You're standing in a small kafana in Sarajevo. The smell of charcoal-grilled ćevapi is thick in the air. A local friend walks in, throws an arm around you, and asks a question that sounds like a rapid-fire burst of vowels. You want to ask how are you in Bosnian back, but your brain freezes. Is it formal? Is it casual? Are you supposed to actually tell them your life story, or just nod and say "good"?
Most phrasebooks give you a sterile, one-size-fits-all answer. They’re wrong.
Bosnian isn't just a language; it’s a social dance. If you use the wrong version of "how are you," you might come off as a cold bureaucrat or, conversely, someone who’s being way too "buddy-buddy" with a grandmother you just met. It's about the "vibe" as much as the grammar.
The standard way to say how are you in Bosnian
If you want to play it safe, the phrase you’ll see in every textbook is Kako ste? This is the formal, plural, or respectful version. You use it with bosses, elders, or the person selling you pita at the market. It’s polite. It’s clean. It’s also a bit boring, but it won't get you into trouble.
But here’s the thing: Bosnians are incredibly warm people. Once the initial "ice" is broken, Kako ste? starts to feel a bit like wearing a tuxedo to a backyard barbecue.
For your friends, your cousins, or that guy you’ve been drinking coffee with for twenty minutes, you switch to Kako si? This is the singular, informal version. It’s the bread and butter of daily interaction. It’s short. It’s punchy. It gets the job done.
But wait. There’s a third player in this game.
Šta ima? Literally, this translates to "What is there?" but it functions exactly like the English "What’s up?" or "What’s going on?" If you walk into a room of young people in Sarajevo or Tuzla and say "Kako ste?" they’ll look at you like you’re about to deliver a lecture on macroeconomics. Say "Šta ima?" and you’re suddenly part of the group.
Why the answer isn't always "Fine"
In English, "How are you?" is often a hollow greeting. You say "Good, thanks," and keep walking. In the Balkans, and specifically in Bosnia, people might actually tell you.
If someone asks you how are you in Bosnian, and you respond with a generic "Dobro" (Good), you might be cutting the conversation short. Don't be surprised if a local responds to your inquiry with a five-minute breakdown of their recent plumbing issues or their thoughts on the local football results. It’s an invitation to talk, not just a verbal handshake.
Dialects, Slang, and the "Gde si" phenomenon
Language in Bosnia is fluid. Depending on whether you are in the heart of Sarajevo, the hills of Herzegovina, or the northern plains, the sounds change.
In Sarajevo, you’ll hear a lot of "ba." It’s an untranslatable filler word that adds a layer of "local" flavor. So, "Šta ima, ba?" is the ultimate casual greeting. It’s the linguistic equivalent of a fist bump.
Then there’s "Gde si?" (or "Gdje si?").
If you look at a dictionary, this means "Where are you?"
Don't be confused. If someone sees you on the street and shouts "Gde si!", they aren't actually asking for your GPS coordinates. They are saying hello. It’s a rhetorical "how are you." The standard response isn't your street address; it’s usually just "Evo me!" (Here I am!) or another "Gde si!" right back at them.
The nuance of "Kako ide?"
Sometimes you aren't asking about a person’s soul; you’re asking about their life's progress.
- Kako ide? (How’s it going?)
- Ide li? (Is it going?)
The second one is particularly Bosnian. It’s often said with a slight shrug of the shoulders. It acknowledges that life is sometimes a struggle, but we keep moving. If things are rough, a common response is "Gura se" (One pushes through). It’s a very honest, grounded way of looking at the world.
The Golden Rule: The Coffee Context
You cannot talk about how are you in Bosnian without talking about kafa (coffee).
Coffee is the currency of social life here. When someone asks "Hoćemo li na kafu?" (Shall we go for coffee?), they aren't just thirsty. They are asking for a 90-minute window to ask you "Kako si?" roughly fourteen times in different ways.
During these sessions, the greeting evolves.
It starts with the formal/informal check-in. Then, as the first layer of foam disappears from the Bosnian coffee, it moves into "Šta ima novo?" (What’s new?). By the time you’re looking at the grounds at the bottom of the cup, it’s "Kako su tvoji?" (How are your folks?).
Family is huge. Asking about someone’s parents or children is a massive sign of respect and genuine interest. If you want to impress a Bosnian host, don't just ask how they are. Ask how their mother is.
Common mistakes to avoid
Look, people will appreciate you trying. Bosnian is a Slavic language with a complex case system, so if you mess up a vowel, nobody is going to be offended. But there are some social faux pas to keep in mind.
- Over-formality with peers: If you’re at a party and you keep using "Kako ste?" people will think you’re being stuck-up or distant.
- The "Fine" Trap: If you only ever say "Dobro" (Good), you’ll seem boring. Try "Nako" (Short for "onako"). It means "So-so" or "Just like that." It’s the most common answer in the country. It’s perfectly neutral.
- Ignoring the "Gde si": If someone shouts "Gde si" and you start looking at your phone to give them your location, you’ve failed the vibe check.
Regional flavors: Sarajevo vs. Mostar vs. Banja Luka
While the language is officially Bosnian (closely related to Serbian and Croatian), the "flavor" of the greeting shifts.
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In Mostar, the heat tends to make things a bit more laid back. You might hear more Italian-influenced gestures or a slower, more melodic "Đe si" (a dialect version of Gde si). In Banja Luka, you might notice a slightly crisper pronunciation.
Regardless of the city, the sentiment remains. People want to connect.
When you ask how are you in Bosnian, you are participating in a culture that values the "ćeif"—the art of enjoying the moment, usually over a slow drink and good conversation.
Pronunciation cheat sheet
If you’re worried about how these words actually sound, here’s a quick guide:
- Kako si? (Kah-ko see?)
- Šta ima? (Shta ee-mah?)
- Dobro sam. (Doh-bro sahm.) - I am good.
- Onako. (Oh-nah-ko.) - So-so.
The "Š" is always like "sh" in shoe. The "j" is always like "y" in yellow. Keep it simple. Don't overthink the accent.
Actionable steps for your first conversation
If you’re heading to Sarajevo or just meeting a Bosnian neighbor, here is how you should handle the "How are you" sequence to sound like a natural:
- Start with the situation. If it’s a shopkeeper, use "Dobar dan, kako ste?" (Good day, how are you?). It shows you have manners.
- Listen for the "Šta ima." If they say it first, don't panic. Just say "Evo, malo..." (Here, a little...) and then add whatever you’re doing. For example, "Evo, malo šetam" (Just walking a bit).
- Use "Nako" when you don't know what to say. It is the ultimate "get out of jail free" card in the Bosnian language. It fits every situation.
- Ask about the family. If you’ve met the person before, a quick "Kako su tvoji?" will earn you more respect than a year of grammar lessons.
- Accept the coffee. If the "how are you" leads to an invitation for coffee, say yes. That is where the real language learning happens.
Stop worrying about being perfect. The Bosnian language is hearty, resilient, and deeply human. Whether you say "Kako si," "Šta ima," or "Gde si," the fact that you’re asking is what actually matters to the person across from you. Get the coffee, sit down, and just start talking.