Idemo natrag.

Idemo is the 1st person plural present tense of the verb ići (to go).

So idemo can mean:

• we go
• we are going
• let’s go / we’re going

In a short sentence like Idemo natrag, the exact English translation depends on context.

Because Serbian usually does not need a subject pronoun when it is already clear from the verb ending.

The ending -mo in idemo already tells you the subject is we.

So:

• Idemo natrag. = We’re going back.
• Mi idemo natrag. = also possible, but mi is only added for emphasis, contrast, or clarity.

For example:

• Mi idemo natrag, a oni ostaju.
  We are going back, but they are staying.

Natrag means back or backward, depending on context.

In Idemo natrag, it means back in the sense of returning to a previous place.

So the whole sentence means something like:

• We’re going back.
• Let’s go back.

Here, natrag is an adverb.

It tells you in what direction the action happens: back.

That is different from a preposition, which would normally be followed by a noun phrase.

So in:

• Idemo natrag.

natrag is simply modifying the verb idemo.

Yes. That is a very common point of confusion for English speakers.

In Serbian, the present tense can sometimes be used as a kind of suggestion or immediate decision, especially with verbs of movement.

So Idemo natrag can mean:

• We’re going back.
  (statement)
• Let’s go back.
  (suggestion / decision)

The context and intonation tell you which meaning is intended.

The infinitive is ići (to go).

This verb is somewhat irregular, so its forms do not always look very similar to the infinitive.

Some present-tense forms are:

• idem = I go / I’m going
• ideš = you go
• ide = he/she/it goes
• idemo = we go
• idete = you (plural/formal) go
• idu = they go

So idemo is just the normal present-tense plural form of ići.

Yes. Nazad is also commonly used to mean back.

Both natrag and nazad are understood. In many everyday situations, learners may hear nazad very often, while natrag is also perfectly normal and standard.

So these are both possible:

• Idemo natrag.
• Idemo nazad.

The difference is usually not very important for a beginner; it can come down to speaker preference, region, or style.

Often, yes, or something very close.

• Idemo natrag = We’re going back / Let’s go back
• Vraćamo se = We’re returning / We’re coming back

The difference is that ići focuses more on the action of going, while vraćati se / vratiti se focuses more on returning.

So in many situations they are interchangeable, but not always perfectly.

For example:

• Kasno je. Idemo natrag.
  It’s late. We’re going back.
• Kasno je. Vraćamo se.
  It’s late. We’re returning.

Both sound natural.

The neutral, most natural order is:

• Idemo natrag.

But Serbian word order is fairly flexible, especially for emphasis.

For example:

• Natrag idemo.

This is possible, but it sounds marked or emphatic, as if back is being stressed.

For a learner, Idemo natrag is the best default order.

A simple approximate pronunciation for an English speaker is:

• EE-deh-mo NAH-trahg

A few notes:

• i sounds like ee in see
• e is a clear eh
• a is like a in father
• g is always a hard g, like in go

Serbian pronunciation is generally quite regular, so once you know the sounds, the spelling is usually reliable.