Present simple conjugation - nositi (to wear) and feminine clothes vocabulary
One of the most practical combinations in early Serbian learning: the verb "to wear" paired with the vocabulary for clothes. Once you can conjugate "nositi" and name a few items from a wardrobe, you can describe people, talk about fashion, and understand a whole category of everyday conversation.
Today's focus is on feminine clothing vocabulary - both singular and plural forms - alongside the full present-tense conjugation of nositi. We finish with a simple NOSIM / NE NOSIM practice so you can start using the verb immediately.
Conjugating nositi in the present tense
"Nositi" belongs to the "-iti" verb group, one of the most regular and predictable in Serbian. Learn this pattern and it unlocks dozens of other verbs.
| Person | Serbian | English |
|---|---|---|
| ja (I) | nosim | I wear |
| ti (you - singular) | nosiš | you wear |
| on/ona/ono (he/she/it) | nosi | he/she/it wears |
| mi (we) | nosimo | we wear |
| vi (you - plural/formal) | nosite | you (all) wear / you wear (formal) |
| oni/one/ona (they) | nose | they wear |
Notice the stem change at the third-person plural: "nos-e" rather than "nos-i". This is normal for this verb class. Say the forms aloud a few times - the rhythm of nosim, nosiš, nosi, nosimo, nosite, nose is quite musical once you get going.
Feminine clothing vocabulary - singular and plural
| English | Singular (nominative) | Plural | Accusative (after nosim) |
|---|---|---|---|
| dress | haljina | haljine | haljinu |
| skirt | suknja | suknje | suknju |
| blouse | bluza | bluze | bluzu |
| coat | kaput | kaputi | kaput |
| jacket | jakna | jakne | jaknu |
| scarf | marama | marame | maramu |
| tights / stockings | carape / hulahopke | carape / hulahopke | carape / hulahopke |
Note that "kaput" (coat) is masculine - it does not follow the feminine "-a" pattern, but it is used constantly in everyday speech so it is worth learning alongside the feminine items.
Practice - NOSIM / NE NOSIM
This is a simple but powerful exercise. Go through the clothing list and make a true sentence for each item - either "Nosim..." (I wear...) or "Ne nosim..." (I don't wear...). Use the accusative form from the table's last column.
- Nosim haljinu. - I wear a dress.
- Ne nosim suknju. - I don't wear a skirt.
- Nosim jaknu jer je hladno. - I wear a jacket because it is cold.
- Ne nosim kaput zimi. - I don't wear a coat in winter. (Or: "Nosim kaput zimi." - I wear a coat in winter.)
- Ona nosi plavu haljinu. - She wears a blue dress.
The negation pattern is simple: ne placed directly before the verb. "Ne nosim" - "I don't wear". That "ne" stays constant across all persons: ne nosim, ne nosiš, ne nosi, ne nosimo, ne nosite, ne nose.
Combining clothes and colours
Once you have the clothes vocabulary, adding colour adjectives is the natural next step. In Serbian, adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they describe:
- crvena haljina (red dress) - "Nosim crvenu haljinu."
- plava suknja (blue skirt) - "Nosim plavu suknju."
- crna jakna (black jacket) - "Nosim crnu jaknu."
Notice how the adjective ending shifts from "-a" to "-u" in the accusative, matching the noun. This consistency is one of Serbian's most satisfying features once it clicks.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between "nositi" and "obući"?
Nositi means to wear (a state - you are currently wearing something). Obući (or "obuti" for footwear) means to put on (an action - you are in the process of dressing). "Nosim haljinu" - I am wearing a dress (right now). "Oblacim haljinu" - I am putting on a dress (the action).
Why does the accusative of feminine nouns end in "-u"?
Feminine nouns that end in "-a" in the nominative (haljina, suknja, bluza...) shift to "-u" in the accusative singular. This is the most regular accusative pattern in Serbian and affects a large number of common nouns. Once you know it for one noun, you know it for hundreds.
Is "haljina" always feminine?
Yes - "haljina" is feminine (as are almost all Serbian nouns ending in "-a"). Grammatical gender in Serbian is a property of the noun, not necessarily of the item it describes. Kaput (coat) is masculine despite being worn by people of any gender.
How do I ask "What are you wearing?"
"Šta nosiš?" - literally "What do you wear?" or "What are you wearing?" - uses the second-person singular form of nositi. For a more casual register, "Šta si obukao/obukla?" (What did you put on? / What are you dressed in?) is also very common.
Clothes vocabulary is wonderfully concrete - you can look at what you are wearing right now and practise. That immediate, physical connection between word and object is a genuine memory aid. Pick one item of clothing each morning, say its Serbian name, and conjugate "nositi" with it. A month of that tiny habit will take you further than you expect.
For more vocabulary lists and verb conjugation tables, visit the Serbian phrases hub - there is a whole section on everyday vocabulary with the same approach.
- Marina Petrovic