Kada uđeš u zgradu, skreni desno; lift je tamo.

Uđeš is from the verb ući (to enter / to go in), and it is perfective. In Serbian, after words like kada (when), a perfective present form is often used to talk about a future completed action:

• Kada uđeš u zgradu... = When you enter the building...

It means once you have entered, not while you are entering.

By contrast, ulaziš is from ulaziti, the imperfective partner, and it suggests an ongoing or repeated action:

• Kad ulaziš u zgradu... = When you are entering / when you enter regularly...

So in this sentence, uđeš is the natural choice because it refers to a single completed step before the next instruction.

Uđeš is the 2nd person singular present form of the perfective verb ući.

Why 2nd person singular? Because the sentence is giving directions directly to you:

• kada uđeš = when you enter
• literally: when you-go-in

Even though it looks like a present tense form, with a perfective verb it often refers to the future in clauses like this.

Because u can take either the accusative or the locative, depending on meaning:

• u + accusative = movement into somewhere
• u + locative = location in somewhere

So:

• u zgradu = into the building → movement, so accusative
• u zgradi = in the building → location, so locative

In your sentence, entering involves motion into the building, so u zgradu is correct.

Because zgrada is a feminine noun, and in the accusative singular, many feminine nouns ending in -a change to -u:

• zgrada → zgradu
• kuća → kuću
• ulica → ulicu

So:

• dictionary form: zgrada
• after motion with u: u zgradu

Skreni means turn and it is the imperative form of skrenuti.

This is the form used for commands and instructions:

• Skreni desno. = Turn right.

It is the singular imperative, used when speaking to one person informally. This is very common in directions.

Related forms:

• skrenuti = to turn
• skrenem = I turn
• skreni! = turn!

Desno here is an adverb, meaning to the right / right.

In Serbian, after verbs of turning or moving directionally, the plain adverb is very common:

• skreni levo = turn left
• skreni desno = turn right
• idi pravo = go straight

You may sometimes hear other expressions in different contexts, but for giving directions, skreni desno is the standard and natural phrase.

Yes. Lift means elevator. It is a normal and very common word in Serbian.

For an English speaker, this is easy to remember because British English also uses lift. In American English, the equivalent is elevator.

So:

• lift je tamo = the elevator is there

Because Serbian normally includes the verb to be in this kind of sentence:

• lift je tamo = the elevator is there

The word je is the 3rd person singular form of biti (to be).

Unlike in some other Slavic languages, Serbian generally does not omit je in standard present-tense statements like this.

Tamo means there, usually referring to a place that is not right next to the speaker.

In this sentence:

• lift je tamo = the elevator is there

It points to a location already understood from context, such as after turning right.

A useful contrast:

• ovde / ovdje = here
• tu = there / here nearby
• tamo = there, over there

In practice, tu and tamo can overlap a bit, but tamo often sounds a little farther away or more distinctly pointed out.

They mean the same thing here: when.

• kada = full form
• kad = shorter, very common form

Both are correct:

• Kada uđeš u zgradu...
• Kad uđeš u zgradu...

Kada can sound a little more formal or careful in some contexts, while kad is extremely common in everyday speech.

The semicolon separates two closely connected parts:

• Kada uđeš u zgradu, skreni desno
• lift je tamo

It works a bit like a strong comma or a soft full stop. The second part explains why the first instruction matters.

In everyday writing, many people might also use:

• a comma: ..., skreni desno, lift je tamo
• or a full stop: ..., skreni desno. Lift je tamo.

The semicolon is correct and slightly more structured.

You could say it, but it does not mean exactly the same thing.

• skreni desno = turn right
• idi desno = go right / go to the right

If the instruction is specifically to make a right turn after entering, skreni desno is better.
If you just mean move toward the right side, idi desno could work.

So for directions inside a building, skreni desno is usually the more precise choice.

A rough guide for an English speaker:

• uđeš ≈ OO-dyesh

  • đ is a soft sound, somewhat like the j in duke in some English accents, or like a very soft dj
  • š sounds like sh

• zgradu ≈ ZGRA-doo

  • zg is pronounced together at the start
  • r is trilled or tapped
  • stress can vary by dialect, but the key thing is to pronounce all vowels clearly

Also:

• skreni ≈ SKREH-nee
• desno ≈ DES-no
• lift je tamo ≈ lift yeh TAH-moh

The most important thing is clear vowels and pronouncing š, đ distinctly.