One of the first things any new learner of Serbian wants to be able to do is point at things and name them - "This is a...", "These are..." - and in Serbian that is beautifully straightforward once you know the two magic phrases. Today we focus on exactly that: Ovo je and Ovo su.
This is a short but satisfying lesson because the pattern is so clean and so immediately useful. By the end you will be labelling everything in the room around you.
How do you say "this is" vs "these are"?
The answer is elegantly simple:
- Ovo je + singular noun - "This is a/the ___." Use this whenever the thing you are pointing at is one item.
- Ovo su + plural noun - "These are ___." Use this whenever you are pointing at more than one item.
The word ovo means "this" (neuter form), and it does not change. What changes is the verb: je (is, third-person singular of biti) for one thing, su (are, third-person plural of biti) for more than one.
Hear it (carried forward)
The clip below demonstrates this pattern in natural spoken Serbian. Listen and notice how clearly the distinction between je and su comes through even in casual speech.
Examples to feel the pattern
Read these examples aloud - the rhythm of the switch from je to su will lodge in your memory quickly.
| Serbian | English |
|---|---|
| Ovo je knjiga. | This is a book. |
| Ovo su knjige. | These are books. |
| Ovo je stolica. | This is a chair. |
| Ovo su stolice. | These are chairs. |
| Ovo je prozor. | This is a window. |
| Ovo su prozori. | These are windows. |
A tip
A great game to play with yourself is to walk through any room and alternate: "Ovo je lampa. Ovo su lampe. Ovo je sto. Ovo su stolovi." You will notice plural endings very quickly this way, because you need to know the plural to complete the sentence - which drives you to look it up and remember it.
Do not worry yet about all the different ways Serbian nouns form their plurals; just use the nouns you already know and let the vocabulary build naturally around this structure.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use "ovo je" with a person's name?
Absolutely. "Ovo je Marina" means "This is Marina" - a perfectly natural introduction. In a group: "Ovo su Marina i Nikola" (These are Marina and Nikola).
What is the difference between "ovo," "ovo," and "ovo" - is there any variation?
Serbian has three demonstrative pronouns for "this": ovaj (masculine), ova (feminine), and ovo (neuter). When you say "Ovo je..." as a general pointer - like gesturing at something on a table - you almost always use the neuter ovo regardless of the noun's grammatical gender. It works like English "this" used in isolation.
What about "that is" - how do I say that?
"That is" uses to je (singular) and to su (plural). The structure is identical; only ovo (this, nearby) swaps to to (that, further away). "Šta je to?" - "What is that?" - is a phrase you will use constantly as a beginner.
How do most nouns form the plural?
Feminine nouns ending in -a typically change to -e (knjiga - knjige). Masculine nouns typically add -i or -ovi/-evi (prozor - prozori). Neuter nouns ending in -o or -e usually shift to -a (mesto - mesta). There are exceptions, but these patterns cover the majority of everyday nouns.
Two little phrases, one big step forward. Once "Ovo je" and "Ovo su" feel automatic, you will find yourself constructing Serbian sentences with far more confidence. Try it at home today and let me know what you named!
Srećno i veselo, Marina Petrovic
Find the full collection of singular and plural lessons at More singular/plural practice.