Ways to say it
| Serbian | Note |
|---|---|
| добар дан | Cyrillic |
| dobar dan | Latin |
добар дан is a standard greeting used throughout the afternoon. Although it literally translates to "good day", it serves as the primary way to say "good afternoon" in Serbian.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally means "good day". It is composed of the adjective добар (good) and the noun дан (day).
Which one should you use?
While English speakers typically distinguish between "good morning", "good afternoon" and "good evening", the Serbian phrase добар дан is a versatile greeting used from late morning through the afternoon.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
добар дан is a polite and standard greeting suitable for formal or semi-formal situations, such as meeting a stranger or entering a shop.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective добар is in the masculine singular form to agree with the masculine noun дан.
Did you know?
- If you respond to добар дан with и вам истински добар дан, you are wishing the person a 'truly good day', which adds an extra layer of warmth and sincerity.
- The word дан shares a common ancestor with the English word 'day', both tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European root for light or daylight.
- In many Serbian social settings, you might hear someone say добар дан while walking into a room, but they will often follow it immediately with a nod of the head as a non-verbal respect marker.
Examples in context
- Добар дан.Good afternoon.This sentence demonstrates the use of добар дан.Tatoeba #8830509 by Lebad, translation #499689 by CK
- Kada sretnete osobu koju ne poznajete, pristojno je pozdraviti je sa "Dobar dan!"When you meet someone you don't know, it is polite to greet them with "Dobar dan!"
- Добар дан, како сте данас?Good afternoon, how are you today?
- Добар дан, господине.Good afternoon, sir.
Example conversation
Milica enters a small office to meet Stefan.
- MilicaДобар дан, Стефане.Good afternoon, Stefan.
- StefanДобар дан, Милице. Све је у реду?Good afternoon, Milica. Is everything okay?
- MilicaДа, све је супер.Yes, everything is great.
- StefanДраго ми је то чути.I am glad to hear that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good afternoon” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries дан, добар, добар дан, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
