let-know-IMP кад when стигнеш you-arrive 23.28b Reći (RE-chee) say-INF će (cheh) she-will Idi (EE-dee) go-IMP sine (SEE-ne) son-VOC ali (A-lee) but javi (YA-vee) let-know-IMP kad (kahd) when stigneš (STEEG-nesh) you-arrive
23.29a Знаш you-know ти you моју my-ACC.FEM маму mum-ACC боље better него than ја I 23.29b Znaš (znahsh) you-know ti (tee) you moju (MO-yoo) my-ACC.FEM mamu (MA-moo) mum-ACC bolje (BO-lye) better nego (NE-go) than ja (yah) I
23.30a Значи means идемо we-go Али but ја I седим I-sit поред beside прозора window-GEN 23.30b Znači (ZNA-chee) means idemo (EE-de-mo) we-go Ali (A-lee) but ja (yah) I sedim (SE-deem) I-sit pored (PO-red) beside prozora (PRO-zo-ra) window-GEN
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Part B — Natural Sentences
23.16 — Хтела бих да идем на Златибор, али не знам с ким. "I'd like to go to Zlatibor, but I don't know who with."
23.17 — Ја бих ишао, али немам ауто. "I'd go, but I haven't got a car."
23.18 — Ауто није проблем. Има аутобус, а карта није скупа. "The car's no problem. There's a bus, and the ticket isn't expensive."
23.19 — Добро, али где ћемо да спавамо? "All right, but where are we going to sleep?"
23.20 — Моја тетка има кућу тамо. Мала је, али има две собе. "My aunt has a house there. It's small, but it has two rooms."
23.21 — Одлично! Али шта ако пада киша? "Excellent! But what if it rains?"
23.22 — Ако пада киша, нећемо шетати, него ћемо играти карте. "If it rains, we won't go walking; we'll play cards instead."
23.23 — Ти увек имаш одговор. Али ја не волим карте. "You always have an answer. But I don't like cards."
23.24 — Онда ти читај, а ја ћу кувати. "Then you can read, and I'll cook."
23.25 — Ти да куваш? Волим те, али ти не верујем. "You, cook? I love you, but I don't trust you."
23.26 — Онда ће кувати тетка. Она живи тамо, али је сама и радоваће се гостима. "Then my aunt will cook. She lives there, but she's on her own, and she'll be glad of guests."
23.27 — Добро. Али још једно питање: шта ће рећи моја мама? "All right. But one more question: what will my mum say?"
23.28 — Рећи ће: „Иди, сине, али јави кад стигнеш.“ "She'll say: 'Go, son, but let me know when you get there.'"
23.29 — Знаш ти моју маму боље него ја. "You know my mum better than I do."
23.30 — Значи, идемо! Али ја седим поред прозора. "So we're going! But I'm sitting by the window."
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Part C — Target Language Only
23.16 — Хтела бих да идем на Златибор, али не знам с ким.
23.17 — Ја бих ишао, али немам ауто.
23.18 — Ауто није проблем. Има аутобус, а карта није скупа.
23.19 — Добро, али где ћемо да спавамо?
23.20 — Моја тетка има кућу тамо. Мала је, али има две собе.
23.21 — Одлично! Али шта ако пада киша?
23.22 — Ако пада киша, нећемо шетати, него ћемо играти карте.
23.23 — Ти увек имаш одговор. Али ја не волим карте.
23.24 — Онда ти читај, а ја ћу кувати.
23.25 — Ти да куваш? Волим те, али ти не верујем.
23.26 — Онда ће кувати тетка. Она живи тамо, али је сама и радоваће се гостима.
23.27 — Добро. Али још једно питање: шта ће рећи моја мама?
23.28 — Рећи ће: „Иди, сине, али јави кад стигнеш.“
23.29 — Знаш ти моју маму боље него ја.
23.30 — Значи, идемо! Али ја седим поред прозора.
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Part D — Grammar Notes for the Dialogue
Ana wants to go to Zlatibor, the mountain resort in western Serbia; Marko meets every plan with да, али. The dialogue uses all the kinds of contrast in this lesson, and the reader should name the word in each line before checking the notes.
Хтела бих …, али … and Ја бих ишао, али … (23.16, 23.17) — the conditional of wishing (бих + participle) followed by али and the obstacle. I would, but … is the classic shape of a polite refusal, and the commonest place for али in speech.
Има аутобус, а карта није скупа (23.18) — а, not али. Nothing is being reversed; Ana adds a second, different point in her favour. Section D §3.
Добро, али … and Одлично! Али … (23.19, 23.21) — agreement first, objection second. Али can open a new sentence, as English but can, when the contrast is with what the other speaker has just said.
Нећемо шетати, него ћемо играти карте (23.22) — the negative-and-correction of Section D §5. Али would be wrong here: walking is not reversed, it is replaced.
Онда ти читај, а ја ћу кувати (23.24) — а contrasting two people and their two tasks. The imperative читај takes the pronoun ти for the same contrastive reason that ја appears in the second clause (Lesson 21).
Ти да куваш? (23.25) — a да clause standing alone as an incredulous question: you — cook? The main clause (do you mean to say …) is understood. In али ти не верујем, the dative clitic ти follows али directly (Section D §9); веровати takes the dative of the person trusted.
Она живи тамо, али је сама (23.26) — a contrast of expectation: living there, she might be expected to have company; she has none. Радоваће се гостима: радовати се takes the dative of what one is glad of.
Иди, сине, али јави кад стигнеш (23.28) — али after an imperative, attaching a condition to a permission. This is the shape of every Serbian parent's farewell.
Боље него ја (23.29) — the other него, than, after a comparative (Section D §5). Знаш ти puts the verb first and the pronoun after it, a common emphatic order in speech: you know her better than I do, you do.
Али ја седим поред прозора (23.30) — the last word goes to али, but now in agreement: the trip is settled, and the condition is a small one.
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али (ali): A-lee. Stress on the first syllable; both vowels pure, the a open as in father, the i as in machine. Not AL-ee with an English a as in alley. In a sentence it is lightly stressed and runs on: скупо је, али добро is SKOO-po-yeh, A-lee-DO-bro.
ал' (al'): ahl. One syllable, with a clear, light l.
а (a): ah. A single open vowel, short and unstressed when it joins two clauses.
но (no): no. A pure o, not the English diphthong of no (noh-oo).
него (nego): NE-go. Stress on the first syllable; the е is a pure e as in bed.
већ (već): vech. Ћ is the soft ch, the tongue flat against the hard palate (see ћути, Lesson 22).
ипак (ipak): EE-pak. Stress on the first syllable.
шће (šće): shcheh. The ш and ћ come together with no vowel between them, as in fresh cheese said quickly.
лијепа (lijepa): LEE-ye-pa. The ijekavian ије is two syllables in careful speech: lee-ye. Ekavian Serbian says лепа (LE-pa).
ђуле (đule): JOO-le. Ђ is the soft partner of џ, like the j in jeep said with the tongue further forward.
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Course Index: [latinum.substack.com/p/index](https://latinum.substack.com/p/index)