почивај у миру
počivaj u miru
The Serbian phrase for "rest in peace" is почивај у миру (počivaj u miru).
The phrase почивај у миру is used as a blessing or an expression of hope for the deceased. It is common in both spoken condolences and in written formats, such as obituary notices or on gravestones.
Meaning: blessing or expression of hope (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the imperative verb почивај (rest), the preposition у (in) and the noun миру (peace).
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb почивај is in the second-person singular imperative form, which is used when addressing a single deceased person. To address more than one person or to use a more formal tone, you should use the plural/polite imperative почивајте у миру.
How do you pronounce it?
počivaj u miru
Did you know?
- While почивај у миру is a common blessing, in Serbian Orthodox tradition, people more frequently say Господе, помилој њега ('Lord, have mercy on him') during funeral rites.
- In traditional Serbian Orthodox burial customs, the phrase почивај у миру is often accompanied by the lighting of a 'kandilo' or oil lamp to guide the soul's peace.
- While почивај у миру is the direct equivalent of 'rest in peace', the verb почивати can also be used to describe a building's foundation 'resting' on a certain type of soil.
Examples in context
- Почивај у миру.Rest in peace.This sentence shows how to use почивај у миру.Tatoeba #12414927 by Lebad, translation #692884 by CM
- Почивај у миру, драги пријатељу.Rest in peace, dear friend.
Example conversation
Two men are standing at a cemetery.
- MarijaЖао ми је што смо га изгубили.I am sorry that we lost him.
- LukaДа, био је добар човек.Yes, he was a good man.
- MarijaПочивај у миру, стари пријатељу.Rest in peace, old friend.
- LukaТако је, почивај у миру.That is right, rest in peace.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
