колико кошта
Asking Prices
To ask how much something costs in Serbian, use Колико кошта...? for a single item and Колико коштају...? for plural items. When sellers answer with numbers, the currency noun changes form based on the number: 1 динар, 2–4 динара, and 5+ динара.
How It Works
Asking for prices is an essential everyday skill for shopping in Serbia, whether you are at a supermarket, a bakery (пекара), or an open-air green market (пијаца).
1. Asking the Price with Коштати
The base question uses колико ('how much') followed by the appropriate present tense form of коштати:
- Колико кошта + [Singular Noun]?
Колико кошта овај хлеб? (How much does this bread cost?) - Колико коштају + [Plural Noun]?
Колико коштају ове јабуке? (How much do these apples cost?)
2. Common Conversational Alternatives
While Колико кошта? is standard and polite everywhere, locals also frequently ask using the verb бити:
- Колико је...? / Колико су...? (How much is...? / How much are...?)
Извините, колико је кафа? (Excuse me, how much is the coffee?) - Пошто је...? / Пошто су...? (literally 'At what price is...?', very popular at open markets)
Пошто су јагоде? (How much are the strawberries?)
3. Understanding Price Answers (The 1 / 2–4 / 5+ Rule)
When you hear a price, notice how the currency noun behaves:
- Number 1: један динар / један евро (ends in nominative singular).
- Numbers 2, 3, 4 (and compounds ending in 2, 3, 4 like 22, 53, except 12–14): Masculine nouns take -а (два динара, три евра); feminine nouns take -е (две кафе). Note that for 'two', choose два for masculine/neuter and две for feminine.
- Numbers 5 and above (and 11–14, 20, 30, 100): Require the genitive plural, which usually ends in a lengthened -а (пет динара, двадесет евра, сто динара).
Examples (6)
- Извините, колико кошта ова кафа?
Excuse me, how much does this coffee cost?
Word by Word: Excuse-me, how-much costs this coffee?
Uses 'кошта' because 'ова кафа' is a singular feminine subject.
- Ова кафа кошта двеста динара.
This coffee costs two hundred dinars.
Word by Word: This coffee costs two-hundred dinars.
Since 'двеста' (200) is governed by the 5+ rule, 'динар' appears in the genitive plural form 'динара'.
- Колико коштају ове две књиге?
How much do these two books cost?
Word by Word: How-much cost these two books?
Uses 'коштају' in the third-person plural to agree with 'две књиге'.
- Оне коштају четири евра.
They cost four euros.
Word by Word: They cost four euros.
The number 'четири' (4) requires the paucal form ending in '-а' ('четири евра').
- Молим вас, две кафе и један чај. Колико је то укупно?
Two coffees and one tea, please. How much is that altogether?
Word by Word: Please you, two coffees and one tea. How-much is that altogether?
A common conversational phrase using 'Колико је то?' ('How much is that?') with the copula.
- То кошта пет стотина динара.
That costs five hundred dinars.
Word by Word: That costs five hundreds of-dinars.
A complete total response using 'кошта' with the singular demonstrative subject 'то'.
Common Mistakes
Using singular 'кошта' when asking about plural items.
Колико кошта ове банане?Колико коштају ове банане?The verb 'коштати' must match the grammatical number of the subject. Plural items (like 'банане') require 'коштају'.
Blending 'Пошто је?' and 'Колико кошта?' into a redundant blend.
Пошто кошта ова књига?Колико кошта ова књига?Say either 'Колико кошта...?' or 'Пошто је...?'. 'Пошто кошта' is grammatically redundant.
Using masculine 'два' with feminine nouns.
Молим вас, два кафе.Молим вас, две кафе.The numeral 'two' has distinct gender forms: 'два' for masculine/neuter, and 'две' for feminine nouns like 'кафа'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To ask about and express prices with 'Колико кошта?', learners benefit from knowing 3rd person present tense verb forms and basic noun gender for numeral agreements like 'две кафе'.
- Regular Present Tense
Understanding how regular present tense verbs work is helpful for using the 3rd person singular and plural forms of the verb коштати (кошта / коштају).
Level 1 - Noun Gender
Understanding noun gender is necessary because numbers like један/једна/једно and два/две agree with the gender of the counted item (e.g., две кафе).
Level 1
Related Patterns
- два / две / три / четириCounting Two to Four
Governs the paucal noun form needed for prices ending in 2, 3, or 4 (such as 2, 3, 4, 22, 23, or 24 dinars).
Level 1 - пет и више + Genitive PluralCounting Five or More
Explains the genitive plural ending required after 5, 10, 20, 100, and other larger numbers when stating prices.
Level 1 - битиPresent Forms of Be
Used in the frequent spoken alternative pricing questions 'Колико је...?' and 'Пошто је...?'.
Level 1 - један / једна / једноOne with Noun Agreement
Shows how the number 1 behaves as an adjective agreeing with the currency or item in gender, number, and case.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice колико кошта in Bubblegum
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