Three small words - radim, zivim, volim - "I work, I live, I love." They are the verbs you will reach for every single day, and they share the same tidy set of endings. Once those endings are in your ear, a whole family of Serbian verbs opens up like a door you did not know was unlocked.
This post grew out of an audio lesson designed to drill those three verbs until they feel automatic. We will keep the drills here in text form so you can return to them any time, even without headphones. Read aloud whenever you can - that is the trick that makes the endings stick.
What do radim, zivim, and volim mean, and how do they change?
These three verbs follow the same present-tense pattern. The table below shows the first three persons - I, you (singular), and he/she/it - which cover the vast majority of everyday conversation.
| English | raditi (to work) | ziveti (to live) | voleti (to love) |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | radim | zivim | volim |
| you (singular) | radiš | zivis | voliš |
| he / she / it | radi | zivi | voli |
| we | radimo | zivimo | volimo |
| you (plural) | radite | zivite | volite |
| they | rade | zive | vole |
Are there just three endings to remember?
For the singular forms - the ones you use most - yes: -im, -is, -i. Those three suffixes attach to the verb stem and that is genuinely all you need for a first, very usable command of a huge number of Serbian verbs. The plural endings (-imo, -ite, -e/-u) follow naturally once the singular is solid, and you will absorb them almost without trying if you listen to enough Serbian speech.
What was the original audio lesson?
The lesson that inspired this post was a short, loopable audio clip - an "audioboo" in the terminology of the time - designed so that you could hear each verb form spoken clearly, pause, repeat, and move on. That format was wonderfully effective: hearing radim, radiš, radi spoken at a steady rhythm before you say it yourself activates a different kind of memory than reading alone. Since the original audio file is no longer hosted, the best substitute is the text drill in the next section, ideally spoken aloud yourself or with a language-exchange partner.
How do I practise these three verbs right now?
Two steps are all you need to begin:
- Say the trio aloud three times in a row, moving across the table: radim - radiš - radi, then zivim - zivis - zivi, then volim - voliš - voli. Keep a steady beat, like a slow chant. The rhythm does the memorising for you.
- Build one real sentence using each verb. Start simple: "Ja volim Beograd." (I love Belgrade.) Then try "Radim svaki dan." (I work every day.) Then "Živim u Srbiji." (I live in Serbia.) Short, true, and spoken aloud - that combination is hard to beat.
FAQ - radim, zivim, volim
Are all Serbian verbs conjugated like these three?
Most follow one of two main patterns in the present tense: the -im / -is / -i group (like our three here) and the -am / -as / -a group. Once you know both patterns you can handle the majority of everyday verbs. There are a small number of irregular verbs - like biti (to be) and ici (to go) - but they are few and very frequently heard, so they become familiar quickly.
Do I need to say "ja" (I) before the verb?
No - and native speakers usually drop it. The ending itself tells the listener who is performing the action. Radim on its own already means "I work." You add ja only for emphasis: "Ja radim, a ti ne radiš!" (I work, and you do not!)
What is the infinitive form of these verbs?
The infinitives are raditi (to work), ziveti (to live), and voleti (to love). You will need the infinitive after certain auxiliary verbs - for example, "Mogu da radim" (I can work) - but for plain present-tense statements the conjugated form is all you need.
How long does it take to feel comfortable with these endings?
Most learners find that a week of daily five-minute drills - saying the table aloud, then using the forms in short sentences - makes the endings feel natural. The key is consistency rather than length: five minutes every day beats one hour once a week.
"Radim, zivim, volim - three verbs, and already a life is described."
You are doing wonderfully just by being here and drilling these forms. Come back to this table whenever a new verb arrives - slot it in, check the ending, say it aloud, and it will feel like an old friend in no time.
With warm encouragement,
Marina Petrovic
Want to see how these endings behave across more verbs? Visit the Serbian verb conjugations hub - everything is laid out step by step, and the drills there pair beautifully with what you have just practised.