Ova priča je smešna.

Because ova has to agree with priča in gender, number, and case.

• ovaj = masculine singular
• ova = feminine singular
• ovo = neuter singular

Since priča is a feminine singular noun, the correct form is ova.

A few parallel examples:

• ovaj grad = this city
• ova knjiga = this book
• ovo selo = this village

In Serbian, many nouns ending in -a are feminine, and priča is one of them.

So:

• priča = feminine singular noun
• nominative singular form = priča

That feminine gender affects the words around it, which is why you get:

• ova priča
• smešna priča
• ova priča je smešna

There are exceptions to the -a = feminine pattern, but it is still a very useful rule for beginners.

For the same reason: adjectives in Serbian agree with the noun they describe.

Since priča is feminine singular, the adjective must also be feminine singular:

• masculine: smešan
• feminine: smešna
• neuter: smešno

Examples:

• Ovaj film je smešan.
• Ova priča je smešna.
• Ovo pismo je smešno.

So the -a ending on smešna matches the feminine noun priča.

Je is the 3rd person singular present tense of the verb biti = to be.

So in this sentence, it works like English is:

• Ova priča je smešna. = This story is funny.

A few related forms of biti in the present tense are:

• sam = am
• si = are
• je = is
• smo = are
• ste = are
• su = are

Normally, in a standard statement like this, no. Serbian usually keeps the present-tense form of to be in this kind of sentence.

So:

• Ova priča je smešna. = correct
• Ova priča smešna. = not standard as a normal full sentence

In some very informal styles, poetry, headlines, or certain expressive speech, words may be dropped, but for learners, you should treat je as necessary here.

It is in the nominative singular.

Why? Because priča is the subject of the sentence:

• Ova priča = the thing being talked about
• je smešna = is funny

So the structure is:

• subject: Ova priča
• verb: je
• predicate adjective: smešna

Nominative is the normal case for the subject of a sentence.

Because Serbian has no articles like English the and a/an.

English needs:

• a story
• the story
• this story

Serbian expresses these ideas without articles:

• priča = story / a story / the story, depending on context
• ova priča = this story

So ova already gives a specific meaning, and no separate word like the is needed.

Yes, Serbian word order is more flexible than English, although Ova priča je smešna is the most neutral and natural order.

You may also hear different orders for emphasis, for example:

• Smešna je ova priča. = emphasizes funny
• Ova je priča smešna. = possible, often with contrast or special emphasis

But for a beginner, the safest pattern is:

• demonstrative + noun + je + adjective

So:

• Ova priča je smešna.

Roughly like PREE-cha.

Important sounds:

• č = like ch in chocolate, but usually a bit firmer
• pri- = pree
• -ča = cha

So priča is approximately:

• PREE-cha

Roughly like SMESH-na.

Important sound:

• š = like sh in shoe

So:

• smešna ≈ SMESH-na

The full sentence can be approximated as:

• OH-va PREE-cha ye SMESH-na

That is only an approximation, but it is a useful starting point.

Yes. In Serbian Latin spelling, they are distinct letters, not just decorative versions of c and s.

• č and ć are different letters
• š is a different letter from s
• ž is a different letter from z

This matters because changing them changes pronunciation and often the word itself.

In your sentence:

• priča uses č
• smešna uses š

So it is important not to leave off the marks when writing carefully.

Yes, that difference is normal across closely related standard varieties.

In Serbian, you will often see:

• smešan / smešna / smešno

In Croatian and in some Bosnian/Montenegrin usage, you may often see:

• smiješan / smiješna / smiješno

Both correspond to funny. The difference is mainly connected to standard variety and pronunciation patterns such as Ekavian vs. Ijekavian.

So if you are learning Serbian, smešna is perfectly normal.

Yes, but that is not a complete sentence by itself. It means this funny story.

Compare:

• Ova priča je smešna. = complete sentence: This story is funny.
• ova smešna priča = noun phrase: this funny story

In the second version, the adjective is placed directly before the noun, just like in English:

• ova smešna priča
• taj veliki grad
• moja nova knjiga

So Serbian can express the idea either:

1. as a full sentence with je
2. as a noun phrase with the adjective before the noun