Cafe and restaurant in Bosnian
A table, the menu, what you cannot eat, and a compliment to the kitchen. Play the ten Bosnian words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Bosnian phrases in this lesson
- Stol za dvoje, molimSTOL za DVO-ye MO-lim
- A table for two
- Jelovnik, molimye-LOV-nik MO-lim
- The menu, please
- Šta preporučujete?SHTA pre-po-ROO-choo-ye-te
- What do you recommend?
- Ne jedem...ne YE-dem
- I don't eat...
- Alergičan sam na...a-LER-gi-chan sam na
- I'm allergic to...
- MesoME-so
- Meat
- PiletinaPI-le-ti-na
- Chicken
- RibaRI-ba
- Fish
- Ukusno jeoo-KOOS-no ye
- It's delicious
- Živjeli!ZHIV-ye-li
- Cheers
You may also hear "sto" used instead of "stol" in some regions. Bosnian restaurants are relaxed about reservations; walking in and asking is normal.
Many cafes also use the word "meni" (borrowed from English/French). Either works. In traditional kafanas the menu may be handwritten or recited verbally.
A great opener that flatters the kitchen and often leads to the best dish. Bosnian staff are proud of local specialties and happy to steer you toward them.
"Ne jedem meso", I don't eat meat. Many dishes hide meat, so ask.
A woman says "alergična sam na" (a-LER-gich-na).
Ćevapi, small grilled sausages in flatbread, are the national dish.
Trout from the rivers around Mostar and Jajce is the local fish.
A genuine compliment that will delight any Bosnian host. You may also hear "fino" used colloquially. Bosnian hospitality takes food seriously, so this phrase earns real warmth.
The universal toast, used with beer, wine, or rakija. Make eye contact when clinking glasses: not doing so is considered bad luck across the Balkans.