BosanskiCulture
The Bosnian coffee ritual, in words
In Bosnia, coffee is not a drink. It is a visit.
Coffee is kahva in Bosnian, the traditional word you will hear at home (kafa is common too). It is brewed in a džezva and served in a small cup called a fildžan.
Every visit starts with coffee, and nobody is in a hurry. The coffee is the reason to sit down and talk, which is why the most important word of the ritual might be the last one in this list.
| Audio | Bosnian | English |
|---|---|---|
| kahva | coffee | |
| džezva | džezva (coffee pot) | |
| fildžan | fildžan (small cup) | |
| šećer | sugar | |
| rahat lokum | Turkish delight | |
| crna kahva | black coffee (no milk) | |
| bijela kahva | white coffee (with milk) | |
| sa mlijekom | with milk | |
| sjedi | sit (down) | |
| popij | drink (up) | |
| polako | easy does it / take it slow | |
| razgovor | conversation |
How it goes
You arrive, you are told to sit (sjedi), coffee comes in a džezva with small cups, sugar and a piece of rahat lokum. You drink slowly (polako) and the razgovor, the conversation, is the real point.
Say it in a sentence
| Audio | Bosnian | English |
|---|---|---|
| volim kahvu | I love coffee | |
| voliš li kahvu? | do you like coffee? |
Questions
What is coffee in Bosnian?
Kahva. It is the traditional Bosnian word and the one Bosanski teaches. You will also hear kafa.
What is a džezva?
The small long-handled pot used to brew Bosnian coffee.