одлазити
Cyrillic, imperfective
To go away in Serbian is одлазити or отићи. Wiktionary also lists odlaziti and otići.
Meaning: to depart or leave a place (verb)
Ways to say it
| Serbian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| одлазити | Cyrillic, imperfective | |
| отићи | Cyrillic, perfective | |
| odlaziti | Latin, imperfective | |
| otići | /otǐːt͡ɕi/ | Latin, perfective |
The verb refers to the act of departing or leaving a place.
Which one should you use?
The imperfective form одлазити is used for ongoing or habitual actions of leaving, such as 'to be going away'. In contrast, the perfective form отићи is used to describe a completed, single act or the specific moment of departing.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The imperative form одлази can be used as a command to tell someone to leave. Depending on your tone, this can range from a firm request to a rude dismissal. For a more polite and formal way to say 'Please leave', you can use the phrase Molim vas da odete.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
While одлази means 'go away' or 'leave', the simple verb оди is often used as a more blunt, monosyllabic command to 'go' or 'get out'.
Did you know?
- If you are told idi u tri lepe (literally 'go into three beautiful ones'), someone is telling you to go away in a highly idiomatic, slightly old-fashioned, and sarcastic manner.
- If you want to tell someone to 'get lost' in a very colorful, slang way, you might use the word gubi se instead of a formal 'go away'. Literally, this means 'lose yourself', implying the person should vanish or lose their way.
- In Serbian, the command idi (the imperative of 'go') is often used as a dismissive 'Go away!' or even 'Get out of here!' when someone is telling a lie or an unbelievable story.
Examples in context
- Otiđite dalje, molim vas.Please go away.
- Molim vas da odete sada.Please leave now.
- Odlazi odavde!Go away from here!
Example conversation
Milica and Luka are talking about their daily routine.
- MilicaКада обично почињеш одлазити на посао?When do you usually start leaving for work?
- LukaОбично одлазим у осам ујутру.I usually leave at eight in the morning.
- MilicaТо је јако рано за тебе, Лука.That is very early for you, Luka.
- LukaДа, али тако брже стигнем.Yes, but I arrive faster that way.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “go away” translations and entries otići, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
