Ovaj simptom nije hitan.

Ovaj means this.

In Ovaj simptom nije hitan, it points to a specific symptom: this symptom.

Serbian demonstratives change depending on the gender, number, and case of the noun:

• ovaj = this (masculine singular)
• ova = this (feminine singular)
• ovo = this (neuter singular)

Because simptom is a masculine singular noun, the correct form is ovaj.

Because simptom is a masculine noun in Serbian.

The demonstrative this must agree with the noun:

• ovaj simptom = this symptom
• ova stvar = this thing
• ovo pitanje = this question

So ova simptom would be incorrect because ova is feminine, while simptom is masculine.

Usually, yes. In Serbian, nouns that end in a consonant are often masculine.

So:

• simptom → masculine
• problem → masculine
• doktor → masculine

This is a strong general pattern, though there are exceptions in the language overall. For simptom, masculine is the standard grammatical gender.

Nije means is not.

It is the negative form of je (is), from the verb biti (to be).

Compare:

• je = is
• nije = is not

So:

• Ovaj simptom je hitan. = This symptom is urgent.
• Ovaj simptom nije hitan. = This symptom is not urgent.

In Serbian, the negative form of je is normally written together as nije.

So you write:

• nije = is not

not:

• ni je

This is just the standard spelling.

You will also see similar negative forms of to be:

• nisam = I am not
• nisi = you are not
• nije = he/she/it is not
• nismo = we are not
• niste = you (plural/formal) are not
• nisu = they are not

Because hitan is an adjective, and it agrees with simptom.

• simptom is masculine singular
• so the adjective must also be masculine singular: hitan

Compare:

• hitan simptom = an urgent symptom
• ovaj simptom je hitan = this symptom is urgent

Hitno is usually an adverb, meaning urgently, or it can appear in neuter-style expressions such as:

• Hitno! = Urgent!
• Potrebno je hitno reagovati. = It is necessary to react urgently.

But here we are describing a noun, so we need the adjective form hitan.

This is a very good question, because Serbian adjectives can have a short and a long form in some masculine singular cases.

Here:

• hitan is the standard form used in predicate position after to be
• hitni is the long form, more typical before a noun in certain contexts

So you say:

• Ovaj simptom nije hitan. = This symptom is not urgent.

And commonly before a noun:

• hitni slučaj = an emergency case
• hitni pregled = urgent examination

For learners, the safest rule is:

• after je / nije, use hitan
• before a noun, you will often see forms like hitni

Hitan usually means urgent.

So Ovaj simptom nije hitan means the symptom is not urgent, or not an emergency-level issue depending on context.

Related words:

• hitan = urgent
• hitno = urgently / urgent
• hitna pomoć = emergency medical service / ambulance
• hitan slučaj = emergency case

So in a medical setting, nije hitan often implies it does not require immediate emergency care.

In this sentence, no. Serbian normally keeps the verb to be in the present tense in sentences like this.

So you say:

• Ovaj simptom nije hitan.

not:

• Ovaj simptom ne hitan.

The verb is important here because nije carries the meaning is not.

It is in the nominative singular.

Why? Because simptom is the subject of the sentence:

• Ovaj simptom = this symptom

The sentence structure is basically:

• Ovaj simptom = subject
• nije = verb
• hitan = predicate adjective

Since the subject is in the nominative, simptom stays in its base dictionary form.

Yes, it sounds natural.

It is a normal, clear sentence meaning This symptom is not urgent.

Depending on context, Serbian speakers might also say things like:

• Taj simptom nije hitan. = That symptom is not urgent.
• Simptom nije hitan. = The symptom is not urgent.
• Ovo nije hitno. = This is not urgent.

But your sentence is fully natural and correct.

Yes.

• Ovaj simptom nije hitan. = This symptom is not urgent.
• Simptom nije hitan. = The symptom is not urgent / A symptom is not urgent

Without ovaj, the sentence becomes a little less specific. It depends more on context whether you mean the symptom or a symptom.

Using ovaj makes it very clear that you mean this particular symptom.

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

The neutral, most straightforward order is:

• Ovaj simptom nije hitan.

But other orders are possible for emphasis, for example:

• Nije hitan ovaj simptom.
• Hitan nije ovaj simptom.

These sound more marked or context-dependent. For learners, the best choice is to stick with:

• Ovaj simptom nije hitan.

That is the most natural default word order.

A simple approximate pronunciation for an English speaker is:

• Ovaj ≈ OH-vai
• simptom ≈ SEEMP-tom or SEEM-ptom
• nije ≈ NEE-yeh
• hitan ≈ HEE-tan

A smoother full approximation:

• OH-vai SEEMP-tom NEE-yeh HEE-tan

A few notes:

• j in Serbian is pronounced like English y in yes
• h is clearly pronounced
• stress is not usually marked in normal writing, so learners often just imitate native audio if available

Yes, simptom is a common Serbian word and is very similar to English symptom.

That makes it an easy cognate for English speakers.

You may also encounter it in different forms depending on case, for example:

• simptom = symptom
• simptoma = of the symptom / symptom (genitive form depending on context)
• simptomi = symptoms

But in your sentence, the base form simptom is used.

Very roughly:

• ovaj = this
• taj = that

So:

• Ovaj simptom nije hitan. = This symptom is not urgent.
• Taj simptom nije hitan. = That symptom is not urgent.

In real Serbian usage, the distinction can sometimes be a bit more flexible than in English, but for learning purposes, ovaj = this and taj = that is the right starting point.