Have you heard about the most famous Serbian word of all time?
The most Serbian word.
Not a day goes by without someone from Serbia saying it at least 5 times.
A word that is impossible to translate into another language. It can go with almost any word and it can have multiple meanings depending on the situation in which we used it.
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the most famous Serbian word, it's the word (drum roll):
"BRE".
It's like a verbal exclamation mark, Serbian effect enhancer (more or less) of any sentence.
It is a sign that the matter is serious. The speaker is not kidding:
"Нећу бре!" (No bre!).
"Остави ме на миру бре!" (Leave me alone bre!)
"Дај ми то бре!" (Give me that bre!)
It is equally used in a positive context, for example when you are happy for someone you haven't seen for a long time:
"Где си бре!" (Where have you been, bre!)
It is also appropriate to express a feeling of great confusion over one's actions or identity:
"Шта радиш то бре?" (What are you doing bre?!)
"Ко си ти бре?!" (Who are you bre?!)
It can also strengthen romantic emotions towards someone:
"Волим те бре!" (I love you bre!)
"Недостајеш ми бре!" (I miss you bre!)
When we are impatient:
"Хајде бре!" (Come on bre!)
"Додај ми лопту бре!" (Pass me the ball bre!)
When we think someone is not telling us the truth:
"Немој да ме лажеш бре!" (Don't lie to me bre!)
Although it is most suitable when we are angry:
"Бежи бре!" (Go away, bre!)
"Јеси ти луд бре?!" (Are you crazy bre?!)
"Не обраћај ми се бре!" (Don't talk to me bre!)
It is very important to point out that this word is only to be used in spoken language and in less formal situations, it should never be used in a conversation with people we don't know well or in serious formal conversations, because we can come off as uncultured or rude. Be that as it may, we can say with certainty that the word "bre" is a trademark of the Serbian language. A strong spice, which should not be overdone ;)
