What does it mean word for word?
The phrase у реду literally translates to 'in order'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While у реду is a standard way to express acknowledgement, there are several alternatives depending on the context. For formal situations, the term Dobro is the most widely used and standard way to say 'Ok'. If you want to convey agreement or consent with a slightly more formal tone, you can use Slažem se, which means 'I agree'. For informal contexts, you might use Važi to mean 'Alright' or 'Accepted' or the English loanword ок which is common in spoken Serbian. Younger generations also frequently use the informal Ok to express agreement.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective phrase, у реду does not change its form based on the gender of the subject it describes.
How do you pronounce it?
u redu
Did you know?
- In many Balkan contexts, saying У реду with a falling intonation can actually signal that you are mildly annoyed or merely complying reluctantly, rather than being genuinely happy.
- The preposition у in у реду originates from the Proto-Slavic root *vъ(n).
- While 'ok' is understood, using the English loanword ок in Serbian can sometimes feel a bit 'lazy' or overly casual to older generations who prefer traditional Slavic terms.
Examples in context
- Је ли све у реду?Is everything OK?This sentence is useful for asking if everything is OK.Tatoeba #8856061 by Lebad, translation #320338 by CK
- Мислим да је то у реду.I think it's OK.This sentence is useful for expressing that something is OK.Tatoeba #1484543 by Dimitrije, translation #433884 by CK
- Да ли је Том у реду са овиме?Is Tom OK with this?This sentence is useful for asking if someone is OK with a specific situation.Tatoeba #12406661 by Lebad, translation #9999769 by CK
- Dobro jeIt's good
- Slažem se potpunoI completely agree
- Važi, nema problemaAlright, no problem
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nikola and Jelena are discussing the plan for the weekend.
- JelenaМожемо ли се видети у три?Can we meet at three?
- NikolaУ реду, договорили смо се.Ok, it's a deal.
- JelenaВидимо се тада, Никола.See you then, Nikola.
- NikolaДоговорено, Јелена.Agreed, Jelena.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries у, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
