Navigating a new city or town in Bosnia can be an exciting and immersive experience. To help you ask for directions and move around with confidence, mastering some essential Bosnian phrases will come in handy. Locals appreciate when travelers try to communicate in their language, and even a few phrases can go a long way. Here are some useful Bosnian phrases that will help you ask for directions during your stay.

Izvinite, which means “Excuse me” in English, is a polite way to get someone’s attention when asking for directions.

Izvinite, možete li mi pomoći? (Excuse me, can you help me?)

Gdje je means “Where is” and is the most common way to start a question when looking for a specific place.

Gdje je najbliža pošta? (Where is the nearest post office?)

Kako doći do translates as “How to get to” and is used when you want to know the route to a certain destination.

Kako doći do muzeja? (How to get to the museum?)

Da li je blizu means “Is it close?” which is a helpful question to determine if your destination is within walking distance.

Da li je blizu trgovački centar? (Is the shopping mall close?)

Desno means “Right” and is an essential direction to know when navigating the streets.

Skrenite desno na drugoj ulici. (Turn right at the second street.)

Lijevo signifies “Left,” another key direction for understanding and following guidance.

Zatim idite lijevo kod semafora. (Then go left at the traffic lights.)

Pravo translates to “Straight” or “Straight ahead” and is used when you need to continue in the same direction.

Samo idite pravo i vidjet ćete trg. (Just go straight ahead, and you will see the square.)

Raskrsnica means “Intersection” and helps in navigating when routes cross each other.

Na raskrsnici skrenite lijevo. (At the intersection, turn left.)

Semafor refers to “Traffic lights,” a landmark that is often used in giving directions.

Kod semafora skrenite desno. (At the traffic lights, turn right.)

Ulica means “Street” and is crucial for identifying the particular road you’re looking for.

U kojoj je ulici pošta? (In which street is the post office?)

Trg, which means “Square,” often refers to an open area or city square and is another common landmark.

Trg je preko puta biblioteke. (The square is across from the library.)

Most signifies “Bridge” and is handy when traversing areas with waterways.

Pređite most i bićete tamo. (Cross the bridge, and you will be there.)

Zgrada translates to “Building,” often used to describe a destination in relation to other structures.

Tražena zgrada je između banke i hotela. (The building you’re looking for is between the bank and the hotel.)

By familiarizing yourself with these Bosnian phrases, you can more easily ask for and follow directions, making your travel experience in Bosnia all the more enjoyable and stress-free. Remember, a smile and a thank you – hvala – will always make a good impression on the people you interact with.

Hvala na pomoći! (Thank you for your help!)