baka
/bǎːka/Latin, feminine
The Bosnian word for grandma is baka.
baka is used to refer to one's grandmother in a familiar or informal way.
Meaning: grandmother (informal) (noun)
Which one should you use?
While baka is a standard informal term, baba is another common informal way to refer to a grandmother or an old woman. Additionally, Bako can be used as an affectionate nickname for a grandmother.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
baka is a familiar and informal term. Similarly, baba is also used in informal contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term baba is common across many different dialects.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word changes depending on its role in a sentence: use bake for the plural (grandmas), baki for the dative singular (to grandma) and baku for the accusative singular (grandma as a direct object).
How do you pronounce it?
/bǎːka/
Did you know?
- In many folk tales, a variation of the word, Baba Yaga, refers to a mystical, often frightening witch rather than a sweet grandmother.
- In Bosnian, the word baka is a diminutive of the older term babka, following a Slavic linguistic pattern where changing the sound makes the word feel more tender.
- The word baba can sometimes sound blunt or even slightly derogatory, similar to the way an 'old lady' might be used in English.
Examples in context
- Moja baka je jako dobra.My grandma is very kind.
Example conversation
Amra and Amar are talking about their family members.
- AmraAmar, gdje je tvoja baka?Amar, where is your grandma?
- AmarBaka je u parku.Grandma is in the park.
- AmraDa li je baka sretna?Is grandma happy?
- AmarDa, ona je veoma sretna.Yes, she is very happy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grandma” translations and entries baka, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries baka, CC BY-SA 4.0.
