Bosnian phrasebook

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The modern Bosnian language is a newly defined classification of the Serbo-Croatian tongue. After secession from Yugoslavia, the Bosnian government declared the official language to be called "Bosnian" rather than "Serbo-Croatian." However, Serbo-Croatian, "Croatian," "Serbian," and "Bosnian" are the same language, with minor structural & idiomatic differences. Bosnian (Serbo-Croatian) is a Southern Slavonic tongue in the Slavonic group of languages of the Indo-European family. International linguistsic authorities continue to call the language "Serbo-Croatian." It is closely related to Slovenian, Macedonian & Bulgarian. Nouns have gender and cases, and the past tense is conjugated by gender while other tenses are conjugated by person.

The language itself should not prove difficult to pronounce. Grammatical complexities will however present challenges to those not familiar with highly inflected languages, such as Latin or Russian. Inflection is the grammatical process of altering the noun to indicate its position & function in the sentence. The noun is said to have "case." Whereas English nouns are defined in the sentence through the use of prepositions - as in the sentence "Mary throws the ball to John," inflected languages alter the form of the noun, so "John" in the example would appear as the object in the sentence in the accusative case (indicated by the change in the suffix, and less frequently the prefix). The same sentence in Bosnian/S-C would have no preposition "to" as in "Mary baca loptu Johnu." Notice that "John" received a "u" as a suffix, which immediately governs the meaning of the word "Johnu" and dictates its function in the sentence. Inflected languages are therefore more precise since confusion as to the intended meaning rarely occurs. In another similarity with Latin, Bosnian/Serbo-Croatian does not use articles.

Certain idiomatic differences exist in the Serbian and Croatian phrasebook Croatian, mostly as a result of regional applications. Some phrases, such as alahimanet and merhaba, are relatively unique in Bosnian usage, as they are a remnant of Islamic (and therefore Arabic) influences. Since they are foreign words, much like many Italian words found in the Croatian language, they do not constitute a point of difference between the "Croatian" and the "Bosnian" forms of language. The use of "merhaba" in Bosnia is not unlike using an idiomatic French statement in English, such as "vis a vis" or "au contraire." To assert that the Bosnian language is in some way in a different class altogether from Serbo-Croatian merely due to the application of certain phrases & idioms from the period of Turkish occupation is to do an injustice against the nature of all languages. However, consulting separate pages on the Croatian & Serbian phrasebooks may prove beneficial for exposure to regional differences.

Pronunciation guide

Bosnian pronunciation is fairly phonetic and straighforward. Each letter represents only one sound, and multiple sounds are produced only when several letters are combined. The letter "A" represents the sound "ah" in Bosnian/S-C, and it only represents that sounds. Unlike in English, where the letter "A" stands for numerous sounds - such as "Ah, eh, aaa, ehy" & so forth, Bosnian/SC letters only represent basic sounds. Speakers of Spanish and Italian will find most sounds in Bosnian to be similar to the ones in their own languages.

Consonants

Bosnian consonants are crisper than their counterparts in the English language. Approximating the corresponding consonants in Italian or Russian is closer to their true pronunciation.

b: like 'b' in "bed"
c: like 'ts' at the end of "cats" (never like an "s" or "k")
?: pronounced like "ch" as in "church", but with the tongue up on the roof of the mouth
?: like "ch" as in "chile", but softer, with tongue behind top front teeth
d: like 'd' in "dog"
d?: very close to "j" as in judge, with tongue up on the roof of the mouth
?: like "j" as in "judge", but softer, with tongue behind top front teeth
f: like 'ph' in "phone"
g: like 'g' in "go" (never pronounced like the "g" in "large")
h: a little more emphasized than the 'h' in "help". Somewhat close to the Spanish jota (j), pronounced in the throat
j: like 'y' in "yellow"
k: like 'k' in "kite"
l: like 'l' in "love"
lj: like the "lya" sound in "million". Combo of the Bosnian "l" and "j" sounds together
m: like 'm' in "mother"
n: like 'n' in "nice"
nj: like "ny" in "Sonya"
p: like 'p' in "pappy"
r: rolled slightly, like the Spanish r in "pero"
s: like 'ss' in "hiss"
?: like "sh" in "sheep", with tongue raised toward roof of mouth
t: like 't' in "top"
v: like 'v' in "victory"
z: like 'z' in "haze"
?: like the "s" in "measure", with tongue raised toward roof of mouth

Phrase list

Basics

Hello/Good Day.: Dobar dan (doh bahr dahn)
Hello. (informal): Zdravo. (z-drah-voh) or Merhaba (mehr ha bah)
How are you?: Kako ste? (formal), Kako si? (informal)
Fine, thank you.: Dobro sam, hvala. (doh broh sahm, huh vah lah)
What is your name?: Kako se zovete? (formal) Kako se zove?? (informal)
My name is ______ .: Zovem se ______ .; I am _____ : Ja sam ______
Nice to meet you.: Drago mi je.
Please.: Molim.
Thank you.: Hvala.
Thank you very much: Hvala lijepo
You're welcome.: Nema na ?emu.
Yes. ("formal"): Da (dah)
Yes. ("informal"): Ja (yah)
No.: Ne.
Excuse me. (getting attention): Oprostite.
Excuse me. (begging pardon): Izvinite.
I'm sorry.: Oprostite.; I'm sorry. ("expressing condolence"): ?ao mi je.
Goodbye: Alahimanet (religious implication) or Zbogom.
Goodbye (informal): do vi?enja (doh vee jeh nyah) or ?ao (chaoo) or Zdravo
I can't speak Bosnian well.: Ne govorim dobro bosanski.
Do you speak English?: Da li govorite engleski?
Is there someone here who speaks English?: Da li iko ovdje govori engleski?
Help!: Upomo?!
Look out!: Pazite!
Good morning.: Dobro jutro.
Good evening.: Dobro ve?er.
Good night.: Laku no?.
Good night (to sleep): Laku no?.
I don't understand.: Ne razumijem.
Where is the toilet?: Gdje je WC?

Problems

Leave me alone.: Pusti me na miru.
Don't touch me!: Ne diraj me!
I'll call the police.: Zva?u policiju.
Police!: Policija!
Stop! Thief!: Stanite! Lopov!
I need your help.: Treba mi va?a pomo?.
It's an emergency.: Hitno je.
I'm lost.: Izgubio(m) izgubila(f) sam se.
I lost my bag.: Izgubio(m) izgubila(f) sam torbu.
I lost my wallet.: Izgubio(m) izgubila(f) sam nov?anik.
I'm sick.: Bolestan(m)/bolesna(f) sam.
I've been injured.: Povrijedio/povrijedila sam se.
I need a doctor.: Treba mi doktor.
Can I use your phone?: Mogu li se poslu?iti telefonom?

Numbers

1: jedan (...)
2: dva/dvije (...)
3: tri (...)
4: ?etiri (...)
5: pet (...)
6: ?est (...)
7: sedam (...)
8: osam (....)
9: devet (...)
10: deset (...)
11: jedaenest (...)
12: dvanaest (...)
13: trinaest (...)
14: ?etrnaest (...)
15: petnaest (...)
16: ?esnaest (...)
17: sedamnaest (...)
18: osamnaest (...)
19: devetnaest (...)
20: dvadeset (...)
21: dvadeset jedan (...)
22: dvadeset dva/dvije (...)
23: dvadeset tri (...)
30: trideset (...)
40: ?etrdeset (...)
50: pedeset (...)
60: ?ezdeset (...)
70: sedamdeset (...)
80: osamdeset (...)
90: devedeset (...)
100: sto (...)
200: dvjesta (...)
300: trista (...)
400: ?etiristo ("...")
500: pesto ("...")
600: ?eststo ("...")
700: sedamsto ("...")
800: osamsto ("...")
900: devetsto ("...")
1000: hiljada (...)
2000: dva hiljada (...)
1,000,000: milion (...)
1,000,000,000: one thousand million in UK, one billion in USA: bilion/milijarda
1,000,000,000,000: one billion in UK, one trillion in USA: trilion
number _____ (train, bus, etc.): number broj_____ (...)
half: pola (...)
less: manje (...)
more: vi?e (...)

Time

now (sada)
later (kasnije)
before (ranije) or (posle)
morning (jutro)
afternoon (popodne)
evening (ve?er)
night (no?)

Clock time

one o'clock AM: one o'clock AM (...) jedan sat ujutro
two o'clock AM: two o'clock AM (...) dva sata ujutro
noon: noon (...) podne
one o'clock PM: one o'clock PM (...) jedan sat poslije podne
two o'clock PM: two o'clock PM (...) dva sata poslije podne
six o'clock PM: ?est sati uve?er
midnight: midnight (...)pono?

Duration

_____ minute(s): _____ minute(s) (...)
_____ hour(s): _____ hour(s) (...)
_____ day(s): _____ day(s) (...)
_____ week(s): _____ week(s) (...)
_____ month(s): _____ month(s) (...)
_____ year(s): _____ year(s) (...)

Days

today: today (danas)
yesterday: yesterday (ju?e)
tomorrow: tomorrow (sutra)
this week: this week (...)
last week: last week (...)
next week: next week (...)

Sunday: Sunday (nedjelja)
Monday: Monday (ponedjeljak')
Tuesday: Tuesday (utorak)
Wednesday: Wednesday (srijeda)
Thursday: Thursday (?etvrtak)
Friday: Friday (petak)
Saturday: Saturday (subota)

Months

If speakers of the language commonly use a calendar other than the Gregorian, explain it here and list its months. See Hebrew phrasebook for an example.

January: January (Januar / Sije?anj)
February: February (Februar / Velja?a)
March: March (Mart / Ozujak)
April: April (April / Travanj)
May: May (Maj / Svibanj)
June: June (Juni / Lipanj)
July: July (Juli / Srpanj)
August: August (August / Kolovoz)
September: September (Septembar / Rujan)
October: October (Oktobar / Listopad)
November: November (Novembar / Studeni)
December: December (Decembar /Prosinac)

Writing time and date

Give some examples how to write clock times and dates if it differs from English.

Colors

black: black (crna)
white: white (bijela)
gray: gray (siva)
red: red (crvena)
blue: blue (plava)
yellow: yellow (?uta)
green: green (zelena)
orange: orange (nanan?asta)
purple: purple (ljubi?asta)
brown: brown (sme?a)

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?: Koliko ko?ta karta za ____(...)
One ticket to _____, please.: Molim vas, jedna karta za_____ (...)
Where does this train/bus go?: Where does this train/bus go? (...)
Where is the train/bus to _____?: Where is the train/bus to _____? (...)
Does this train/bus stop in _____?: Does this train/bus stop in _____? (...)
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?: When does the train/bus for _____ leave? (...)
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?: When will this bus arrive in _____? (...)

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?: How do I get to _____ ? (...)
...the train station?: ...the train station? (...)
...the bus station?: ...the bus station? (...)
...the airport?: ...the airport? (...)
...downtown?: ...downtown? (...)
...the youth hostel?: ...the youth hostel? (...)
...the _____ hotel?: ...the _____ hotel? (...)
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?: ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? (...)
Where are there a lot of...: Where are there a lot of... (...)
...hotels?: ...hotels? (...)
...restaurants?: ...restaurants? (...)
...bars?: ...bars? (...)
...sites to see?: ...sites to see? (...)
Can you show me on the map?: Can you show me on the map? (...)
street: street (...)
Turn left.: Turn left. (...)
Turn right.: Turn right. (...)
left: left (...)
right: right (...)
straight ahead: straight ahead (...)
towards the _____: towards the _____ (...)
past the _____: past the _____ (...)
before the _____: before the _____ (...)
Watch for the _____.: Watch for the _____. (...)
intersection: intersection (...)
north: north (...)
south: south (...)
east: east (...)
west: west (...)
uphill: uphill (...)
downhill: downhill (...)

Taxi

Taxi!: Taxi! (...)
Take me to _____, please.: Take me to _____, please. (...)
How much does it cost to get to _____?: How much does it cost to

get to _____? (...)

Take me there, please.: Take me there, please. (...)

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?: Do you have any rooms available? (...)
How much is a room for one person/two people?: How much is a room for one person/two people? (...)
Does the room come with...: Does the room come with... (...)
...bedsheets?: ...bedsheets? (...)
...a bathroom?: ...a bathroom? (...)
...a telephone?: ...a telephone? (...)
...a TV?: ...a TV? (...)
May I see the room first?: May I see the room first? (...)
Do you have anything quieter?: Do you have anything quieter? (...)
...bigger?: ...bigger? (...)
...cleaner?: ...cleaner? (...)
...cheaper?: ...cheaper? (...)
OK, I'll take it.: OK, I'll take it. (...)
I will stay for _____ night(s).: I will stay for _____ night(s). (...)
Can you suggest another hotel?: Can you suggest another hotel? (...)
Do you have a safe?: Do you have a safe? (...)
...lockers?: ...lockers? (...)
Is breakfast/supper included?: Is breakfast/supper included? (...)
What time is breakfast/supper?: What time is breakfast/supper? (...)
Please clean my room.: Please clean my room. (...)
Can you wake me at _____? | Can you wake me at _____? (...)
I want to check out.: I want to check out. (...)

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?: Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? (Prihvatate li Ameri?ke / Australijske / Kanadske dolare?)
Do you accept British pounds?: Do you accept British pounds? (Prihvatate li Britanske Funte)
Do you accept cr cards?: Do you accept cr cards? (Prihvatate li krne kartice?)
Can you change money for me?: Can you change money for me? (Mo?ete li razmijeniti novac?)
Where can I get money changed?: Where can I get money changed? (Gdje mogu razmijeniti novac)
Can you change a traveler's check for me?: Can you change a traveler's check for me? (...)
Where can I get a traveler's check changed?: Where can I get a traveler's check changed? (...)
What is the exchange rate?: What is the exchange rate? (...)
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?: Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? (...)

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.: A table for one person/two people, please. (...)
Can I look at the menu, please?: Can I look at the menu, please? (...)
Can I look in the kitchen?: Can I look in the kitchen? (...)
Is there a house specialty?: Is there a house specialty? (...)
Is there a local specialty?: Is there a local specialty? (...)
I'm a vegetarian.: I'm a vegetarian. (...)
I don't eat pork.: I don't eat pork. (...)
I don't eat beef.: I don't eat beef. (...)
I only ; supper: supper (...)
I want _____.: I want _____. (...)
I want a dish containing _____.: I want a dish containing _____. (...)
chicken: chicken (...)
beef: beef (...)
fish: fish (...)
ham: ham (...)
sausage: sausage (...)
cheese: cheese (...)
eggs: eggs (jaja)
salad: salad (...)
(fresh) vegetables: (fresh) vegetables (...)
(fresh) fruit: (fresh) fruit (...)
bread: bread (...)
toast: toast (...)
noodles: noodles (...)
rice: rice (...)
beans: beans (...)
May I have a glass of _____?: May I have a glass of _____? (...)
May I have a cup of _____?: May I have a cup of _____? (...)
May I have a bottle of _____?: May I have a bottle of _____? (...)
coffee: coffee (...)
tea (drink): tea (...)
juice: juice (...)
(bubbly) water: water (...)
water: water (agua)
beer: beer (...)
red/white wine: red/white wine (...)
May I have some _____?: May I have some _____? (...)
salt: salt (...)
black pepper: black pepper (...)
butter: butter (...)
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): Excuse me, waiter? (...)
I'm finished.: I'm finished. (...)
It was delicious.: It was delicious. (...)
Please clear the plates.: Please clear the plates. (...)
The check, please.: The check, please. (...)

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?: Da li imate ovo u mojoj veli?ini?
How much is this?: Koliko je ovo?
That's too expensive.: To je preskupo.
Would you take _____?: Da li bi uzeli _____?
expensive: skupo
cheap: jeftino
I can't afford it.: Nemogu to priu?titi.
I don't want it.: Ne?u to.
You're cheating me.: Varate me. (polite and formal)
I'm not interested.: Nisam zainteresovan/zainteresovana.
OK, I'll take it.: OK, I'll take it. (...)
Can I have a bag?: Can I have a bag? (...)
Do you ship (overseas)?: Do you ship (overseas)? (...)
I need...: I need... (Treba mi (s) / Trebaju mi (pl) ...)
...toothpaste.: ...toothpaste. (pasta za zube)
...a toothbrush.: ...a toothbrush. (?etkica za zube)
...tampons.: ...tampons. (tamponi)
...soap.: ...soap. (sapun)
...shampoo.: ...shampoo. (?ampon (za kosu))
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen): ...pain reliever. (lijek za bol)
...cold medicine.: ...cold medicine. (...)
...stomach medicine.: ...stomach medicine. (...)
...a razor.: ...a razor. (?ilet)
...an umbrella.: ...an umbrella. (ki?obran)
...sunblock lotion.: ...sunblock lotion. (...)
...a postcard.: ...a postcard. (razglednica)
...postage stamps.: ...postage stamps. (po?tanska marka)
...batteries.: ...batteries. (baterije)
...writing paper.: ...writing paper. (papir za pisanje)
...a pen.: ...a pen. (kemijska olovka)
...English-language books.: ...English-language books. (Engleske knjige)
...English-language magazines.: ...English-language magazines. (Engleske ?asopise)
...an English-language newspaper.: ...an English-language newspaper. (Engleske novine)
...an English-English dictionary.: ...an English-English dictionary. (Engleski rije?nik)

Driving

I want to rent a car.: I want to rent a car. (Zelim da iznajmim auto.)
Can I get insurance?: Can I get insurance? (Mogu li dobiti osiguranje?)
stop (on a street sign): stop (...)
one way: one way (Jednosmjerna Ulica)
yield: yield (...)
no parking: no parking (Zabranjeno Parkiranje)
speed limit: speed limit (Ogranicenje)
gas (petrol) station: gas station (Benzinska Stanica)
petrol: petrol (Benzin)
diesel: diesel (Dizel)

Learning more

This is where you'd give more information on learning the language, such as links to online courses or textbooks, or suggestions for in-person courses to take.

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Ooaj Travel Guide, tourism, hotel reservation, residence, plane, cheap pension for you

Free Travel guide Ooaj.com A free travel guide for holidays. Easy phrasebook to learn bosnian Bed and Breakfast!