i ja tebe volim
i ja tebe volim is the Serbian way to say "I love you too".
This phrase is used as a response to tell someone that you feel the same love for them.
What does it mean word for word?
The literal translation of i ja tebe volim is "also I you love".
How does it change in a sentence?
In natural speech, the word ja (I) is often omitted because the verb ending -im already indicates the first-person singular subject.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying i ja tebi volim. This is grammatically incorrect because the verb volim requires the accusative case tebe rather than the dative case tebi.
Did you know?
- If you are responding to a partner, you can say Volim i ja tebe to sound more rhythmic, but if you say Volim te i ja, it can sometimes sound like you are emphasizing that you love yourself as well.
- While volim is the standard word for 'love', Serbian has another word obožavam used for an intense, almost worshipful love or an obsession with an object or person.
- The Serbian pronoun ja is an ancient descendant of the Proto-Indo-European root *éǵh₂, making it a distant relative of the English word 'I'.
Examples in context
- I ja tebe volim, dragi.I love you too, darling.
- Ne brini, i ja tebe volim.Don't worry, I love you too.
Example conversation
A couple is saying goodbye before one of them leaves for work.
- JelenaVolim te, Marko.I love you, Marko.
- MarkoI ja tebe volim, Jelena.I love you too, Jelena.
- JelenaČuvaj se danas.Take care of yourself today.
- MarkoTrudiću se, ljubim te.I will try, kisses.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ja, CC BY-SA 4.0.
