Welcome back! If you enjoyed part one of this listening series, I think you are going to find part two just as rewarding - and perhaps a little more challenging. In this second video, the same group of foreigners living in Belgrade share their views on some of the trickier aspects of life in Serbia: the city's problems, safety, and - one of my favourite topics - Serbian food.
This time the conversation gets a little more nuanced, so listen carefully and do not be discouraged if some sentences take two or three replays. That is absolutely part of the process, and every replay is productive listening practice.
What does part 2 cover?
Part 2 continues the conversation with the same foreign residents of Belgrade, but now they move on to more complex opinions. The speakers discuss the problems of the city and whether people think too narrowly about their own neighbourhood rather than the city as a whole. They also talk about modern architecture, personal safety in Belgrade, and - perhaps most delightfully - Serbian food: how simple it is, why some love it immediately, and what makes it special.
Key words to listen for: problemi (problems), dvorište (yard, neighbourhood), staklo i beton (glass and concrete), ugrožen (threatened, unsafe), hrana (food), supa (soup), jednostavna (simple), zavoleti (to fall in love with something).
Watch and answer
Here are seven comprehension questions in Serbian, each with a short English gloss. As always, try to write your answers in Serbian - even a single word is progress!
- Ko sve misli da Beograd ima problema koje treba rešavati? (Who thinks Belgrade has problems that need to be solved?)
- Ko sve misli da ljudi u Srbiji misle samo na svoje dvorište? (Who thinks people in Serbia only think about their own yard / neighbourhood?)
- Ko ne voli što se grade zgrade od stakla i betona? (Who does not like the fact that glass and concrete buildings are being built?)
- Ko se ne oseća ugroženo u Beogradu? (Who does not feel threatened / unsafe in Belgrade?)
- Ko sve misli da je srpska hrana jednostavna? (Who thinks Serbian food is simple?)
- Ko voli što se u Srbiji jede supa? (Who loves the fact that soup is eaten in Serbia?)
- Ko je odmah zavoleo srpsku hranu? (Who fell in love with Serbian food immediately?)
A small grammar note: the phrase misle samo na svoje dvorište is a wonderful idiom that literally means "they think only about their own yard" - in other words, they are focused on their immediate surroundings and do not think about wider civic issues. It is a very common expression in Serbian conversation.
Hear it
Watch the video below. As with part one, I recommend a first viewing just to absorb the atmosphere and voices, then a second viewing with the questions open in front of you.
More Serbian you will hear
These sentences capture the kinds of ideas and phrases that come up in this part of the conversation. Read them aloud and try to memorise one or two - they are all phrases you will actually use in real life!
"Supica je najbolja zimi."
A nice bowl of soup is the best thing in winter."Srpska hrana je ukusna i domaća."
Serbian food is tasty and home-made."U Beogradu se osećam sigurno."
I feel safe in Belgrade."Odmah sam zavoleo srpsku kuhinju."
I fell in love with Serbian cuisine immediately."Mislim da Beograd ima nekih problema, ali mnogo toga je lepo."
I think Belgrade has some problems, but a lot of things are beautiful."Ne volim zgrade od stakla i betona - one ne odgovaraju ovom gradu."
I do not like glass and concrete buildings - they do not suit this city."Svaki dan jedem supu - to je srpska tradicija!"
Every day I eat soup - that is a Serbian tradition!"Hrana ovde je jednostavna, ali puna ukusa."
The food here is simple, but full of flavour."Nikad se ne osećam ugroženo kada hodam noću po Beogradu."
I never feel unsafe when I walk around Belgrade at night."Beograd ima problema, ali i mnogo lepih stvari koje treba ceniti."
Belgrade has problems, but also many beautiful things that deserve to be appreciated.
Key vocabulary from the video
| Serbian | English |
|---|---|
| problemi | problems |
| rešavati | to solve, to deal with |
| dvorište | yard; (idiomatically) one's own immediate sphere |
| zgrade od stakla i betona | glass and concrete buildings |
| ugrožen | threatened, unsafe |
| hrana | food |
| jednostavna | simple |
| supa / supica | soup (supica is the affectionate diminutive) |
| zavoleti | to fall in love with, to come to love |
FAQ
Is part 2 harder than part 1?
A little, yes. The vocabulary is slightly more abstract - words like ugrožen (threatened) and phrases like misliti samo na svoje dvorište (to think only about one's own yard) are less common in beginner courses. But that is exactly why listening to authentic speech is so valuable: you encounter vocabulary that textbooks often skip.
Do I need to watch part 1 first?
Not strictly - part 2 stands on its own as a listening exercise. But watching part 1 first helps because you already know the speakers' voices and you have a sense of the overall conversation. The more familiar you are with the speakers, the easier comprehension becomes.
What does "supica" mean exactly?
The word supa means soup. Supica is a diminutive - literally "little soup" - but in Serbian diminutives are used affectionately, not just to indicate small size. Saying supica signals warmth and homeliness. You will hear many such diminutives in everyday Serbian: kafica (little coffee), šetnjica (a little walk), kućica (a little house).
How many times should I watch before checking the answers?
I recommend at least two full viewings before you check. On the first viewing, just listen. On the second, try to answer the questions. If you are still unsure after two viewings, watch a third time but this time focus on one or two questions at a time. Focused, repeated listening builds comprehension far faster than passive exposure.
Can I write my answers in English?
Of course! The goal is comprehension. If you can express the answer in English, that means you understood the Serbian. As you progress, try gradually shifting to Serbian answers - even just the names of the speakers to begin with.
I love this part of the video series because it shows that loving a place does not mean seeing it through rose-tinted glasses. The foreigners in the video are honest about Belgrade's challenges, and yet they clearly love living there. That kind of nuanced, grown-up affection for Serbia is exactly the attitude I hope this blog helps you develop - understanding the culture deeply, warmly, and honestly.
See you in part three! And remember: svaki dan je novi dan za učenje - every day is a new day for learning.
With warmth,
Marina Petrovic
Want more listening exercises? Visit More listening practice to browse all the listening comprehension posts.