Uprkos kvaru, prodavac ne želi da snizi cenu.

Because uprkos normally requires the dative case in Serbian.

• Base form: kvar = defect, malfunction
• Dative singular: kvaru

So uprkos kvaru means despite the defect / malfunction.

This is a useful pattern to memorize:

• uprkos problemu = despite the problem
• uprkos kiši = despite the rain
• uprkos svemu = despite everything

Uprkos means despite or in spite of. It is completely normal and fairly common, especially in written or careful spoken Serbian.

In everyday language, you may also hear:

• i pored kvara = despite the defect
• bez obzira na kvar = regardless of the defect

But uprkos kvaru is perfectly natural and correct.

Kvar means a fault, defect, breakdown, or malfunction.

Its exact translation depends on context:

• for a machine: breakdown / malfunction
• for an item being sold: defect
• for a device: fault

So in this sentence, it suggests that the item has some problem, but the seller still does not want to lower the price.

Yes, prodavac is the masculine noun meaning seller, shop assistant, or salesman, depending on context.

The feminine form is:

• prodavačica = saleswoman / female shop assistant

In many Serbian sentences, the masculine form can be used when the seller is male or when gender is not especially important. Here, grammatically, it is masculine singular.

In Serbian, after many verbs like želeti (to want), it is very common to use da + present tense where English would use an infinitive.

So:

• želi da snizi cenu = he wants to lower the price

Literally, it looks more like:

• he wants that he lowers the price

But that is just how Serbian commonly expresses this idea.

Compare:

• Želim da idem. = I want to go.
• On želi da kupi auto. = He wants to buy a car.

Although Serbian does have infinitives, the da + present structure is extremely common in modern usage.

Snizi is the 3rd person singular present tense of the verb sniziti.

• sniziti = to lower, reduce
• on/ona snizi = he/she lowers

In the sentence:

• prodavac ne želi da snizi cenu
• literally: the seller does not want to lower the price

This verb is often used for prices, levels, amounts, and similar things.

Examples:

• sniziti cenu = lower the price
• sniziti troškove = reduce costs
• sniziti temperaturu = lower the temperature

This is about aspect, which is very important in Serbian.

• sniziti = perfective
• snižavati / snižava = imperfective

In this sentence, sniziti is used because it refers to a single complete action: lower the price.

So:

• ne želi da snizi cenu = he does not want to lower the price

If you used an imperfective verb, it could sound more like an ongoing, repeated, or process-oriented action.

For learners, a good practical rule is:

• when talking about a one-time completed change such as lowering a price, sniziti is very natural.

Because cenu is the accusative singular of cena (price), and it is the direct object of the verb sniziti.

• Nominative: cena
• Accusative: cenu

So:

• sniziti cenu = to lower the price

This is a standard pattern with feminine nouns ending in -a:

• knjiga → knjigu
• torba → torbu
• cena → cenu

Yes. That would still be grammatical and understandable.

Serbian word order is relatively flexible, so both are possible:

• Uprkos kvaru, prodavac ne želi da snizi cenu.
• Prodavac ne želi da snizi cenu uprkos kvaru.

Putting uprkos kvaru at the beginning gives it a bit more emphasis, similar to English Despite the defect, ...

Yes. Serbian forms negation by putting ne before the verb.

• želi = wants
• ne želi = does not want

This is very common and straightforward:

• znam = I know
• ne znam = I do not know
• mogu = I can
• ne mogu = I cannot

So prodavac ne želi simply means the seller does not want.

A simple pronunciation guide is:

Uprkos kvaru, prodavac ne želi da snizi cenu.
OO-prkoss KVA-roo, პრო-DA-vats ne ZHE-lee da SNEE-zee TSE-noo

A few helpful points:

• ž sounds like the s in measure
• c sounds like ts
• j sounds like English y
• stress is not usually marked in normal writing, so learners often just imitate native speech at first

Yes. Kvar often suggests that something is not working properly, but it can absolutely be used for an item being sold if it has a fault or malfunction.

Depending on context, Serbian might also use:

• oštećenje = damage
• mana = flaw
• nedostatak = deficiency / shortcoming
• greška = error / defect

But kvar is a very natural word if the product has some technical or functional problem.

Here is a word-by-word breakdown:

• Uprkos = despite
• kvaru = the defect / malfunction (dative singular of kvar)
• prodavac = the seller
• ne = not
• želi = wants
• da = introduces the following verb clause
• snizi = lower
• cenu = the price

So the structure is:

Despite the defect, the seller does not want to lower the price.

That is both the natural meaning and a very close grammatical match.