Numbers in a classroom setting are one thing - numbers in the wild are another entirely. Today we are listening to a short, lively dialogue set in a shop, and your job is simply to write down the numbers you hear. There is also a running joke about inflation that makes the whole thing rather entertaining.

Get a pen and a piece of paper ready. You are going to listen, jot, and then check. Do not panic if you miss some - that is exactly the point of the exercise. Missing a number shows you which ones need more ear-training.

The dialogue - fill in the numbers you hear

Read through the dialogue below before you press play. Notice where the blanks are. Then listen and write a number in each blank. The dialogue is a comic sketch about a woman buying lipstick at a shop - and being rather surprised by the price.

- Dobar dan.
- Dobar dan, komšinice.
- Izvolite!
- Dace mi tu pomadu od ___ dinara.
- Mislite ovu od ___?
- Da, tu od ___.
- Koliko košta?
- ___ dinara.
- ___?
- Da, ___.
- Izvolite tih ___ dinara. Ja se izvinjavam, nisam ponela više. Ostajem dužna ___ dinara.
- Ma nema veze komšinice, donećete sutra tih ___ dinara.
- Pa naravno, neću se brukati zbog duga od ___ dinara.
- Doviđenja!

Notice the word "komšinice" - it is a warm, informal way of addressing a neighbour (female), roughly "dear neighbour." It adds a lot of colour to the sketch.

Hear it (carried forward)

Press play and listen for the numbers. Do not worry about every word - focus your attention on the blanks. Pause and rewind as many times as you need. There is no shame in listening five times; that is how ears get trained.

What to jot down

For this exercise, you only need to write down the numbers - just the digits (or the Serbian words if you want an extra challenge). The rest of the dialogue is there to give you context, not to test your full comprehension yet.

The sketch is a comic inflation joke: the price of a lipstick keeps turning out to be far higher than the buyer expected, and the comedy comes from her mounting embarrassment. That context will help you predict roughly which range the numbers might fall in - and predicting is a genuine listening strategy.

Frequently asked questions

What does "izvolite" mean?

"Izvolite" is one of the most useful words you will hear in any Serbian shop. It roughly means "here you go," "please," or "how can I help you," depending on context. A shopkeeper says "izvolite" when they are ready to serve you or when handing something over. You will hear it constantly.

What does "nema veze" mean?

"Nema veze" is an extremely common Serbian phrase meaning "no problem," "never mind," or "it does not matter." It is warm and reassuring in tone - exactly the right thing to say when a neighbour is embarrassed about a small debt. You will want to add this to your everyday vocabulary right away.

What does "izvinjavam" mean and how do I use it?

"Izvinjavam se" means "I apologise" or "I am sorry." In the dialogue, the buyer says "ja se izvinjavam" as a polite, slightly formal apology. For a quick sorry in passing, Serbs also often say "izvinite" (formal) or "izvini" (informal). All three come from the same root.

Is it normal to negotiate or apologise over small amounts in Serbian culture?

The sketch is exaggerated for comic effect, but the warmth and informal neighbourly chat it depicts - calling someone "komšinice," offering to let them pay tomorrow - reflects a very real aspect of Serbian social culture. Small-scale neighbourly trust and warmth are genuinely valued, and this dialogue captures that nicely.

Listening exercises like this one train the most important skill of all: catching real language at real speed. Every blank you fill in correctly is your ear getting a little sharper. And even the ones you miss are useful - they tell you exactly where to focus next. You are doing great work here.

- Marina

Want more listening practice with numbers? More number practice.