As you transition from beginner to intermediate level in learning Bosnian, expanding your vocabulary becomes crucial. Not only does it enable you to express more complex thoughts, but it also helps you understand native speakers better. This article aims to provide a comprehensive list of essential Bosnian words and phrases that every intermediate learner should know. We’ll cover various categories such as common verbs, adjectives, nouns, and useful phrases that you can incorporate into your everyday conversations.

Common Verbs

Verbs are the backbone of any language. They allow you to describe actions, states, and occurrences. Here are some important Bosnian verbs that you should add to your vocabulary:

1. **Sjećati se** – to remember
– Example: Sjećam se našeg prvog susreta. (I remember our first meeting.)

2. **Zaboraviti** – to forget
– Example: Zaboravio sam ključeve. (I forgot the keys.)

3. **Razumjeti** – to understand
– Example: Razumijem šta govoriš. (I understand what you are saying.)

4. **Vjerovati** – to believe
– Example: Vjerujem u tebe. (I believe in you.)

5. **Osjećati** – to feel
– Example: Osjećam se sretno. (I feel happy.)

6. **Pokušati** – to try
– Example: Pokušat ću ponovo. (I will try again.)

7. **Objasniti** – to explain
– Example: Možete li mi objasniti? (Can you explain it to me?)

8. **Pitati** – to ask
– Example: Mogu li te nešto pitati? (Can I ask you something?)

9. **Odgovoriti** – to answer
– Example: Odgovorit ću kasnije. (I will answer later.)

10. **Sjećati se** – to remember
– Example: Sjećam se prošlog ljeta. (I remember last summer.)

Adjectives

Adjectives are essential for describing people, places, and things. Here are some useful Bosnian adjectives:

1. **Važan** – important
– Example: Ovo je važan događaj. (This is an important event.)

2. **Zanimljiv** – interesting
– Example: Ovo je zanimljiva knjiga. (This is an interesting book.)

3. **Lijep** – beautiful
– Example: Ona je vrlo lijepa. (She is very beautiful.)

4. **Pametna** – smart
– Example: Moj brat je vrlo pametan. (My brother is very smart.)

5. **Sretan** – happy
– Example: Osjećam se sretno. (I feel happy.)

6. **Ugodan** – pleasant
– Example: Proveli smo ugodan vikend. (We had a pleasant weekend.)

7. **Težak** – difficult
– Example: Ovo je težak zadatak. (This is a difficult task.)

8. **Lagano** – easy
– Example: Ovo je lagano pitanje. (This is an easy question.)

9. **Brz** – fast
– Example: On je vrlo brz trkač. (He is a very fast runner.)

10. **Spora** – slow
– Example: Ova mašina je spora. (This machine is slow.)

Common Nouns

Nouns are the building blocks of sentences. They help you identify people, places, and things. Here are some essential Bosnian nouns:

1. **Prijatelj** – friend
– Example: On je moj najbolji prijatelj. (He is my best friend.)

2. **Porodica** – family
– Example: Moja porodica je velika. (My family is large.)

3. **Kuća** – house
– Example: Živim u velikoj kući. (I live in a big house.)

4. **Grad** – city
– Example: Sarajevo je prelijep grad. (Sarajevo is a beautiful city.)

5. **Škola** – school
– Example: Moja djeca idu u školu. (My children go to school.)

6. **Posao** – job
– Example: Imam novi posao. (I have a new job.)

7. **Vrijeme** – time/weather
– Example: Vrijeme je danas lijepo. (The weather is nice today.)

8. **Novac** – money
– Example: Trebam više novca. (I need more money.)

9. **Voda** – water
– Example: Pijem puno vode. (I drink a lot of water.)

10. **Hrana** – food
– Example: Volim bosansku hranu. (I love Bosnian food.)

Useful Phrases

Knowing some useful phrases can help you navigate daily conversations more smoothly. Here are some phrases that you should know:

1. **Kako si?** – How are you?
– Example: Kako si danas? (How are you today?)

2. **Molim te** – Please
– Example: Molim te, dodaj mi sol. (Please pass me the salt.)

3. **Hvala** – Thank you
– Example: Hvala za pomoć. (Thank you for your help.)

4. **Izvini** – Sorry
– Example: Izvini što kasnim. (Sorry for being late.)

5. **Možeš li mi pomoći?** – Can you help me?
– Example: Možeš li mi pomoći sa ovim? (Can you help me with this?)

6. **Koliko to košta?** – How much does it cost?
– Example: Koliko to košta? (How much does it cost?)

7. **Gdje je najbliža banka?** – Where is the nearest bank?
– Example: Gdje je najbliža banka? (Where is the nearest bank?)

8. **Ne razumijem** – I don’t understand
– Example: Ne razumijem šta kažeš. (I don’t understand what you are saying.)

9. **Možete li ponoviti?** – Can you repeat?
– Example: Možete li ponoviti to? (Can you repeat that?)

10. **Vidimo se kasnije** – See you later
– Example: Vidimo se kasnije! (See you later!)

Expressions and Idioms

Understanding idiomatic expressions can give you deeper insights into the culture and make your speech sound more natural. Here are some common Bosnian idioms:

1. **Pasti s neba** – to fall from the sky (to come out of nowhere)
– Example: Taj posao je pao s neba. (That job came out of nowhere.)

2. **Imati putra na glavi** – to have butter on one’s head (to be guilty)
– Example: On ima putra na glavi. (He is guilty.)

3. **Uzimati zdravo za gotovo** – to take for granted
– Example: Nemoj uzimati sve zdravo za gotovo. (Don’t take everything for granted.)

4. **Vuk dlaku mijenja, ali ćud nikada** – A wolf changes his fur, but not his nature (A leopard doesn’t change its spots)
– Example: On se nikada neće promijeniti, vuk dlaku mijenja, ali ćud nikada. (He will never change, a leopard doesn’t change its spots.)

5. **Piti kao smuk** – to drink like a snake (to drink heavily)
– Example: On pije kao smuk. (He drinks heavily.)

Connecting Words and Conjunctions

Connecting words and conjunctions are essential for making your sentences more complex and coherent. Here are some key words you should know:

1. **I** – and
– Example: Ja i moj prijatelj idemo u kino. (My friend and I are going to the cinema.)

2. **Ali** – but
– Example: Želim ići, ali nemam vremena. (I want to go, but I don’t have time.)

3. **Ili** – or
– Example: Hoćeš li kafu ili čaj? (Do you want coffee or tea?)

4. **Zato što** – because
– Example: Ne mogu doći zato što sam bolestan. (I can’t come because I am sick.)

5. **Dok** – while
– Example: Čitao sam knjigu dok je kišilo. (I was reading a book while it was raining.)

6. **Ako** – if
– Example: Doći ću ako budem mogao. (I will come if I can.)

7. **Iako** – although
– Example: Iako je kasno, još uvijek radim. (Although it’s late, I am still working.)

8. **Dakle** – therefore
– Example: Bio je bolestan, dakle nije došao. (He was sick, therefore he didn’t come.)

9. **Osim** – except
– Example: Svi su došli osim njega. (Everyone came except him.)

10. **Kao** – like/as
– Example: Radi kao učitelj. (He works as a teacher.)

Numbers and Quantifiers

Numbers and quantifiers are essential for everyday interactions, whether you’re shopping, dining, or making plans. Here are some important ones to remember:

1. **Jedan** – one
– Example: Imam jedan auto. (I have one car.)

2. **Dva** – two
– Example: Imamo dva psa. (We have two dogs.)

3. **Tri** – three
– Example: Kupio sam tri jabuke. (I bought three apples.)

4. **Malo** – a little
– Example: Imam malo novca. (I have a little money.)

5. **Mnogo** – a lot/many
– Example: Imam mnogo prijatelja. (I have many friends.)

6. **Nekoliko** – several
– Example: Imam nekoliko knjiga. (I have several books.)

7. **Malo** – few
– Example: Imam malo vremena. (I have a little time.)

8. **Ništa** – nothing
– Example: Nemam ništa protiv. (I have nothing against it.)

9. **Sve** – all
– Example: Sve je u redu. (Everything is fine.)

10. **Neki** – some
– Example: Neki ljudi ne vole kišu. (Some people don’t like rain.)

Days of the Week and Months

Knowing how to talk about days and months is crucial for making plans and discussing events. Here are the days of the week and months in Bosnian:

1. **Ponedjeljak** – Monday
– Example: Ponedjeljak je prvi dan u sedmici. (Monday is the first day of the week.)

2. **Utorak** – Tuesday
– Example: Utorak je moj omiljeni dan. (Tuesday is my favorite day.)

3. **Srijeda** – Wednesday
– Example: Srijedom idem u teretanu. (I go to the gym on Wednesdays.)

4. **Četvrtak** – Thursday
– Example: Četvrtkom imam časove. (I have classes on Thursdays.)

5. **Petak** – Friday
– Example: Petak je dan za izlazak. (Friday is a day to go out.)

6. **Subota** – Saturday
– Example: Subotom volim spavati duže. (On Saturdays, I like to sleep in.)

7. **Nedjelja** – Sunday
– Example: Nedjeljom idemo kod bake. (On Sundays, we visit grandma.)

Months:

1. **Januar** – January
2. **Februar** – February
3. **Mart** – March
4. **April** – April
5. **Maj** – May
6. **Juni** – June
7. **Juli** – July
8. **August** – August
9. **Septembar** – September
10. **Oktobar** – October
11. **Novembar** – November
12. **Decembar** – December

Time Expressions

Time expressions are essential for discussing schedules and timelines. Here are some useful Bosnian time expressions:

1. **Sada** – now
– Example: Sada sam zauzet. (I am busy now.)

2. **Kasnije** – later
– Example: Vidimo se kasnije. (See you later.)

3. **Ranije** – earlier
– Example: Došao sam ranije. (I came earlier.)

4. **Jutro** – morning
– Example: Volim jutro. (I love the morning.)

5. **Podne** – noon
– Example: Ručamo u podne. (We have lunch at noon.)

6. **Popodne** – afternoon
– Example: Idem u šetnju popodne. (I go for a walk in the afternoon.)

7. **Večer** – evening
– Example: Gledamo filmove uvečer. (We watch movies in the evening.)

8. **Noć** – night
– Example: Spavam noću. (I sleep at night.)

9. **Jučer** – yesterday
– Example: Jučer sam bio u gradu. (I was in the city yesterday.)

10. **Sutra** – tomorrow
– Example: Vidimo se sutra. (See you tomorrow.)

Conclusion

Mastering an intermediate level of Bosnian requires consistent practice and a willingness to expand your vocabulary. By incorporating these common verbs, adjectives, nouns, phrases, idioms, and expressions into your daily conversations, you’ll find yourself becoming more fluent and confident in your language skills. Remember, language learning is a gradual process, but with dedication and practice, you will achieve proficiency. Sretno! (Good luck!)