Learning a new language can be both an exciting and challenging endeavor. If you’ve reached a B1 level in Bosnian, you’re likely familiar with the basics and ready to expand your vocabulary further. This article will introduce you to a variety of essential Bosnian words and phrases that will help you communicate more effectively and confidently. Whether you are planning a trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina, conversing with Bosnian-speaking friends, or simply enhancing your language skills, these words will be invaluable.

Everyday Vocabulary

Expanding your everyday vocabulary is crucial for achieving fluency. Here are some common words and phrases you should know:

1. **Family and Relationships**:
– **Majka** (mother)
– **Otac** (father)
– **Brat** (brother)
– **Sestra** (sister)
– **Prijatelj** (friend)
– **Rođak** (cousin)
– **Dijete** (child)
– **Suprug/Supruga** (husband/wife)
– **Baka** (grandmother)
– **Djed** (grandfather)

2. **Food and Drink**:
– **Hljeb** (bread)
– **Mlijeko** (milk)
– **Voda** (water)
– **Kafa** (coffee)
– **Voće** (fruit)
– **Povrće** (vegetables)
– **Meso** (meat)
– **Riba** (fish)
– **Čaj** (tea)
– **Sladoled** (ice cream)

3. **Clothing and Accessories**:
– **Majica** (shirt)
– **Hlače** (pants)
– **Cipele** (shoes)
– **Kaput** (coat)
– **Naušnice** (earrings)
– **Sat** (watch)
– **Torba** (bag)
– **Čarape** (socks)
– **Šal** (scarf)
– **Haljina** (dress)

Adjectives

Adjectives are essential for describing people, places, and things. Here are some useful adjectives to enhance your descriptive skills:

1. **Boje** (Colors):
– **Crvena** (red)
– **Plava** (blue)
– **Zelena** (green)
– **Žuta** (yellow)
– **Bijela** (white)
– **Crna** (black)
– **Smeđa** (brown)
– **Ljubičasta** (purple)
– **Narandžasta** (orange)
– **Roza** (pink)

2. **Osobine** (Characteristics):
– **Velik** (big)
– **Mali** (small)
– **Dobar** (good)
– **Loš** (bad)
– **Lijep** (beautiful)
– **Ružan** (ugly)
– **Pametan** (smart)
– **Glup** (stupid)
– **Sretan** (happy)
– **Tužan** (sad)

Verbs

Verbs are the backbone of any language. Here are some common Bosnian verbs that will help you express actions and states of being:

1. **Basic Verbs**:
– **Biti** (to be)
– **Imati** (to have)
– **Raditi** (to work)
– **Gledati** (to watch)
– **Slušati** (to listen)
– **Pisati** (to write)
– **Čitati** (to read)
– **Voljeti** (to love)
– **Živjeti** (to live)
– **Ići** (to go)

2. **Daily Activities**:
– **Ustati** (to get up)
– **Jesti** (to eat)
– **Piti** (to drink)
– **Spavati** (to sleep)
– **Kupovati** (to shop)
– **Kuhati** (to cook)
– **Vježbati** (to exercise)
– **Šetati** (to walk)
– **Putovati** (to travel)
– **Razgovarati** (to talk)

Common Phrases

Learning common phrases will make your conversations flow more naturally. Here are some phrases that you will find useful in various situations:

1. **Greetings and Farewells**:
– **Dobar dan** (Good day)
– **Dobro jutro** (Good morning)
– **Laku noć** (Good night)
– **Zdravo** (Hello)
– **Doviđenja** (Goodbye)
– **Vidimo se** (See you)
– **Kako ste?** (How are you?)
– **Dobro sam** (I am fine)
– **Hvala** (Thank you)
– **Molim** (Please/You’re welcome)

2. **Asking for Directions**:
– **Gdje je…?** (Where is…?)
– **Kako mogu doći do…?** (How can I get to…?)
– **Lijevo** (left)
– **Desno** (right)
– **Ravno** (straight)
– **Iza ugla** (around the corner)
– **Blizu** (near)
– **Daleko** (far)
– **Pored** (next to)
– **Preko puta** (across from)
– **Na kraju** (at the end)

3. **Shopping**:
– **Koliko košta?** (How much does it cost?)
– **Mogu li probati?** (Can I try it?)
– **Imate li…?** (Do you have…?)
– **Da li primate kartice?** (Do you accept credit cards?)
– **Gdje je kasa?** (Where is the cash register?)
– **Popust** (discount)
– **Račun** (receipt)
– **Mijenjati** (to exchange)
– **Vratiti** (to return)
– **Prodavač** (salesperson)

Numbers and Time

Knowing how to tell time and count is fundamental in any language. Here are some essential words and phrases related to numbers and time:

1. **Numbers**:
– **Jedan** (one)
– **Dva** (two)
– **Tri** (three)
– **Četiri** (four)
– **Pet** (five)
– **Šest** (six)
– **Sedam** (seven)
– **Osam** (eight)
– **Devet** (nine)
– **Deset** (ten)

2. **Days of the Week**:
– **Ponedjeljak** (Monday)
– **Utorak** (Tuesday)
– **Srijeda** (Wednesday)
– **Četvrtak** (Thursday)
– **Petak** (Friday)
– **Subota** (Saturday)
– **Nedjelja** (Sunday)

3. **Months of the Year**:
– **Januar** (January)
– **Februar** (February)
– **Mart** (March)
– **April** (April)
– **Maj** (May)
– **Juni** (June)
– **Juli** (July)
– **Avgust** (August)
– **Septembar** (September)
– **Oktobar** (October)
– **Novembar** (November)
– **Decembar** (December)

4. **Telling Time**:
– **Koliko je sati?** (What time is it?)
– **Sada je…** (It is now…)
– **Jedan sat** (one o’clock)
– **Pola dva** (half past one)
– **Četvrt do dva** (quarter to two)
– **Petnaest minuta do dva** (fifteen minutes to two)
– **Dvadeset minuta poslije dva** (twenty minutes past two)
– **Ujutro** (in the morning)
– **Popodne** (in the afternoon)
– **Uveče** (in the evening)
– **Noću** (at night)

Expressions and Idioms

Expressions and idioms can add color to your speech and help you sound more like a native speaker. Here are some Bosnian expressions and idioms to incorporate into your vocabulary:

1. **Idioms**:
– **Imati petlju** (to have guts) – Be brave.
– **Pasti s Marsa** (to fall from Mars) – Be clueless.
– **Ne pada mi na pamet** (It doesn’t come to my mind) – I wouldn’t even think about it.
– **Povuci ručnu** (Pull the handbrake) – Slow down.
– **Ići kao po loju** (Go as if on grease) – Go smoothly.

2. **Expressions**:
– **Kako vrijeme leti!** (How time flies!)
– **Nema veze** (It doesn’t matter)
– **Baš mi je drago** (I’m really glad)
– **U zdravlje** (Cheers)
– **Sretno** (Good luck)
– **Ugodan dan** (Have a nice day)
– **Sviđa mi se** (I like it)
– **To je to** (That’s it)
– **Nema problema** (No problem)
– **Samo polako** (Take it easy)

Travel and Transportation

When traveling, knowing specific terms related to transportation can make your journey smoother. Here are some useful words and phrases:

1. **At the Airport**:
– **Aerodrom** (airport)
– **Avion** (airplane)
– **Karta** (ticket)
– **Pasoš** (passport)
– **Prtljag** (luggage)
– **Polazak** (departure)
– **Dolazak** (arrival)
– **Let** (flight)
– **Kapija** (gate)
– **Sigurnosna provjera** (security check)

2. **Public Transportation**:
– **Autobus** (bus)
– **Voz** (train)
– **Tramvaj** (tram)
– **Taksi** (taxi)
– **Stanica** (station)
– **Karta** (ticket)
– **Linija** (line)
– **Raspored vožnje** (timetable)
– **Presjedanje** (transfer)
– **Krajnja stanica** (final stop)

3. **Driving**:
– **Auto** (car)
– **Vozačka dozvola** (driver’s license)
– **Benzinska pumpa** (gas station)
– **Putarina** (toll)
– **Parking** (parking)
– **Saobraćaj** (traffic)
– **Skretanje** (turn)
– **Brzina** (speed)
– **Kružni tok** (roundabout)
– **Putokaz** (road sign)

Health and Emergencies

It’s essential to know how to communicate in case of health issues or emergencies. Here are some key terms:

1. **Health**:
– **Ljekar** (doctor)
– **Bolnica** (hospital)
– **Apoteka** (pharmacy)
– **Lijek** (medicine)
– **Bol** (pain)
– **Prehlada** (cold)
– **Gripa** (flu)
– **Alergija** (allergy)
– **Hitna pomoć** (emergency)
– **Recept** (prescription)

2. **Emergencies**:
– **Pomoć** (help)
– **Policija** (police)
– **Vatrogasci** (firefighters)
– **Hitna služba** (emergency service)
– **Nesreća** (accident)
– **Požar** (fire)
– **Krađa** (theft)
– **Gubitak** (loss)
– **Opasnost** (danger)
– **Sigurnost** (safety)

Conclusion

Reaching a B1 level in Bosnian means you are well on your way to becoming proficient in the language. By incorporating these essential words and phrases into your vocabulary, you’ll be better equipped to handle everyday conversations, navigate various situations, and express yourself more clearly. Remember to practice regularly, engage with native speakers whenever possible, and immerse yourself in the language to continue improving. Happy learning!