Ways to say it
| Bosnian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| doviđenja | /doʋid͡ʑěːɲa/ | Latin |
| do viđenja | Latin, alternative form | |
| zbogom | /zbôɡom/ | Latin |
The primary way to say goodbye is through the word doviđenja, which is a standard farewell used when you expect to see someone again. Other options include Vidimo se to say "See you" to someone you expect to meet soon, or Zdravo, which means "Hello" but can also be used to say goodbye casually.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase do viđenja literally means "until seeing". In this construction, viđenja is the genitive singular form of the noun viđenje, meaning "seeing" or "meeting".
Which one should you use?
While doviđenja is the standard goodbye, zbogom implies a much more permanent or final farewell. Use zbogom for a heavy, formal or dramatic goodbye when you do not expect to see the person for a very long time or ever.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Doviđenja is a polite and common way to say goodbye in formal contexts, such as in shops, restaurants or when speaking to people you do not know well. For informal situations, the most common and widely used way to say goodbye is Ćao.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase do viđenja, the word viđenja is the genitive singular form of the noun viđenje.
How do you pronounce it?
/doʋidʑěːɲa/
Did you know?
- The casual goodbye Ćao is actually a borrowed word from the Italian 'Ciao'. It is used widely across the Balkans regardless of the local language.
- The formal farewell zbogom contains the word bog, which means 'God'. It literally translates to 'with God', signaling a permanent departure.
- While Zdravo serves as both 'hello' and 'goodbye', it is derived from the word for 'health'.
Examples in context
- Ćao Marko, doviđenja!Goodbye Marko!
- Doviđenja Ana, čujemo se uskoro!Goodbye Ana, talk to you soon!
- Doviđenja, vidimo se sutra!Goodbye, see you tomorrow!
- Doviđenja, sve najbolje vam želim.Goodbye, I wish you all the best.
- Doviđenja, uživajte u ostatku dana.Goodbye, enjoy the rest of the day.
Example conversation
Lejla and Amar are leaving a small cafe after meeting for coffee.
- LejlaBilo je lijepo vidjeti te, Amar.It was nice to see you, Amar.
- AmarI meni je, Lejla.Me too, Lejla.
- LejlaDoviđenja, čujemo se uskoro!Goodbye, we'll talk soon!
- AmarDoviđenja!Goodbye!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “goodbye” translations and entries doviđenja, do viđenja, zbogom, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
