Learn 50 Bosnian Words a Day

Learning a new language can be both exciting and challenging. Bosnian, a South Slavic language spoken primarily in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is a language rich in history and culture. Whether you’re planning to visit the Balkans, connect with Bosnian-speaking friends or family, or simply expand your linguistic repertoire, setting a goal to learn 50 Bosnian words a day can fast-track your fluency. This structured approach not only boosts your vocabulary but also enhances your understanding of the language’s grammar and usage.

Why Learn Bosnian?

Bosnian is an official language of Bosnia and Herzegovina and is also spoken in neighboring countries such as Serbia, Montenegro, and Croatia. By learning Bosnian, you open doors to understanding the region’s culture, history, and traditions. Additionally, knowing Bosnian can be a valuable skill for professionals working in international relations, global business, or tourism.

Setting Your Daily Goals

The key to learning any language effectively is consistency. Committing to learning 50 words a day allows you to build a substantial vocabulary in a relatively short period. Here’s how you can break down your daily learning:

1. Morning Session: Learn 20 new words.
2. Afternoon Session: Review the 20 morning words and learn 15 new words.
3. Evening Session: Review all 35 words learned earlier and add 15 more words.

Tools and Resources

To make your learning process smoother, leverage the following tools and resources:

1. Flashcards: Physical or digital flashcards can help with memorization.
2. Language Apps: Apps like Duolingo, Memrise, and Anki offer Bosnian courses.
3. Online Dictionaries: Websites like Glosbe and Dict.com provide translations and usage examples.
4. Language Exchange: Platforms like Tandem or HelloTalk allow you to practice with native speakers.

Building Your Vocabulary

Here is a structured list of 50 Bosnian words that you can learn each day, categorized for ease of learning:

Day 1: Basic Greetings and Polite Phrases

1. Hello: Zdravo
2. Good morning: Dobro jutro
3. Good evening: Dobro veče
4. Goodbye: Doviđenja
5. Please: Molim
6. Thank you: Hvala
7. Yes: Da
8. No: Ne
9. Excuse me: Izvinite
10. I’m sorry: Žao mi je

Day 2: Numbers

11. One: Jedan
12. Two: Dva
13. Three: Tri
14. Four: Četiri
15. Five: Pet
16. Six: Šest
17. Seven: Sedam
18. Eight: Osam
19. Nine: Devet
20. Ten: Deset

Day 3: Common Verbs

21. To be: Biti
22. To have: Imati
23. To go: Ići
24. To come: Doći
25. To see: Vidjeti
26. To eat: Jesti
27. To drink: Piti
28. To speak: Govoriti
29. To know: Znati
30. To understand: Razumjeti

Day 4: Family Members

31. Mother: Majka
32. Father: Otac
33. Brother: Brat
34. Sister: Sestra
35. Son: Sin
36. Daughter: Kćerka
37. Grandmother: Baka
38. Grandfather: Djed
39. Aunt: Tetka
40. Uncle: Ujak

Day 5: Common Nouns

41. House: Kuća
42. Car: Auto
43. Dog: Pas
44. Cat: Mačka
45. Water: Voda
46. Food: Hrana
47. School: Škola
48. Work: Posao
49. City: Grad
50. Country: Država

Day 6: Days of the Week

51. Monday: Ponedjeljak
52. Tuesday: Utorak
53. Wednesday: Srijeda
54. Thursday: Četvrtak
55. Friday: Petak
56. Saturday: Subota
57. Sunday: Nedjelja

Day 7: Months of the Year

58. January: Januar
59. February: Februar
60. March: Mart
61. April: April
62. May: Maj
63. June: Juni
64. July: Juli
65. August: August
66. September: Septembar
67. October: Oktobar
68. November: Novembar
69. December: Decembar

Day 8: Colors

70. Red: Crvena
71. Blue: Plava
72. Green: Zelena
73. Yellow: Žuta
74. Black: Crna
75. White: Bijela
76. Orange: Narandžasta
77. Purple: Ljubičasta
78. Brown: Smeđa
79. Grey: Siva

Day 9: Common Adjectives

80. Good: Dobro
81. Bad: Loš
82. Big: Velik
83. Small: Mali
84. Old: Star
85. Young: Mlad
86. Happy: Sretan
87. Sad: Tužan
88. Beautiful: Lijep
89. Ugly: Ružan

Day 10: Useful Phrases

90. How are you?: Kako si?
91. I am fine: Dobro sam
92. What is your name?: Kako se zoveš?
93. My name is…: Moje ime je…
94. Where are you from?: Odakle si?
95. I am from…: Ja sam iz…
96. How much does this cost?: Koliko košta ovo?
97. I don’t understand: Ne razumijem
98. Can you help me?: Možete li mi pomoći?
99. What time is it?: Koliko je sati?

Day 11: Common Places

100. Store: Prodavnica
101. Restaurant: Restoran
102. Hospital: Bolnica
103. School: Škola
104. Park: Park
105. Bank: Banka
106. Hotel: Hotel
107. Library: Biblioteka
108. Airport: Aerodrom
109. Train station: Željeznička stanica

Day 12: Body Parts

110. Head: Glava
111. Hand: Ruka
112. Leg: Noga
113. Eye: Oko
114. Ear: Uho
115. Nose: Nos
116. Mouth: Usta
117. Foot: Stopalo
118. Back: Leđa
119. Stomach: Stomak

Day 13: Food and Drink

120. Bread: Hljeb
121. Cheese: Sir
122. Milk: Mlijeko
123. Coffee: Kafa
124. Tea: Čaj
125. Water: Voda
126. Meat: Meso
127. Fish: Riba
128. Fruit: Voće
129. Vegetable: Povrće

Day 14: Travel

130. Ticket: Karta
131. Passport: Pasoš
132. Luggage: Prtljag
133. Taxi: Taksi
134. Bus: Autobus
135. Train: Voz
136. Airplane: Avion
137. Map: Mapa
138. Hotel: Hotel
139. Reservation: Rezervacija

Day 15: Weather

140. Sunny: Sunčano
141. Rainy: Kišno
142. Cloudy: Oblačno
143. Snowy: Snježno
144. Windy: Vjetrovito
145. Hot: Vruće
146. Cold: Hladno
147. Warm: Toplo
148. Storm: Oluja
149. Fog: Magla

Day 16: Time

150. Hour: Sat
151. Minute: Minut
152. Second: Sekunda
153. Day: Dan
154. Week: Sedmica
155. Month: Mjesec
156. Year: Godina
157. Today: Danas
158. Tomorrow: Sutra
159. Yesterday: Jučer

Day 17: Shopping

160. Price: Cijena
161. Cheap: Jeftino
162. Expensive: Skupo
163. Discount: Popust
164. Cash: Gotovina
165. Credit card: Kreditna kartica
166. Store: Prodavnica
167. Market: Tržnica
168. Sale: Prodaja
169. Buy: Kupiti

Day 18: Transportation

170. Car: Auto
171. Bicycle: Bicikl
172. Bus: Autobus
173. Train: Voz
174. Airplane: Avion
175. Taxi: Taksi
176. Boat: Brod
177. Motorcycle: Motor
178. Subway: Metro
179. Tram: Tramvaj

Day 19: Activities

180. To walk: Hodati
181. To run: Trčati
182. To swim: Plivati
183. To read: Čitati
184. To write: Pisati
185. To sleep: Spavati
186. To cook: Kuhati
187. To clean: Čistiti
188. To play: Igrati
189. To work: Raditi

Day 20: Emotions

190. Happy: Sretan
191. Sad: Tužan
192. Angry: Ljut
193. Scared: Uplašen
194. Surprised: Iznenađen
195. Excited: Uzbuđen
196. Bored: Dosadno
197. Tired: Umoran
198. Nervous: Nervozan
199. Calm: Miran

Day 21: Miscellaneous Useful Words

200. Always: Uvijek
201. Never: Nikad
202. Sometimes: Ponekad
203. Usually: Obično
204. Rarely: Rijetko
205. Quickly: Brzo
206. Slowly: Polako
207. Here: Ovdje
208. There: Tamo
209. Everywhere: Svugdje

Review and Practice

Consistency is crucial for language retention. Make it a habit to review the words you’ve learned every week. Engage in active recall by testing yourself without looking at your notes. Additionally, try to use the new words in sentences and conversations as often as possible. The more you practice, the more natural the words will become.

Engaging with Native Speakers

One of the best ways to solidify your learning is by interacting with native speakers. Join language exchange groups, participate in online forums, or use language learning apps to find conversation partners. Engaging in real-life conversations will help you understand the nuances of the language and improve your speaking and listening skills.

Immersive Learning

Immerse yourself in the Bosnian language by consuming Bosnian media. Watch Bosnian movies, listen to Bosnian music, and read Bosnian books or news articles. This will expose you to the language in various contexts, enhancing your comprehension and vocabulary.

Conclusion

Learning 50 Bosnian words a day may seem ambitious, but with dedication and the right strategies, it’s entirely achievable. By breaking down your learning into manageable chunks, using effective tools, and engaging with native speakers, you’ll quickly build a strong foundation in Bosnian. Remember, the key to language learning is persistence and practice. So, start today and enjoy the journey of becoming fluent in Bosnian!