Beograd
Belgrade is the capital city of Serbia, known in Serbian as Beograd.
Beograd refers specifically to the capital city of Serbia.
What does it mean word for word?
The name is a compound of beo (white) and grad (city), literally meaning "White City".
Did you know?
- The word grad for 'city' is a cognate of the English word 'garden'. Both derive from an ancient root meaning an 'enclosure' or 'protected space'.
- Because it sits at the confluence of two major rivers, Beograd is often called the 'Gate of the Balkans'. This nickname reflects its strategic military history as a fortress city.
- While the name literally means 'White City', it actually refers to the historical white stone walls of the city's fortress rather than the color of the buildings themselves.
Examples in context
- Beograd je veoma veliki grad.Belgrade is a very large city.
- Želim da posetim Beograd ove godine.I want to visit Belgrade this year.
- Oni se sele u Beograd.They are moving to Belgrade.
Example conversation
Marko and Milica are discussing travel plans.
- MarkoDa li si ikada bila u Beogradu?Have you ever been to Belgrade?
- MilicaJesam, Beograd mi je veoma lep.Yes, I have, Belgrade is very beautiful to me.
- MarkoMožda bih i ja trebao da odem.Maybe I should go too.
- MilicaObavezno idi, sigurno će ti se dopasti.You should definitely go, you will surely like it.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Beograd, CC BY-SA 4.0.
