лаку ноћ
laku noć
The Serbian phrase for goodnight is лаку ноћ (laku noć).
лаку ноћ is used to wish someone a good sleep when saying goodbye at night. For a more informal way to wish someone a good night's sleep, you can say Dobro spavaj, which means 'sleep well'. You may also hear the informal shorthand Noć, which literally means 'night'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective лаку (easy/smooth) and the noun ноћ (night), literally meaning 'easy night'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase лаку ноћ uses the accusative case because it is a shortened version of a wish such as 'Желим ти лаку ноћ' (I wish you a good night). The form лака ноћ is the nominative version used when simply stating 'a good night' as a subject or a noun phrase.
How do you pronounce it?
laku noć
When do people say it?
In Serbian culture, it is common to exchange hugs or kisses on the cheek when saying goodnight to close friends or family members.
Did you know?
- The phrase лаку ноћ can sometimes be used sarcastically in Serbian to imply that a situation is hopeless or that a conversation is finished permanently.
- The word ноћ is used in the Serbian idiom у ноћ, which refers to things that happen suddenly or without warning, regardless of the actual time.
- The word ноћ shares a common ancestor with the English word 'night', both tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European root for darkness.
Examples in context
- Том и Мери су рекли "лаку ноћ" један другом.Tom and Mary said goodnight to each other.This sentence shows how the phrase лаку ноћ is used when people say goodnight to each other.Tatoeba #8820360 by Lebad, translation #8813302 by CK
- Лаку ноћ!Goodnight!Tatoeba #1714768 by Dimitrije, translation #1068125 by erik21889
- Лаку ноћ.Goodnight.Tatoeba #8830490 by Lebad, translation #7822164 by sharris123
- Laku noć, mama i tata.Goodnight, mom and dad.
- Dobro veče. Laku noć, gospodine Petrović.Good evening. Goodnight, Mr. Petrović.
- Noć, drugari!Night, friends!
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Stefan is leaving Jelena's house late at night.
- JelenaЛаку ноћ, Стефане.Goodnight, Stefan.
- StefanХвала, Јелена. Лаку ноћ и теби.Thanks, Jelena. Goodnight to you too.
- JelenaВидимо се сутра.See you tomorrow.
- StefanДа, до увиђања.Yes, goodbye.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry лаку ноћ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ноћ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
