Ways to say it
| Serbian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ићи | Cyrillic, imperfective | |
| ići | /ǐt͡ɕi/ | Latin, imperfective |
The verb is used to describe moving through space, specifically from one place to another.
Which one should you use?
The forms ићи and ići are identical in meaning, differing only in the script used (Cyrillic and Latin respectively). While ићи describes the ongoing process of going, the perfective verb отићи should be used when you want to express a completed movement or the specific act of leaving.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As an imperfective verb, it has several common forms: иде (he/she/it goes) is used for continuous or habitual actions, идемо means "we go" or "we are going" and идеш means "you go" or "you are going". In the phrase идеш ти, adding the pronoun ти after the verb provides emphasis, even though идеш is grammatically sufficient on its own.
Did you know?
- In Serbian, ићи can be used to describe how a situation is developing. For example, иде is often used to say that a plan or a project is 'going' well or poorly.
- The root of ићи is one of the oldest linguistic remnants in the language, tracing back thousands of years to Proto-Indo-European.
- In Serbian, the word for 'go' is so central that it serves as the building block for many other verbs by adding different prefixes, creating entirely new meanings.
Examples in context
- Ići ću ako ideš ti.I will go if you go.This sentence shows how to express a conditional future action using ići.Tatoeba #4993098 by Lebad, translation #2163135 by Source_VOA
- Ići ću ako idete vi.I'll go if you go.This sentence demonstrates a conditional future action with the plural 'you' using ići.Tatoeba #4993099 by Lebad, translation #6667086 by CK
- Можеш ићи на спавање сада.You can go to sleep now.This sentence shows how to use ићи to express permission to perform an action.Tatoeba #6148786 by dzoja, translation #3177838 by CK
- Možete li mi reći kako otići do glavnog trga?Can you tell me how to go to the main square?
- Idi na pijacu i kupi sveže voće.Go to the market and buy fresh fruit.
- Ajde da idemo u bioskop večeras!Let's go to the cinema tonight!
- Ja idem.I go.
- Ti ideš.You go.
- On/Ona/Ono ide.He/She/It goes.
- Mi idemo.We go.
- Oni/One/Ona idu.They go.
- Idi kući.Go home.
- Idi napred.Go forward.
- Idi levo/desno.Go left/right.
- Idi spavati!Go to sleep!
- Idi učiti!Go study!
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Stefan and Marija are deciding how to reach the city center.
- StefanЖелиш ли ићи пешке до центра?Do you want to go on foot to the center?
- MarijaНе, ратним је превише далеко.No, it's too far to walk.
- StefanОнда ћемо ићи аутобусом.Then we will go by bus.
- MarijaТо је одлична идеја, Стефане.That is a great idea, Stefan.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “go” translations and entries ići, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ići, ићи, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
