Are you planning a trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina? A few basic words in Bosnian will help you greet the locals, ask for help and find your way around, and people will appreciate the effort.
This guide covers the basic Bosnian words for everyday life, plus greetings, useful phrases and transport vocabulary, all in easy tables.
Where Is The Bosnian Language Spoken And What Is It Like?
Bosnian is a South Slavic language. It is one of the three official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a co-official language in Montenegro and a recognized minority language in Serbia. Russian, Polish and Ukrainian are some other Slavic languages.
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Here is what to know before you learn your first words:
- It is phonetic: one letter represents one sound. The letter a sounds like the a in car, and nj is pronounced /ɲ/, like the ni in onion.
- It borrows from the East: Bosnian vocabulary differs from related languages in its Arabic, Persian and Turkish loanwords.
- It uses two alphabets: Bosnian is written in both the Latin and Cyrillic alphabets. Latin is the one in everyday use, and Cyrillic is becoming less popular.
- It has a shared history: when Bosnia was a part of Yugoslavia, Serbo-Croatian influence was strong.
- Many people speak some English: it is a compulsory subject in schools, and American movies are shown with subtitles, so many Bosnians pick it up that way.
What Are The Most Basic Words In Bosnian?
The basic words in Bosnian cover the moments you meet most on a trip, and they are worth learning even if you know nothing else of the language. Start with these three:
- Food: hrana. Saying it is enough to make others understand that you want something to eat.
- No: ne, said like “neh.” Use it when you do not need anything or want to turn something down.
- Yes: da, said like “dah.” Use it when you agree with someone or want something.
Learn other basic words in Bosnian from the table below.
| English words | Bosnian words |
|---|---|
| People | Ljudi |
| They come | Dolaze |
| Day | Dan |
| Look | Pogledaj |
| City | Grad |
| Book | Knjiga |
| Friend | Prijatelj |
| Travel | Putovanje |
| Map | Mapa |
| Location | Lokacija |
| Food | Hrana |
| Yes | Da |
| No | Ne |
| Address | Adresa |
How Do You Greet In Bosnian?
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, a handshake is the most common greeting between friends. Stand up when you greet someone, because staying seated can look like you do not care. Bosniaks and Bosnian Croats may also give each other a quick kiss on the cheek, and young people greet elders by kissing their hands.
If you greet a group of people, start with the eldest person and then greet your way down. These are the words you will need:
- How are you? Kako si? A popular response is “Thank God, very well,” Hvala Bogu, veoma dobro.
- Hello: say dobar dan in a formal context or to someone you do not know, and zdravo among friends.
- Thank you: hvala. Say it to hear “you are welcome,” nema na čemu, in reply.
Knowing a few Bosnian greetings helps you stand out among all the visitors, and when a foreigner thanks or praises a local in Bosnian, people immediately respond with a smile. For more, see our guides to hello in Bosnian and thank you in Bosnian.
Which Basic Bosnian Greetings And Polite Words Should You Know?
These greetings and polite words cover most first meetings, from morning to night.
| English words | Bosnian words |
|---|---|
| Hello! | Dobar dan! |
| Thank You | Hvala |
| Please! | Molim |
| How are you? | kako ste |
| Pleased to meet you | Drago mi je (DRAH-goh mee yeh) |
| I am fine! | Dobro sam |
| Goodbye | Doviđenja |
| Good morning! | Dobro jutro! |
| Good night! | Laku noć! |
| Good evening! | Dobro veče! |
| Good afternoon! | Dobar dan! |
| You are welcome | Nema na čemu |
What Are Some Useful Phrases In The Bosnian Language?
After learning the initial greetings and basic words in Bosnian, you need to know a few useful phrases. These phrases assist you if you want to ask something, and they help you in emergencies.
For example, if you need medical assistance from the local hospital, say “I need a doctor,” Treba mi doktor. You can also say “I need your help,” Treba mi vaša pomoć. Other useful phrases in Bosnian are below.
| English phrases | Bosnian phrases |
|---|---|
| Do you speak English? | Govorite li engleski? |
| I do not understand | Ne Razumijem |
| I need your help | Treba mi vaša pomoć |
| I am sorry! | žao mi je (Zhao mee yeh) |
| I need a doctor | Treba mi doktor |
| Please! | Molim vas |
| It’s me! | To sam ja |
| See you! | vidimo se |
| What’s your name? | kako se zoveš |
| Where is the toilet? | Gdje je wc? (gdyeh yeh VEH TSEH?) |
| My name is… | Zovem se |
| Thank you very much. | Hvala lijepo |
| It’s urgent | Hitno je |
| Do you speak…? | Govorite li |
Which Bosnian Transport Words Help You Get Around?
It is easy to get around and travel if you learn the basics of the local language. A few travel words help you read signs, ask for directions and avoid getting lost in an unfamiliar country.
For example, if you want to catch a bus on time, ask “When does the bus leave?” Kada polazi autobus? Other traveling words are below.
| English words | Bosnian words |
|---|---|
| Bus | Autobus |
| Bus station | Autobuska stanica |
| Train | Voz |
| What time is it? | Koliko je sati? |
| Today | Danas |
| Tomorrow | Sutra |
| Bicycle | Bicikl |
| Car | Auto |
| When does the bus leave? | Kada polazi autobus? |
Frequently Asked Questions About Basic Words In Bosnian
Is Bosnian The Same As Croatian And Serbian?
They are closely related. Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian are all South Slavic languages and the three official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnian stands out for its Arabic, Persian and Turkish loanwords.
Does Bosnian Use The Latin Or Cyrillic Alphabet?
Both. Bosnian is written in the Latin and Cyrillic alphabets, and Latin is the one in everyday use. Because Bosnian is phonetic, each letter stands for one sound, so you can read words aloud once you know the letters.
Do People In Bosnia Speak English?
Many do. English is a compulsory subject in schools, and American movies are shown with subtitles. A few basic words like hvala and dobar dan still go a long way with locals.
How Do You Say Goodbye In Bosnian?
Say doviđenja, the everyday way to say goodbye. With people you will meet again, you can say vidimo se (see you).
Learn Bosnian With The Ling App
Great job learning your first basic words in Bosnian! With flashcards, native speaker audio and Dialog for real conversation practice, Ling makes it fun to keep going in your free time, right from your phone. Start learning Bosnian today and greet everyone with a confident dobar dan!
