Greetings and politeness in Bosnian
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the ten openers everything else builds on. 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 11 Bosnian phrases in this lesson
- ZdravoZDRA-vo
- Hello
- Dobro jutroDOB-ro YOO-tro
- Good morning
- Dobro večeDOB-ro VE-che
- Good evening
- Doviđenjado-vi-JEN-ya
- Goodbye
- Vidimo seVEE-dee-moh seh
- See you
- MolimMO-lim
- Please
- HvalaHVA-la
- Thank you
- Nema na čemuNE-ma na CHE-moo
- You're welcome
- Izvinjavam seiz-vi-NYA-vam se
- Sorry
- Izviniteiz-VEE-ni-te
- Excuse me
- Drago mi jeDRA-go mi ye
- Nice to meet you
The standard all-purpose greeting, safe in any setting. Use it with strangers, shopkeepers, and neighbors alike. Works morning, afternoon, and evening.
Used until roughly midday. Bosnians take morning greetings seriously, especially over the first cup of Bosnian coffee. Responding in kind is considered polite.
Said arriving anywhere in the evening. As a parting at night, "laku noć" (LA-koo noch).
The standard formal farewell, literally "until we meet again." For a casual goodbye among friends, "Ćao" works just as well. The "đ" is like the "j" in "jeans."
Literally "we see each other", the everyday goodbye between friends. Doviđenja is the polite one.
Also means "you're welcome" and "excuse me" depending on context. When handing something over or responding to a knock, Bosnians say "molim" to mean "here you go" or "come in."
Everyday casual thanks, used constantly. Bosnians appreciate when visitors make the effort to say it. The "H" is aspirated, not dropped.
Literally "there is nothing to thank for." The standard polite response to "Hvala." You may also hear the shorter "molim" used as a you're-welcome reply in some contexts.
Literally "I apologize", for a real mistake. For a small bump, izvinite is enough.
Use it to get someone's attention or to ask to pass. The casual form is "izvini".
Literally "it is pleasing to me." Said after an introduction. Bosnians often follow with a handshake; close friends may greet with a hug or a kiss on both cheeks.