After Yugoslavia broke up into several independent republics. Today Bosnian is spoken in Bosnia and Herzegovina, however, knowing it, you can easily travel around Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia without encountering a language barrier.
A little history
Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian and Montenegrin languages all share the same dialect, making all these languages almost identical. During the existence of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, there was no official division: there was one common Serbo-Croatian language.
Today, the Bosnian language does not have uniform recognition. The fact is that there is a literary language of Bosniaks, that is, ethnic Muslims, while Bosniaks are Bosniaks themselves, Bosnian Orthodox Serbs, and Catholic Croats.
Eastern influence
The Bosnian language is the language of a part of the southern Slavs living in Bosnia and in a certain territory in Serbia (the so-called Novopazar Sandzak, on the Serbian-Montenegrin border). It is also one of the official languages in Kosovo.
Although Bosnian is similar to Serbian, Montenegrin and Croatian, it still has one clear difference from all of them. Ever since the rule of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans, it was the Bosnians, as Muslims, who adopted many Turkishisms, as well as Persianisms and Arabisms into their speech. Serbs also use Turkish borrowings in speech, but much less frequently.
Islam came to the Bosnian territories along with the Turks, and local feudal lords, under threat of deprivation of their property, converted to this religion. Thus, in the 16th century, Islam completely replaced Christianity among the upper strata of the population, greatly influencing the vocabulary of the language.
Features of the Bosnian language
As mentioned above, the official language of Bosnia and Herzegovina differs from its neighbors primarily in the large number of Turkish words. Turcisms are considered to be not only the original words of the Turkish language, found in Bosnian in their pure form, but also words that over time adapted to Slavic word formation.
You can take for example the word kapija, which translated from Bosnian means “wicket/gate”. This is the Turkish word kapı, which translates to "gate". Or the Bosnian (and not only) word jastuk (pillow), which was formed from the Turkish yastık (pillow).
Among other Turkishisms there are the following:
- Ahlak moral - good behavior.
- Čardak (chardak) - the top floor of a house. It is interesting that in the Serbian language the word Čardak refers to a small storage facility for corn.
- Divaniti - to talk.
- Džennet is paradise.
- Džemat - company, circle of friends.
This is not a complete list of Turkish loanwords in the Bosnian language. However, this is not its only feature. In addition to the fact that Bosnian is heavily Turkish, inclusions from the Serbian language are gradually being squeezed out of it and replaced by Croatian ones, although some stable Serbian words remain, for example, niko (nobody), and not the Croatian nitko in the same meaning.
And the third feature of the Bosnian language is the use of the consonant phoneme h in some words:
How to learn Bosnian language
The language spoken in Bosnia and Herzegovina is very multicultural. As mentioned earlier, it is a Slavic language with a large admixture of Turkish, Persian and Arabic. However, people who have previously learned, for example, the Croatian language, will easily understand Bosnian.
It is quite easy for a Russian-speaking person to learn the Bosnian language, because it is similar to Russian. In addition, today there is a huge selection of applications and sites for learning foreign languages, even not very popular ones. Just enter “learn Bosnian language” into the search engine, and it will return a huge number of different sites, dictionaries, phrase books, and methods for learning this language.
In contact with
Once upon a time in Bosnia and Herzegovina they spoke the Serbo-Croatian language, they studied in school in it, and they wrote books in it. There are now three official languages in the country: Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian. There are differences, but they are of such a nature that only native speakers can distinguish these nuances, and even then not always: 99%* identical grammar, 95%** common vocabulary, but the remaining five percent make music.
To better understand these differences, let's visit three restaurants: with Bosnian Muslim (Bosniak) cuisine, with Croatian cuisine and with Serbian cuisine.
In a Serbian and Muslim restaurant they will put “tanir” in front of you, and in a Croatian “tanyur”, a plate, that is. If you order chorba (I recommend), then to eat it you will need a “kashika”, a spoon. In a Croatian restaurant they won’t give you “kasika”, but they will bring you “zhlitsa”.
Elena Arsenievich, CC BY-SA 3.0In good restaurants, they bake their own bread, and in the best ones, they also bake it from flour, which is ground with stone millstones. From this wonderful flour, Muslims and Serbs bake “khlieb” or “bread”, and Croats bake “kruh”.
Elena Arsenievich, CC BY-SA 3.0 Delicacy dish - veal. A satch is a heavy cast-iron lid that is used to cover the meat, and hot coals are poured on top. Two hours under such a lid - and the meat melts in your mouth. It is prepared in Sarajevo, Travnik, and Mostar, and the veal in the restaurant in the west of Herzegovina is especially good. You just won't find it on the menu. It will say “veal from the oven.” Peka is no different from sacha except for the set of letters. It is interesting that only Herzegovinian Croats call sach peka, Bosnian Croats, like Bosnian Muslims, call sach sachem.
Elena Arsenievich, CC BY-SA 3.0 
Elena Arsenievich, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo gallery
Basic moments
In recent decades, Bosnia and Herzegovina has been actively developing tourism and now can offer travelers many historical attractions - ancient Christian churches, mosques and medieval castles. In addition, this European state has a luxurious nature. 90% of its territory is made up of picturesque mountains and foothills. And in winter, many ski fans come here.
In ancient times, the lands of Bosnia and Herzegovina were inhabited by Celts and Illyrians. In the 1st century AD the territory was controlled by the Roman Empire, and from the 6th century. - Byzantium. In subsequent centuries, the fertile foothill lands were inhabited by Serbs. In the 12th century, the Bosnian state was formed here. The country received its modern name and constitutional structure in the form of a parliamentary republic after the end of the Balkan War in 1995. Historically, the name “Bosnia and Herzegovina” was the result of the merger of two words: the name of the Bosna River and the German title “duke”, which was borne by the voivode Stefan Vuksic Kosaca in the 15th century.
Unfortunately, Bosnia and Herzegovina faces the 21st century with a lot of pressing problems. Today it is considered the poorest country in Europe and has a very high unemployment rate. Bosnia and Herzegovina has European Union peacekeeping forces on its territory, operating under the auspices of the UN. They provide solutions to interethnic problems and the removal of political tensions, and are also a guarantor of the prevention of ethnic conflicts.
However, these internal problems do not prevent the residents of Bosnia and Herzegovina from remaining very welcoming and hospitable to everyone who wants to get acquainted with the traditions and culture of the peoples inhabiting it. Most guests come here from neighboring countries, Germany and Turkey. The flow of tourists from Russia and the CIS countries is not yet large, but it is growing every year.
Traveling around Bosnia and Herzegovina is absolutely safe. For Russians, this country provides 30-day visa-free entry. The road here does not take much time, and in the major tourist centers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and at its ski resorts you can find a fairly high level of service. Low prices, natural attractions, excellent cuisine and interesting architectural monuments make traveling through one of the most beautiful countries in South-Eastern Europe very attractive.
Climate
Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in the temperate continental climate zone. And its south and southwest are characterized by a subtropical Mediterranean climate. The summer months here are never too hot. In mid-summer the air temperature does not rise above +27ºС. In flat areas it is always warmer, and in the mountains in summer the temperature ranges from +10ºС to +21ºС.
Winters in this country are also quite mild. Frosts below -10ºС are very rare here, and temperatures usually range from 0ºС to +5ºС. In the mountainous part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, stable snow cover lasts for several months - from November to April, that is, the ski season in this country is quite long. True, ideal conditions for skiing, as a rule, begin in December and end at the end of February. During these few months, most fans of alpine skiing come to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Precipitation occurs mainly in summer and early winter - from November to December. Moreover, on the eastern slopes of the mountains there is almost 4 times less precipitation per year than on the western slopes. The mountainous nature of the area determines other climatic features of Bosnia and Herzegovina. There are many microclimatic zones here where the weather pattern changes very quickly within one day.
Tourist opportunities
After the Balkan War, the tourism infrastructure in the country is developing quite quickly. Every year more and more travelers come to Bosnia and Herzegovina who want to get acquainted with this “intimate” unique state of Europe.
Experts from the World Tourism Organization believe that Bosnia and Herzegovina will become one of the world leaders in terms of growth rates in the tourism sector of the economy over the next few years. In popular guidebooks, Lonely Planet is mentioned as one of the most attractive tourist centers in Europe, where many cultural, historical and religious monuments are concentrated, interesting for travelers from any country.
Ski resorts
In recent years, Bosnia and Herzegovina has been trying to regain its glory as a prestigious ski center and is actively developing the infrastructure of winter resorts. The largest resorts for ski lovers exist nearby. There are four of them, and all of them were Olympic venues in 1984. All ski centers in Bosnia and Herzegovina are distinguished by ease of access, affordable prices for ski passes and equipment rental, good hotels and excellent inexpensive local cuisine.
30 km from the capital of the country, on the slopes of the mountain of the same name, lies the sports center of Jahorina. The slopes here are 20 km long and equipped with four chair lifts. Some of the trails are illuminated at night. In addition to alpine skiing, people come here for cross-country skiing, snowboarding and sledding. Guests of this resort do not have to worry - there are hotels and apartments for every taste near the slopes.
The ski center Bjelašnica is a little closer to (25 km). The height difference on its slopes is quite large - about 860 m. There are slopes for night skiing and various lifts. The slopes of this resort are more suitable for intermediate skiers. In the summer months, the local slopes are explored by lovers of paragliding and hiking.
The Vlašić ski center was built at an altitude of 1260 m and is located 120 m from the capital of the country. Although this resort is considered one of the southernmost in Europe, snow cover here lasts up to five months a year. Most of the slopes at this resort are suitable for beginners and children. The slopes are served by 4 ski lifts. In addition, Vlašić has a lighted ice skating rink.
Kupres, located in the Croatian part of the country, is used as a sports center both in winter and summer. This ski resort is often called Adria-ski, and it is actively developing. Today, ski lovers will find 4 slopes here, the length of the tracks is 14 km.
What to see in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Despite the small size of the country, Bosnia and Herzegovina has many historical monuments and interesting natural sites that attract many tourists from different places. This European country is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites - the Old Bridge in the historical center of Mostar and the Mehmed Pasha Bridge in Visegrad. Both of these unique stone bridges were built in the mid-16th century.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, many stone medieval castles and ancient fortresses built in the 12th-18th centuries have been preserved. They served for defensive purposes and as residences for local kings and nobles. The best preserved monuments of the Middle Ages are located in (Bijela Tabija), Vares (Bobovac), Bihac (Captain's Citadel), Doboj (Doboj Fortress), Gradacac (Gradacac Castle), Jajce (Jajce Castle), Banja Luka (Kastel Castle), Cazin (Ostrožac), Livno (the citadels of Smailagić and Vujadin), Tesane (Tesan Castle) and Travnik (Travnik Castle).
Taxis can only be used in large cities. But it should be taken into account that not all cars have meters, so it is better to agree on the cost of the trip in advance.
It is convenient to travel by buses, trolleybuses and trams. One trip costs about 2 VAM. And to save money, you need to purchase a one-day pass, which costs 5 VAM.
Safety
As in all Slavic countries, in Bosnia and Geozegovina tourists from Russia are treated kindly. The locals are always friendly and helpful. The crime rate here is not high. However, when traveling around the Old Town in , tourists need to be wary of pickpockets.
In addition, it is always necessary to take into account that both Christians and Muslims live in the country. The three main communities - Bosniaks (adherents of Islam), Croats and Serbs continue to live separately, so it is better not to touch on controversial political and religious issues in conversations. For example, you should not discuss the problems of the recent Balkan War with strangers or openly demonstrate your political sympathy for someone. You should also be careful when purchasing souvenirs with a “political” theme.
no, so to get to the city you need to take a taxi or rent a car.
A taxi ride from the airport to the Sarajevo bus station will cost 5-6 euros. There is another, cheaper, but rather labor-intensive option. You can walk to a public transport stop, take a tram and ride it into the city. A tram ticket will cost 1.8 VAM.
The bus and train stations are nearby. And it’s easy to find them by a noticeable landmark - a tall, “twisted” tower is clearly visible from many places in the city.
Located in southeastern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. It borders on Croatia in the north and west, Montenegro in the southeast, and Serbia in the east.
The country's name comes from the name of the Bosna River and the Hungarian he-rceg- "voivode". Capital. Sarajevo.
Official name: Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Capital: Sarajevo
The area of the land: 51.1 thousand sq. km
Total Population: 4.5 million people
Administrative division: Consists of two historical regions: Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Form of government: Republic.
Head of State: Chairman of the Presidium, consisting of three members (Bosnian, Serb, Croat), who alternate in office every 8 months.
Population composition: 31% Serbs, 49% Bosniaks (Muslim Bosniaks), 14% Croats, 0.6% others
Official language: Bosnian (Bosanski), Serbian, Croatian
Religion: 40% are Muslims, 31% are Orthodox, 15% are Catholics, 14% are adherents of other faiths - 14%.
Internet domain: .ba
Mains voltage: ~230 V, 50 Hz
Country dialing code: +387
Country barcode: 387
Climate
Temperate continental. The general picture of the natural and climatic conditions of the country is heterogeneous - in fact, here you can observe a wide variety of microclimatic zones associated with the peculiarities of the local topography - even neighboring sections of the same valley can differ noticeably from each other in weather due to different topography. Characteristic features of the local climate also include rapid changes in local weather during the day, which is associated with different heating of mountain slopes under the influence of sunlight, changing its azimuth and angle of incidence during the day.
The average summer temperature in the valleys is from +16 to +27 C, and up to +10-21 in the mountainous areas (in the capital the average July temperature is +21 C). In winter, from 0 C to -7 C, respectively (in the capital in January it is about -1 C, but the temperature can drop to -16 C). Precipitation ranges from 400 (eastern mountain slopes) to 1500 (western) mm per year, mainly in summer and early winter.
Geography
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a mountainous country located in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe. It borders with Croatia in the north, south and west (total length of the border is 932 km), with Serbia in the east and Montenegro in the south. The long and narrow “Neum corridor” stretches between the borders of Croatia and Montenegro to the Adriatic coast (the coastline is only 20 km wide).
Bosnia occupies the northern part of the federation, along the valley of the Sava River and its tributaries. Herzegovina is located further south, in the Neretva River basin. The Serbian Republic occupies the north-eastern part of the country adjacent to Serbia. The total area of the country is 51.1 thousand square meters. km.
Flora and fauna
Vegetable world
Forests occupy 41% of the country's territory. There are almost no native broadleaf forests left on the northern plains, which are now occupied by agricultural land. In the north in the foothills and on mountain slopes up to a height of approx. 500 m grow oak and hornbeam forests with an admixture of maple and linden. Beech trees are common in the central regions, and above 800-900 m above sea level. – beech-fir forests with an admixture of maple, pine and spruce. In the upper mountain belt, above 1600–1700 m above sea level, subalpine meadows are common. In the subtropics in the southwest of the country, evergreen forests (maquis) and deciduous shrubs are common up to an altitude of 300–400 m; higher in the mountains there are forests of southern species of oak, hornbeam and maple.
Animal world
In the mountains of Bosnia and Herzegovina there are chamois, red deer, roe deer, brown bears, wolves, wild boars, lynxes, forest cats, otters, martens, and many hares. Lizards, snakes, and turtles are common in karst areas. The avifauna is rich. Large birds include eagles, falcons, and wood grouse. The mouth of the Neretva River is characterized by swampy landscapes. Great and little egrets, various waterfowl, and birds of prey include golden eagles, great spotted eagle, and white-tailed eagle are found there.
Banks and currency
Convertible mark (KM or VAM), equal to 100 pfennigs (fenigs). The convertible mark is equal to the euro in the proportion 1KM = 0.51129 euros. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 1 and 0.5 marks (the latter is gradually withdrawn from circulation since March 31, 2003), as well as coins in denominations of 2 and 1 mark, 10, 20 and 50 pfennigs. Both federal units of the country issue their own versions of banknotes; on Bosnian stamps all inscriptions are made in Latin, on Serbian ones - in Cyrillic. But the colors and denominations of the banknotes are the same, and banknotes of all issues are in free circulation throughout the country.
The Croatian kuna and the Serbian dinar are used in areas adjacent to their respective borders. US dollars and euros are virtually ubiquitous, although in many Serbian areas dollars are practically useless, usually only large hotels and banks accept them.
Banks are open from Monday to Friday from 08.00 to 19.00.
It is advisable to exchange money only in official institutions - banks, hotels and exchange offices, since when exchanging on the street the percentage of fraud is very high. All receipts received when exchanging money should be kept, as they will be required for the return exchange when leaving the country.
Using credit cards is difficult. You can withdraw money from them only in the offices of banks in the capital, as well as in some hotels, restaurants, post offices and shops in the capital and Medugorje. ATM ATMs have begun to appear more and more often, but for the most part they only serve Maestro and Visa cards.
Travel checks can only be cashed at bank offices, but the procedure for verifying their authenticity is extremely lengthy.
Useful information for tourists
It is customary to leave tips in taxis and expensive restaurants. It is advisable to exchange money only in official institutions - banks, hotels, exchange offices, since there is a high possibility of fraud.
The standard of living in the country is extremely low, so it is not recommended to carry large amounts of cash with you to avoid robbery.
Bosnian language(self-name bosanski / bosanski / بۉسانسكى) is one of the South Slavic languages spoken mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina by about 2.2 million people. Officially, Bosnian began to emerge as a separate language after the collapse of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. The Bosnian language became one of the official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1994, along with Croatian and Serbian.
The Bosnian language uses both the Cyrillic and Latin alphabet. In the past, Bosnian was written using a version of the Cyrillic alphabet known as Bosnian Cyrillic since the late 10th century. This alphabet was used only in Bosnia. During the period of Ottoman rule, a version of the Arabic alphabet was used to write Bosnian.
The first Bosnian dictionary, the Bosnian-Turkish Rhyming Dictionary, was compiled by Muhammad Hevayi Uskufi in 1631.
The Bosnian language is closely related and mutually intelligible to the Serbian, Croatian and Montenegrin languages.
This table shows the Bosnian Cyrillic alphabet, which was used during the 10th-20th centuries. It was never standardized and most letters had several different shapes - typical shapes are shown in the table. Some letters used in modern Bosnian Cyrillic were not used in this version. At the same time, there are letters here that are no longer used at all.
Arabic alphabet for Bosnian language (Arabica/Alhamijado/Adzamijski)
Latin and Cyrillic alphabets for the Bosnian language
