Serbian words starting with B

• bȁhey; man (a particle like bre and bolan, in Bosnia; friends only)
• babaa grandma (colloquial); an old woman
• babetinaan old hag (rude)
• bȁbinea visit to see a newborn (with gifts)
• babofather or dad (Bosnian, in the family; Serbian otac, tata)
• bȁcāj kȍckicuroll the dice, roll the die, throw the dice
• bacatito throw (imperfective of baciti)
• bácati bìsērje pred svínjeto cast pearls before swine (bookish)
• bácati dȑvlje i kàmēnjeto hurl abuse, to sling mud (literally ‘to throw wood and stones’)
• bácati prȁšinu u ȍčito show off, to put on a false show, to throw dust in someone’s eyes
• bácitito throw; to throw away, to throw out
• báciti ȍko na nȅštoto have one’s eye on something
• báciti páre u vȅtarto throw money down the drain, to throw money away
• báciti rùkavicuto throw down the gauntlet (bookish)
• BȁčkaBačka (a region; in Serbia, the north-west of Vojvodina)
• bademan almond
• bȁdnjāka Yule log (an oak branch for Christmas Eve)
• Bȁdnjē vȅčeChristmas Eve
• Badnji danChristmas Eve day (6 January)
• bȁgbug (spoken IT slang; in writing greška)
• bàgremacacia
• bajagimake-believe (colloquial; = kobajagi)
• bȃjkafairy tale
• BajramBajram, Eid (a Muslim feast)
• bákagrandmother, grandma
• bàkarcopper
• baklàvabaklava
• bakšiša tip (colloquial; neutral napojnica)
• baksuza jinx, an unlucky person
• bàlētballet
• Bàlkānthe Balkans
• bàlkōnbalcony
• bàlōnballoon
• banánabanana
• BànātBanat (a region; in Serbia, the east of Vojvodina)
• bȁnjaa spa town, a spa
• Banja LukaBanja Luka (u Banjoj Luci; also written Banjaluka)
• bànkabank
• bankòmatan ATM, a cash machine
• bȃra bar (a pub); at least (short form)
• bàremat least (also bar)
• barjaka banner (archaic)
• barkaa boat
• bȁšexactly, just (so); really (intensifier); not really, not exactly…
• bȁš me brȉgaI don’t care (blunt, colloquial)
• báštagarden; a café’s outdoor terrace (letnja bašta)
• baštòvānstvogardening
• batabig brother, bro (fond)
• bàtērijabattery
• bȁvitito do, attend, engage in, go in for, occupy oneself with; to deal with
• bȁviti seto be engaged in, to deal with; to do (as a job)
• bázaa base (military, of data; in chemistry, the opposite of an acid)
• báza podátākādatabase
• bazara bazaar; a fair (a charity, a Christmas fair)
• bàzēna swimming pool, a pool
• bbno house number (in an address: bez broja)
• bdetito keep vigil, to stay awake
• bebaa (a sheep)
• bébababy
• BečVienna
• bedamisery, poverty; trouble
• beharblossom on fruit trees (Bosnian)
• Bela CrkvaBela Crkva (a town in Vojvodina; u Beloj Crkvi)
• bela kafacoffee with milk
• bela kuga“the white plague”: the falling birth rate
• bèleškaa note; an annotation; a footnote (in a book)
• beležitito note down (imperfective)
• beležništvothe notary system (javno beležništvo)
• Bȇlī ȃnđeothe White Angel (the fresco at Mileševa monastery)
• bȇlī kàrtonthe white card, a foreigner’s address registration
• bȇlī lȕkgarlic
• bȇlo vínowhite wine
• bȅndband
• bènzīnpetrol
• benzínskā pȕmpaa petrol station, filling station
• bȅowhite
• beo kao krečwhite as a sheet
• bȅo kȁo snȇgwhite as snow (same image)
• BeògradBelgrade
• beògradskīof Belgrade, Belgrade (as in Belgrade speech, close to the standard)
• Beograđanina native of Belgrade
• Beograđankaa woman from Belgrade
• bèrbathe harvest, picking (of grapes, fruit, berries; grain is žetva)
• bereketabundance, blessing (regional)
• bȇsrage, fury, anger
• bésanfurious, enraged, livid; rabid (of a dog)
• besciljanaimless
• bešecolloquial, when trying to recall: Kako se beše zoveš?, what was your…
• bèsedaan oration, a formal speech
• bèsednīkan orator; a public speaker (bookish; the neutral word is govornik)
• beskoristanuseless
• beskrajanendless
• beskućnika homeless person
• besmislenmeaningless, senseless
• besmislicasomething meaningless, an absurdity
• bèsmrtanimmortal (from smrt, death)
• besnetito rage (imperfective)
• besplatanfree (of charge)
• bèsplatnofree of charge, for free; free (no charge)
• bespomoćanhelpless
• besposlicaidleness
• bestidanwithout shame, brazen
• bestragawithout trace; Idi bestraga!, go to blazes!
• bešumannoiseless, silent
• bèzwithout
• bez dlȁke na jezìkubluntly, without mincing words (literally ‘no hair on the tongue’)
• bez glùtenagluten-free
• Bez mȕke néma nàukeno pain no gain (literally ‘no learning without toil’)
• bez nȁknadefree of charge, without payment (formal)
• bez obzira naregardless of (+ Acc.; also “despite”: Bez obzira na kišu, izašli smo)
• bez òbzira na tȏregardless of that, irrespective of that (neutral)
• bez posrédnikano agents
• bez sumnjewithout doubt, undoubtedly
• bez vȅzelame; pointless, for no reason (colloquial; literally ‘unconnected’)
• Bez zezanjano kidding, seriously
• bezakonjelawlessness
• bežatito run away, to flee (imperfective; perfective pobeći; colloquial…
• bezbedansafe
• bèzbednosnā kòntrolasecurity check
• bezbednosnisecurity-related (bezbednosna situacija)
• bèzbednōstsafety, security
• bezbojancolourless
• bèzbōlnopainlessly
• bezbrižancarefree
• bezglagolskiverbless
• bèžičanwireless
• bežičniwireless
• bezizlazanwith no way out
• bezličanimpersonal (bezlična rečenica, an impersonal sentence)
• beznadežanhopeless
• bezòbrazanrude, insolent, shameless; indecent (a strong word)
• bezobrazlukimpudence
• bezukusanbland, flavourless
• bezuslovanunconditional
• bezvezanlame, pointless (informal)
• bezvezepointless, lame (colloquial: To je bezveze.; the same as bez veze)
• bezvredanworthless
• bezvučansoundless; voiceless (of a consonant)
• BIABIA, the Serbian security agency (Bezbednosno-informativna agencija)
• bȉberpepper (spice)
• bibliogràfijaa bibliography, a list of works (on a topic; wider than spisak…
• bibliotékalibrary
• biča whip
• bȉćea being (živo biće); will be (Biće dobro, from biti; biće da…
• bȉće bȍljethings will get better
• bicìkla bicycle, a bike (regional bicikla, feminine)
• biciklìzamcycling
• bifea snack bar
• bil(dialect, Torlak) was — bio, from biti
• bìlansa balance sheet, a financial statement; a tally (of something)
• bȋljkaplant
• bínaa stage, the boards (scena is also a scene in a play)
• biogràfijaa CV, a résumé; a biography
• biològijabiology
• bȉoskopcinema
• bìrāča voter; an elector (official term)
• bìrāčko mȅstopolling station
• bíratito choose (imperfective)
• birokràtskī jèzikbureaucratic language, officialese
• bìstrōclearly, lucidly
• bitanessential, relevant (Fem. bitna; nije bitno, it doesn’t matter)
• bitangaa good-for-nothing
• bȉtito be; (sȃm, with a long accent, is the adjective «alone»: Ja sam sȃm)
• bȉti na kònjuto be sitting pretty (literally, to be on a horse)
• biti na sedmom nebuto be in seventh heaven
• biti nekome na teretuto be a burden to someone
• bitkaa battle
• bȋvšīformer, ex-; an ex (a former partner)
• bȉznisbusiness (colloquial; neutral posao)
• biznismena businessman
• blagmild (of a sentence: blaga kazna; of a climate: blaga klima)
• blȃgotreasure; gently, mildly (adverb)
• blago rečenoto put it mildly
• blagodaritito give thanks (archaic, churchly)
• blagonáklonwell-disposed, favourable (bookish; towards: prema + Dat.)
• blȁgoslōvblessing
• blagoslovitito bless (perfective)
• blatnjavmuddy
• blatomud
• bledpale
• bledunjavsickly pale, washed-out
• blejahanging out, loafing (slang)
• blȅjānjeaimless hanging out (youth slang; friends only)
• bléjatito hang about doing nothing (youth slang); to bleat (of sheep)
• blesavsilly, daft (colloquial)
• bleštatito glare, to dazzle (imperfective)
• blȉzakclose; near (in space or time)
• blizánactwin
• blizáncitwins
• blízunearby, close by; near (+ Gen.); close (it is close); before a…
• bljakblech, gross (childish)
• bloga blog
• blogera blogger
• blokíratito block
• bocaa bottle (the same as flaša, slightly more formal)
• bȍdovicredits, points
• BȏgGod
• bȍgamihonestly, by God (emphatic; colloquial but not rude; also bogme)
• bogatrich, wealthy
• bogàtstvowealth, riches (-stvo makes neuter abstract nouns: prijateljstvo)
• bogmeupon my word, by God (= bogami)
• bogznaGod knows (what, where, how: bogzna šta)
• bòjaa colour; paint (boji: also “paints”, from bojiti: Boji ogradu)
• bòjati seto be afraid (of: + Gen.; a reasoned fear is strahovati)
• bòjīm se daI’m afraid that (softening a refusal or bad news)
• bojitito colour, to dye (bojiti jaja, to colour eggs; imperfective; from…
• bȍjlerwater heater
• bȏlpain (usually masculine: jak bol, bola; feminine for emotional pain…
• bȏlanman (a Bosnian address, like ‘mate’; to a woman, bona)
• bolešljivsickly
• bȍlēstillness; disease
• bȍlestansick; ill
• bòletito hurt, ache (of a body part; + Acc.)
• bòlī meit hurts (me)
• bòlī me ȕvoI couldn’t care less, I don’t give a damn (literally ‘my ear hurts’)
• bòlī me zȗbI have a toothache, my tooth hurts
• boljebetter (comparative of dobro; bolje da…, you had better…)
• Bȍlje ȉkad nȅgo nȉkadbetter late than never (literally ‘better ever than never’)
• Bȍlje ȉšta nȅgo nȉštasomething is better than nothing, half a loaf is better than none
• bolje rečenoto put it better
• Bȍlje spréčiti nȅgo léčitiprevention is better than cure
• bolje vas našligood to see you too (the reply to Dobro došli)
• Bȍlje vrábac u rúci nȅgo gȍlūb na gránia bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
• boljibetter (comparative of dobar)
• bólnicahospital
• bȍlovānjesick leave
• bolovatito be ill (imperfective; bolovati od gripa)
• bȏmbaa bomb; awesome, brilliant (slang: of a thing, an event)
• bombardovanjebombing
• bonusa bonus
• bȏrpine
• bórawrinkle
• bóraca fighter
• boranijagreen beans
• bòravakstay (in a country); residence
• bòravišnā dòzvolaresidence permit
• bòravīštea place of stay, a temporary address
• borbaa struggle, a battle; a fight (combat, a bout)
• bordoburgundy (colour)
• boriti seto struggle (boriti se protiv / za, to fight against / for…
• borkinjaa woman fighter
• boróvnicablueberry
• bòsanskīBosnian (one of the standards used in Bosnia and Herzegovina)
• BȍsnaBosnia
• Bože pravdeBože pravde (the anthem of Serbia)
• BòžićChristmas
• božićniChristmas (adj.: božićni post)
• božjiGod’s, divine
• br.the No. sign (abbreviation: broj)
• brȁćabrothers (the collective plural of brat; declines like žena, the verb…
• brȁčnī pȃrmarried couple
• bračno stanjemarital status
• brádabeard; chin
• bràdatbearded
• brȃkmarriage
• bránitito defend, to protect; to forbid (someone; imperfective)
• brȁonbrown
• brȁšnoflour
• brȁtbrother
• bratánacnephew (brother’s son)
• bratànicaniece (brother’s daughter)
• brȁtebro, mate (address; fine with friends, too familiar with strangers or…
• bratito pick (flowers, fruit)
• bratovbrother’s
• bratskibrotherly
• bratstvobrotherhood (bratstvo i jedinstvo)
• brauzera browser (colloquial; the neutral word is pregledač)
• bràvaa door lock (a padlock is katanac, a castle is dvorac)
• brȁvārlocksmith
• bravobravo! (a cheer); well done! (Bravo, sine!)
• brbljatito chatter
• brbljivtalkative
• bȑdohill
• brdovithilly
• brȅmate, man (emphatic particle; very colloquial, friends only)
• brega hill; a riverbank (Tiha voda breg roni)
• brȅndbrand
• brȅskvapeach
• brȅzabirch
• brežúljaka hillock, a small hill, a knoll
• brigaworry, care (Baš me briga: I couldn’t care less)
• brȉga o sȅbiself-care
• brìjāča razor, a shaver
• brȉjānjeshaving
• brȉnutito look after, take care of (o + Loc.); to worry about (za + Acc.; ne…
• brìsāča windscreen wiper, a wiper (usually in the plural)
• brȉsatito wipe; to mop; to erase, rub out
• brȉsati prȁšinuto dust
• BriselBrussels
• brka whisker (brkovi, a moustache)
• brkatmoustached
• bŕkovimoustache
• bȑnjicamuzzle
• brȏdship, boat
• brȏja number; a size (of shoes)
• brȏj prȅdmetaa case number, a file number
• brȏj za prȁćēnjetracking number
• bròjilometer
• brojkaa figure (in a table, a report)
• brojninumeral (adj.); numerous
• brrbrr! (cold)
• brȗcoša fresher, a first-year student, a freshman (American)
• brujatito hum, to drone (imperfective)
• brukaa disgrace (colloquial)
• brȕtogross, before deductions
• brȕto dòmāćī pròizvodgross domestic product, GDP (abbreviated BDP)
• bȓzfast (opposite of spor)
• bȓz kȁo múnjaquick as lightning
• bȓza hránafast food
• brzìnaspeed; gear (in a car)
• brzìnskīin a rush, in a hurry, quickly (hastily)
• bȓzoquickly, fast
• bubatito cram (colloquial; imperfective)
• bubnjara drummer
• bùbrega kidney (masculine)
• bučannoisy
• budàlaa fool (feminine, also of a man; name-calling)
• budalalukfoolishness
• budanawake
• bȕdīm seI wake up
• BudimpeštaBudapest
• budućifuture (budući muž; budući da, since, as)
• bùdūći dasince, given that (formal; usually opens the sentence; in speech…
• budúćnōstthe future (feminine)
• bùdžetbudget
• BugarskaBulgaria
• bujrumyou’re most welcome (colloquial; Bosnia, Sandžak, the south of Serbia)
• bȕkanoise
• bȕkvaa beech, a beech tree
• bukvalnoliterally (also as a colloquial filler)
• bulèvārboulevard
• bumboom!, bang!
• bunara well (for water)
• bȗndafur coat (the everyday word)
• burazerbro (slang)
• buregdžijaa burek baker
• bùrekburek (a flaky pastry pie)
• burgijaa drill bit
• busa bus in casual speech
• bus trakaa bus lane
• bùšilicadrill
• bȕvefleas
• bùvljākflea market
• bzvzlame; pointless (short for bezveze; writing only)