The Serbian Cyrillic Alphabet: A pillar of ‘Srpstvo’.
Introduction
Faith and language are essential to preserving cultural identity. This isn’t unique to Serbs — it’s true for every culture that wants to survive with its soul intact. For us, Serbian Orthodoxy and the Serbian language are non-negotiables in this mission. Let’s take a closer look at the Serbian Cyrillic Alphabet (Ćirilica) — the Azbuka — why it matters for Serbs, and how we can bring it back into our everyday lives.
The Serbian Cyrillic Alphabet:
A pillar of ‘Srpstvo’
Ah, the beauty of the Serbian Cyrillic Alphabet — Ćirilica. 30 perfect letters! Why perfect? Because each letter matches one sound — perfectly phonetic. It looks like art, too. Function and beauty — this is what makes great design. Azbuka is sacred, practical, and beautiful — a script made for prayer and everyday use alike.
→ Backstory: The Ćirilica Timeline.
Orthodox Christian Slavs, such as the Serbs, Russians, and Bulgarians (and some other non-Slav peoples), use the Cyrillic alphabet. Here’s a brief timeline of the Serbian Cyrillic alphabet — Azbuka — to put things in context.
863. Saints Cyril and Methodius create the Glagolitic script (Glagoljica), the oldest known Slavic alphabet, to translate Christian liturgical texts, including the Bible, from Greek into Old Church Slavonic.
885–893. The Cyrillic script, based on the Greek alphabet, is developed by their disciples — especially St. Clement of Ohrid and St. Naum — and gradually replaces Glagolitic.
1100–1200. Glagolitic fades in Serbian lands; Cyrillic dominates — especially in monasteries, royal courts, and religious texts.
1219. St. Sava establishes the Serbian Orthodox Church and promotes the use of Cyrillic in Serbia.
1700s–1800s. – Latin script (Latinica) begins to spread in South Slavic regions, especially among Catholic and Austro-Hungarian-influenced populations. It is present in various aspects of Serbian public life, including education, administration, and trade.
1818. Vuk Karadžić reforms and standardizes the Serbian Cyrillic alphabet into 30 phonetic letters, based on the principle: ‘Пиши као што говориш’ ('Write as you speak)
1868. Kingdom of Serbia officially adopts Vuk’s reformed Cyrillic alphabet.
1941–1945. The Ustaša regime bans Cyrillic (Ćirilica) in the Independent State of Croatia during WWII in an attempt to erase Serbian identity.
1945–1980s. Under Tito’s Yugoslavia, the Latin script is promoted, and Cyrillic (Ćirilica) use is discouraged.
2006. The Serbian Constitution officially declares Cyrillic the official script of Serbia.
→ Threats to Ćirilica.
One great irony of life is that sometimes our enemies actually help us. They reveal our weaknesses and strengths. They remind us of what is important for our survival. And what makes us — us.
In WWII, the Ustaše — in an attempt to erase Serbian identity — explicitly banned Cyrillic. Imagine that — banning an alphabet! Wow. That should stop and make you think. It speaks to the power of our Azbuka and what it means to our identity.
And, the Tito communists that followed were no better. Cyrillic was openly discouraged, even mocked. The Latin script was promoted as ‘neutral, modern and useful’. Anational and atheistic, the communists saw no benefit in Serbian Orthodoxy or Serbian identity.
What about today?
Serbs born in the diaspora naturally lean toward Latinica — it feels familiar, easier. But even in Serbia, Azbuka is under pressure. Walk through Beograd. You won’t just see Latinica where Ćirilica should be — you’ll often see English where Serbian should be. Looks like apathy, assimilation, and convenience might be the most dangerous enemies of all.
So, what can you do?
→ Take the Ćirilica challenge!
Let’s help Ćirilica make a comeback. If you’re in the diaspora, and don’t know Ćirilica — it’s time. If you already speak Serbian and know Latinica — it’ll take a day for you to learn Ćirilica! We promise. Then comes the practice. Below, we have some tips — Serbian Lifestyle hacks — to help you work it into your everyday life. Learn to use it and love it. For most, it’s just a matter of tweaking your habits. But, if you’re in Serbia, you don’t have any excuses on this one.
Bring Ćirilica into your life:
1. Immerse yourself. Surround yourself with Ćirilica — wall art, posters, books, journals, icons, t-shirts, gifts and everyday items. Hang Azbuka wall art at home or in your workspace. Your brain will catch on faster than you think. Pray in Serbian. Use a Ćirilica prayerbook to help (Молитвеник).
2. Read it. Find simple texts in Ćirilica — books, graphic novels or social media posts. Practice daily.
3. Install the keyboard on your phone and computer. Start typing!
4. Text in Ćirilica. Start small. Use it in casual chats with friends and family. Normalize it. Text your kids.
5. Mark the moments that matter. Use Ćirilica on festive occasions, especially at religious holidays — Slava, Christmas, Easter — customize your cakes, jewelry inscriptions, customized keepsakes, photo albums, wedding rings, and invitations — but don’t stop there. The alphabet of our ancestors deserves a place on our most sacred milestones — including gravestones. Make it the standard.
6. Journal. Practice with a twist: try writing English words in Ćirilica — a fun secret code! Writing by hand helps train your brain and improve memory.
7. Use it with English — side by side. Mix Ćirilica with English — side by side. For example, get Gorski Vijenac in bilingual editions where Serbian is on one page and English on the opposite. Immediate translation helps build understanding.
8. Start young. Teach your kids from the start. Make flashcards. Do ‘spelling’ tests (even though it’s completely phonetic, you’ll get some hilarious combinations). Make it fun — and familiar.
9. Read along with lyrics. Pick your favourite Serbian songs and follow along with the lyrics in Ćirilica. It’s a fun and natural way to train your brain — and feel the language in rhythm and context.
10. Support brands and creators who use Ćirilica.
Buy books, prints, t-shirts, and products that use the Serbian script. Follow artists, musicians, and influencers who post in Ćirilica. Your support helps normalize and spread its everyday use — and sends a message that our script matters.
Conclusion
We hope you’ll use these tips to help make Ćirilica part of your Serbian lifestyle.
Staying connected to your Serbian identity takes effort — whether in Serbia or the diaspora.
But, using Ćirilica is easy. Once you decode it, you’ll see how simple and perfect it is.
It’s that one important detail that makes Serbs — Serbs. A true pillar of ‘Srpstvo.’
And remember, you’ll be writing in the same script as Serb Greats — St. Sava, Njegoš, Tesla — and countless others.
Now that’s an honour!
Amazing the power 30 perfect letters can have.