Rešetka je na roštilju.

Because after na when it means in/on/at a location, Serbian normally uses the locative case.

So:

• dictionary form: roštilj
• locative singular: roštilju

That is why you get:

• na roštilju = on the grill / on the barbecue

A very useful contrast is:

• na roštilju = on the grill (location, no movement)
• na roštilj = onto the grill (movement toward it)

So the ending -u shows location here.

Je means is.

It is the 3rd person singular present tense form of the verb biti (to be).

So:

• Rešetka je na roštilju.
• The grate is on the grill.

In this kind of sentence, Serbian keeps the verb je, just like English uses is.

Na is the preposition used for being on, at, or sometimes in a surface-related location.

In this sentence, it means on:

• na roštilju = on the grill

This is very common in Serbian:

• na stolu = on the table
• na zidu = on the wall
• na roštilju = on the grill

As mentioned, na can take different cases depending on meaning:

• na + locative for location: on / at
• na + accusative for motion toward something: onto / to

It is the locative singular.

The phrase na roštilju answers the question Where?

• Gde je rešetka? = Where is the grate?
• Na roštilju. = On the grill.

So this is a typical preposition + locative phrase expressing location.

Yes. Rešetka is a feminine noun in Serbian.

You can tell partly from the ending -a, which is very often feminine in the nominative singular.

Because it is feminine, if you later use adjectives with it, those adjectives must agree with it:

• velika rešetka = big grate
• metalna rešetka = metal grate

In this sentence, though, the verb je does not show feminine gender, so you do not see that agreement directly.

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

So rešetka can mean:

• a grate
• the grate

and roštilj / roštilju can mean:

• a grill
• the grill

The exact meaning depends on context.

So Rešetka je na roštilju. could be understood as:

• The grate is on the grill.
• A grate is on the grill.

In practice, context usually makes it clear.

They are related, but they are not the same thing.

• rešetka = grate / grid / rack
• roštilj = grill / barbecue

So in this sentence, the idea is that the grate is on the grill.

Depending on context, roštilj can also refer to:

• the cooking device itself
• grilled food
• a barbecue event/meal

But here, because of na roštilju, it most naturally refers to the grill as a place or surface.

Yes. Serbian word order is more flexible than English word order.

The neutral order here is:

• Rešetka je na roštilju.

But you may also hear:

• Na roštilju je rešetka.

That can sound more like On the grill is the grate or put extra focus on the location.

Even though word order can change, the original version is the most straightforward, neutral way to say it.

Yes, depending on context, roštilj can have a few related meanings.

For example, na roštilju can sometimes mean:

• on the grill
• at the barbecue
• being grilled

But in this exact sentence, because the subject is rešetka (grate), the physical meaning on the grill is the most natural one.

So context matters a lot with roštilj.

It is talking about location.

The sentence says where the grate is, not where it is going.

That is why Serbian uses:

• na roštilju (locative) = on the grill

If it were movement, Serbian would usually use the accusative instead:

• Stavlja rešetku na roštilj.
• He/She is putting the grate onto the grill.

So this sentence is static, not directional.

A natural question would be:

• Gde je rešetka? = Where is the grate?

And the answer:

• Rešetka je na roštilju.
• The grate is on the grill.

You could also answer more briefly:

• Na roštilju. = On the grill.

That is very natural in conversation.

A rough pronunciation is:

• rosh-TEE-lyoo

A few helpful points:

• š sounds like sh in shoe
• lj is a single Serbian sound, somewhat like the lli in million, though not exactly the same
• the stress is typically on til: rošTILju

And rešetka is roughly:

• re-SHET-ka

with š again sounding like sh.

In standard Serbian, in a normal full sentence like this, je is usually not omitted.

So the standard sentence is:

• Rešetka je na roštilju.

You may sometimes see omission in headlines, notes, or very informal styles, but for a learner, it is best to keep je here.

So the safe rule is:

• use je in this sentence type

It is:

• Subject + verb + prepositional phrase

So here:

• Rešetka = subject
• je = verb
• na roštilju = prepositional phrase showing location

In other words:

• The grate
  • is
    • on the grill

This is a very common and useful Serbian sentence pattern.