The expression ‘džabe’ is commonly used in everyday speech to mean something free or in vain. Its origin traces back to the Turkish word ‘caba’, which meant free or in vain, and the Turkish term was borrowed from Arabic. This expression has survived in the Serbian language since the Ottoman Empire and is still commonly used across Serbia and the region. Although some consider it slang, ‘džabe’ has become part of the standard language as it precisely describes situations when something is given as a gift or when effort was wasted.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning sources tend to emphasize the cultural and historical significance of the expression ‘džabe’, highlighting its roots in the Ottoman and Arabic linguistic heritage and its integration into the local language as a reflection of multicultural influences in the region.
Center: Center-leaning sources focus on the linguistic evolution and everyday usage of the term ‘džabe’, presenting it as a common phrase that has become part of the standard language, explaining its meanings and origins in a neutral and informative manner.
Right: Right-leaning sources may emphasize the preservation of national language and identity, noting how the expression ‘džabe’, despite its foreign origins, has been fully assimilated into the Serbian language and culture, sometimes framing it as a symbol of historical resilience and linguistic adaptation.
