BosanskiFor the diaspora
Bosnian words your nana says
If you grew up with a Bosnian nana, you have heard these a thousand times. Here is what they actually mean, said the way she says them.
| Audio | Bosnian | English |
|---|---|---|
| sine! | son! (dear) | |
| dušo | sweetheart (lit. soul) | |
| polako | easy does it / take it slow | |
| obuci se toplo | dress warmly | |
| izvoli | here you go / help yourself | |
| još | more | |
| dođi | come (here) | |
| sjedi | sit (down) | |
| kako nana kaže | as nana says |
sine! literally means son, but a nana says it to any grandchild she loves, boy or girl. obuci se toplo (dress warmly) is issued regardless of your age or the weather. And još (more) is less a question than a decision.
Her sayings
| Audio | Bosnian | English |
|---|---|---|
| Bolje ikad nego nikad. | Better late than never. | |
| Bez muke nema nauke. | No pain, no gain. (Without effort there is no learning.) | |
| Ko rano rani, dvije sreće grabi. | The early bird catches two strokes of luck. |
Questions
What does sine mean?
Literally son, but grandparents use it lovingly for any grandchild.
What does polako mean?
Slowly, take it easy.