Welcome, beginner Serbian learners! Today we are going to look at one of the most useful verbs in the entire Serbian language: imati, which means "to have." If you can use imati confidently, you can already say a huge number of things - what you own, who is in your family, what you have time for, and much more.
We are going to learn the verb through a small, gentle story about a family. The story features a boy named Jeremija and his relatives, so by the end of the lesson you will know how to conjugate imati AND talk about family members in Serbian. Two for the price of one!
What does this lesson cover?
This lesson introduces the conjugation of the verb imati (to have) in the Present Tense (Prezent). We will go through all six forms - singular and plural - and then see each one used in real sentences drawn from Jeremija's family story. By the end, you will be able to say things like "I have a brother," "She has a cat," and "We have a house in the village" - all in Serbian, with correct grammar.
This is a beginner-level lesson, so everything is explained step by step. Do not rush. Read each example sentence out loud at least once - that small habit makes an enormous difference to how quickly the forms stick in your memory.
The verb imati - present tense conjugation
Here is the full present tense conjugation of imati. Learn these six forms and you have the whole picture:
| Pronoun | Serbian | English |
|---|---|---|
| ja | imam | I have |
| ti | imaš | you have (singular, informal) |
| on / ona | ima | he / she has |
| mi | imamo | we have |
| vi | imate | you have (plural or formal) |
| oni / one | imaju | they have |
Notice how each form ends differently - -am, -as, -a, -amo, -ate, -aju. This pattern is very common in Serbian verbs and once you recognise it, conjugating new verbs becomes much easier.
Hear it
Listen to the lesson video below. You will hear the verb imati used in natural sentences and in the context of Jeremija's family story. Listen as many times as you like - each listen trains your ear a little more.
Did you catch all six forms while listening? If not, go back and listen again, following the conjugation table above with your finger. That combined reading-and-listening approach is one of the most effective ways to learn verb forms.
More Serbian examples
Here are example sentences showing each form of imati in action. These are drawn from Jeremija's family story and expanded with additional examples. Read them out loud - really, say them out loud! - and try to picture the meaning as you speak.
"Ja imam brata."
(I have a brother.)"Ona ima sestru."
(She has a sister.)"Mi imamo kuću u selu."
(We have a house in the village.)"Oni imaju dvoje dece."
(They have two children.)"Jeremija ima starijeg brata i mlađu sestru."
(Jeremija has an older brother and a younger sister.)"Ti imaš veliku porodicu."
(You have a big family.)"Vi imate lep stan u gradu."
(You have a nice apartment in the city.)"On ima psa koji se zove Reks."
(He has a dog named Rex.)"Mama i tata imaju malu baštu."
(Mum and dad have a small garden.)"Jeremijina baka ima staru kuću na selu."
(Jeremija's grandmother has an old house in the countryside.)"Mi imamo prijatelje u Beogradu."
(We have friends in Belgrade.)"Da li ti imaš macu?"
(Do you have a cat?)
That last one is a question form - Da li ti imaš...? is the standard way to turn a statement into a yes/no question in Serbian. Very handy to know!
Negative forms: nemam, nemaš, nema...
Once you know the positive forms of imati, the negative forms are simple to learn. Serbian uses the negative verb nemati (to not have), which conjugates like this:
| Pronoun | Serbian | English |
|---|---|---|
| ja | nemam | I do not have |
| ti | nemaš | you do not have |
| on / ona | nema | he / she does not have |
| mi | nemamo | we do not have |
| vi | nemate | you do not have |
| oni / one | nemaju | they do not have |
"Ja nemam brata, ali imam sestru."
(I do not have a brother, but I have a sister.)"Ona nema vreme danas."
(She does not have time today.)"Mi nemamo auto, ali imamo bicikl."
(We do not have a car, but we have a bicycle.)"Oni nemaju kuću u gradu."
(They do not have a house in the city.)
The mystery - what about you?
Now it is your turn! We have heard all about Jeremija's family, and we have practised all six forms of imati. Here is a little challenge for you: write two or three sentences in Serbian about your own family or things you have. Use the forms from the table above.
For example, you could write: "Ja imam sestru. Ona ima dva maceta. Mi imamo malu kuću." Or anything at all that is true for you - the more personal and real the sentences, the better they will stick in your memory. Leave your sentences in the comments below. Do not be shy - there are no mistakes that cannot be fixed with a gentle correction, and every attempt is a step forward!
FAQ: The verb imati in Serbian
Why does Serbian use "nemam" instead of "ne imam"?
Great question! In Serbian, the verb imati forms its negative by merging the negative particle ne- directly with the verb stem to create nemati. This is a quirk of Serbian that learners often find surprising. You will see the same pattern with a few other very common verbs. Think of it as one compact word rather than two separate ones.
Is "imati" used in any expressions beyond "to have"?
Yes! One very important use is in impersonal expressions of existence. For example, "Ima li mleka?" means "Is there any milk?" and "Nema problema" means "No problem" or "There is no problem." You will encounter these constantly in everyday Serbian conversation.
When should I use "vi imate" versus "ti imaš"?
Ti imaš is the informal singular "you" - use it with friends, family, children, and people your own age in informal settings. Vi imate is both the plural "you" (speaking to more than one person) and the formal singular "you" (speaking politely to someone you do not know well, an older person, or someone in a professional context). When in doubt in a formal situation, use vi.
How is "imati" pronounced?
In Serbian, every letter is pronounced and there are no silent letters. Imati is pronounced roughly as "ee-MAH-tee," with the stress on the middle syllable. The individual forms - imam, imaš, ima, imamo, imate, imaju - follow the same vowel sounds. Listening to the video above is the very best way to get the pronunciation right.
What family vocabulary should I learn alongside "imati"?
Here are some family words that pair perfectly with imati:
| Serbian | English |
|---|---|
| brat | brother |
| sestra | sister |
| sin | son |
| cerka | daughter |
| majka / mama | mother / mum |
| otac / tata | father / dad |
| deca | children |
| porodica | family |
Is this lesson connected to other beginner lessons on this blog?
Yes! There are many more beginner lessons here covering other essential Serbian verbs and grammar patterns. The best thing you can do is work through them steadily, one at a time. Every verb you master opens a new range of things you can say and understand.
I hope you enjoyed meeting Jeremija and his family, and that the verb imati now feels like an old friend. Remember: the six forms are imam, imaš, ima, imamo, imate, imaju. Say them every morning if you like - it takes about ten seconds and it works! Leave your practice sentences in the comments. I read every single one, I love seeing your progress, and I am always here to help if something is unclear. You are doing brilliantly - keep going!
- Marina Petrovic
If you have not met Jeremija's family yet, start with the super easy video lessons of Serbian.
The Serbian 101 beginner course this lesson belonged to has since moved off Udemy. My current lessons are in the Serbian Phrases course - the first ten are free.