Planinarski štap je izdržljiv.

Serbian does not have articles like English the or a/an.

So štap can mean:

• a stick / a pole
• the stick / the pole

The exact meaning depends on context. In a standalone sentence like this, English might translate it as either The hiking pole is durable or A hiking pole is durable, depending on the situation.

Planinarski means related to hiking / mountaineering.

It comes from words like:

• planina = mountain
• planinar = hiker / mountaineer

So planinarski štap is literally a hiking stick/pole or mountaineering stick/pole. In natural English, this is often hiking pole or trekking pole.

Because it is an adjective agreeing with štap.

In Serbian, adjectives must match the noun in:

• gender
• number
• case

Here:

• štap is masculine
• singular
• nominative (the subject form)

So the adjective also takes the masculine singular nominative form:

• planinarski štap

If the noun changed, the adjective would change too. For example:

• planinarska torba = hiking bag (feminine)
• planinarsko selo = mountain/hiking village (neuter)

A good rule of thumb in Serbian is:

• nouns ending in a consonant are often masculine
• nouns ending in -a are often feminine
• nouns ending in -o or -e are often neuter

Since štap ends in a consonant, it is masculine.

That matters because both adjectives in the sentence match it:

• planinarski
• izdržljiv

Both are in masculine singular form.

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

So:

• je = is

The structure is:

• Planinarski štap = subject
• je = is
• izdržljiv = durable

So the sentence is built just like English:

• The hiking pole is durable.

Normally, no—not in a standard present-tense sentence like this.

Serbian usually requires the present form of to be when linking a subject with an adjective:

• Štap je izdržljiv.

Leaving out je would sound incomplete in standard Serbian.

It actually is showing agreement—it is just that the masculine singular nominative form often looks like the basic dictionary form.

Here izdržljiv agrees with štap, which is:

• masculine
• singular
• nominative

Compare:

• izdržljiv štap = a durable pole (masculine)
• izdržljiva cipela = a durable shoe (feminine)
• izdržljivo uže = durable rope (neuter)

So izdržljiv is already in the correct matching form.

It is a descriptive adjective meaning durable, sturdy, hard-wearing, or able to withstand a lot.

It comes from the idea of enduring or holding up well.

So izdržljiv is a good word for things like:

• equipment
• shoes
• materials
• tools

In this sentence, it describes the hiking pole as something that lasts well and does not break easily.

It functions as one noun phrase, like hiking pole in English.

Even though Serbian uses an adjective + noun structure, the meaning is natural and fixed:

• planinarski štap = hiking pole / trekking pole

So yes, you should understand it as one everyday item, not as a random stick that belongs to a mountaineer.

This is the most neutral and natural word order:

• Planinarski štap je izdržljiv.

Serbian word order is more flexible than English, but changing it usually changes the emphasis.

For example:

• Izdržljiv je planinarski štap. = more emphasis on durable
• Planinarski štap je izdržljiv. = neutral statement

So learners should use the original order as the default.

Štap is pronounced roughly like shtap.

A few pronunciation notes:

• š sounds like English sh
• a is a clear short ah
• p is fully pronounced at the end

So:

• štap ≈ shtahp

Also, Serbian spelling is very phonetic, so once you know the letters, pronunciation is usually straightforward.

Because they do two different jobs:

• planinarski describes the noun directly:
  planinarski štap = hiking pole

• izdržljiv comes after je and tells us a quality of the subject:
  štap je izdržljiv = the pole is durable

So one adjective is part of the noun phrase, and the other is the main description in the sentence.

Yes.

Because Serbian has no articles, the sentence can be understood either as:

• talking about a specific hiking pole: The hiking pole is durable
• making a general statement: A hiking pole is durable

The context tells you which meaning is intended. Without extra context, both are possible.