Language

The official language in Bosnia and Herzegovina is referred to as ‘Bosnian’ in the Muslim parts of the Federation, ‘Croatian’ in Croat-controlled parts and ‘Serbian’ in the RS.  In short, notwithstanding different dialects it is one and the same language.  A large number of locals (predominantly the younger generation) also speak English, German or Italian. 

The Bosnian alphabet is based on the Latin alphabet. The Cyrillic alphabet is accepted, but seldom used in today's practice.

Special Pronunciations
c – as the ‘ts’ in ‘cats’
ć - as the ‘tch’ in ‘future’
č - as the ‘ch’ in ‘chop’
đ - as the ‘dy’ in ‘verdure’
dž - as the ‘j’ in ‘just’
j - as the ‘y’ in ‘young’
lj - as the ‘lli’ in ‘million’
nj - as the ‘ny’ in ‘canyon’
š – as the ‘sh’ in ‘hush’
ž - as the ‘s’ in ‘pleasure’

Basics
Do you speak English? – Govorite li engleski (Goh-voh-REE-tay En-GLES-ki)?
My name is… - Zovem se… (Zoh-vem say)
Yes – Da (Dah)
No – Ne (Nay)
Hello – Zdravo (Z-drah-voh)
Good Morning – Dobro Jutro (Doh-broh Yoo-troh)
Good Day – Dobar Dan (DOH-bar Dahn)
Good Night – Laku Noć  (La-Koh Noch)
Excuse me/Sorry – Oprostite (Oh-PROS-tee-tay)
I don’t understand – Ja ne razumijem (Yah Neh ra-ZOO-mehm)
I am from… – Ja sam iz…(Yah sam eez)

Days
Monday – Ponedeljak (POH-neh-dehl-yak)
Tuesday  - Utorak (Oo-tor-ak)
Wednesday – Srijeda (Sry-dah)
Thursday – četvrtak (chuh-tveh-tuck)
Friday – Petak (peh-tuck)
Saturday – Subota (su-BOH-tah)
Sunday –  Nedelja (neh-DEHL-yah)

Questions
Who? – Ko? (Koh)
What? – šta? (Sh-tah)
Where? – Gdje? (G-che)
When? – Kad? (Kah-d)
How much is it…? – Koliko košta (KOH-LEE-KOH KOSH-TAH)?

Places
Croatia – Hrvatska
England – Engleska
Germany – Njemačka
Hungary – Mađarska
Ireland – Irska
Netherlands – Nizozemska
Scotland – škotska
Slovenia – Slovenija

Post
One stamp, please – Jednu markicu, molim vas (Yeh-dnoo mark-ee-tsoo, moh-leem-vas)
For postcard - za razglednicu (Zah raz-GLEHD-neet-tsoo)
For letter - Za pismo (Zah pees-moh)

Signs
Open – Otvoren (Oht-for-en)
Closed – Zatvoren (Zat-for-en)
Entrance – Ulaz (Oo-laz)
Exit – Izlaz (Eez-laz)
Push – Guraj (Goo-ry)
Pull – Vući (Voo-chi)

Travelling
Bus – Autobus (AW-toh-booz)
Train – Voz (Voh-z)
I am looking for… - Ja tražim (Yah trah-zeem)
One ticket, please - Jednu kartu, molim vas (Yeh-dnoo car-too, moh-leem-vas)

Times
Now – Sad (Sah-d)
Later – Kasnije (Kah-snee-yeh)
Today – Danas (Dahn-as)
Tomorrow – Sutra (SOO-tra)
Yesterday – Juče (Yoo-treh)
In the morning - U jutro (Oo YOO-troh)
In the afternoon – Popodne (Poh-POD-neh)
In the eveing – Naveče (Nah-veh-cheh)
At night - Po noći (Poh Noh-chee)

Restaurant Talk
Menu, please - Meni, molim vas (Meh-nee moh-leem-vas)
Bill, please – Račun, molim vas (Rah-CHOON moh-leem-vas)
Do you have vegetarian food? - Da li imate vegeterijansku hranu (Dah lee ee-may-tay veh-geh-tey-ree-ahn-skoo h-rah-noo)?

Bar Talk
One coffee, please - Jednu kafu, molim vas (Yeh-dnoo kah-foo, moh-leem-vas)
One beer, please - Jedno pivo, molim vas (Yeh-dnoh pee-voh, moh-leem-vas)
Cheers! – Živjeli (Zeev-yeh-lee)!
You have beautiful eyes - Imate ljepe oči (EE-mah-tay lyeh-peh oh-chee)
Can I have your number?  Mogu li dobiti tvoj broj telefona (Moh-goo lee doh-bee-tee t-voy b-roy teh-leh-FOHN-ah)?