Dečak čeka napolju.

Serbian does not have articles like a or the. So dečak can mean a boy or the boy, depending on context.

In this sentence, English might translate it as either:

• The boy is waiting outside.
• A boy is waiting outside.

The surrounding context tells you which one sounds best.

Dečak is in the nominative singular. That is the basic dictionary form, and it is used here because dečak is the subject of the sentence — the one doing the action.

So:

• dečak = nominative singular
• function: subject of čeka

Čeka is the 3rd person singular present tense of the verb čekati, which means to wait.

So:

• ja čekam = I wait / I am waiting
• ti čekaš = you wait / you are waiting
• on / ona / ono čeka = he / she / it waits, is waiting

Because the subject is dečak (singular), the verb is čeka.

It can mean both, depending on context.

Serbian present tense often covers both:

• he waits
• he is waiting

So Dečak čeka napolju can be understood as either:

• The boy waits outside
• The boy is waiting outside

In natural English, is waiting outside is usually the more likely translation.

Serbian often does not need subject pronouns if the subject is already clear.

Here, dečak is already stated, so adding on would be unnecessary in a neutral sentence.

• Dečak čeka napolju. = normal
• On čeka napolju. = He is waiting outside
• Dečak, on čeka napolju. = possible, but marked and usually unnecessary

Serbian commonly omits pronouns unless they are needed for contrast, emphasis, or clarity.

Napolju is an adverb meaning outside, outdoors, or outside the building/house.

In this sentence, it tells you where the boy is waiting.

So:

• čeka = is waiting
• napolju = outside

Together: is waiting outside

No. In this sentence, napolju functions as an adverb.

That is important for English speakers, because it may look like something built from smaller parts, but here you should learn it as a single common word meaning outside.

It answers the question:

• Where is he waiting?
• Napolju.

This is a very useful distinction.

• napolju = outside, outdoors
• na polju = in/on the field

So these are not the same:

• Dečak čeka napolju. = The boy is waiting outside.
• Dečak čeka na polju. = The boy is waiting in the field / on the field.

The spelling matters.

Yes. Serbian word order is more flexible than English word order, because case endings and verb forms help show who is doing what.

The neutral order here is:

• Dečak čeka napolju.

But you can also say:

• Napolju čeka dečak. = Outside, a/the boy is waiting.
• Dečak napolju čeka. = The boy is waiting outside.
  This is possible, though less neutral and more stylistically marked.

The meaning stays basically the same, but the focus or emphasis changes.

Yes. Čekati is an imperfective verb.

That means it usually describes an ongoing, repeated, or uncompleted action, which fits the idea of waiting very naturally.

In this sentence, the imperfective verb gives the ordinary meaning:

• The boy is waiting outside.

For learners, the main thing to remember is:

• čekati = the normal verb for to wait
• čeka = he/she/it waits or is waiting

Yes. Čekati can be used with or without an object.

In your sentence, there is no stated object:

• Dečak čeka napolju. = The boy is waiting outside.

But you can also say things like:

• Dečak čeka autobus. = The boy is waiting for the bus.
• Dečak čeka prijatelja. = The boy is waiting for a friend / his friend.

This is different from English, because Serbian often uses čekati + direct object where English uses wait for + noun.

A simple pronunciation guide is:

• Dečak ≈ DEH-chak
• čeka ≈ CHEH-ka
• napolju ≈ na-PO-lyu

A few sound notes:

• č sounds like ch in church, but usually a bit firmer
• j sounds like English y in yes
• lj is a single sound, roughly like ly in million for many English speakers

So napolju sounds roughly like na-PO-lyu.

Both words relate to boy, but they are not always interchangeable.

• dečak = boy, especially a child or young male
• dečko = boyfriend, young man, guy, or sometimes boy depending on context

In a basic sentence like this, dečak is the clear and neutral word for boy.

So:

• Dečak čeka napolju. = The boy is waiting outside.

Using dečko could suggest a different meaning depending on context, such as the boyfriend is waiting outside.