bok, kako si?
bok, kako si? is the Croatian way to say "hello, how are you?"
This phrase is a common informal greeting used to ask someone about their well-being. The word bok is a casual way to say "Hi" or "Hello".
What does it mean word for word?
The part kako si? means "how are you?" Within this, kako means "how" and si is the second-person singular form of the verb "to be".
Which one should you use?
While kako si? is used to ask one person how they are in an informal setting, you would use kako ste? to ask one person in a formal setting or to address multiple people.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term bok is an informal greeting that can mean both "hi" and "bye". Use bok, kako si? when speaking with friends, family or children.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase kako si? uses the second-person singular form of the verb biti (to be).
When do people say it?
When someone asks you kako si?, a common response is Dobro sam, hvala. A ti? (I am well, thanks. And you?).
Did you know?
- The casual greeting bok is thought by some to be a shortened version of a much more religious expression, Bog s tobom, which means 'God with you'.
- The word bok also has a completely unrelated meaning in Croatian as 'side' or 'flank', such as the side of a ship.
- In many Croatian social circles, the question kako si? is often treated as a ritual greeting rather than a genuine request for a medical or emotional health report.
Examples in context
- Bok, kako si?Hello, how are you?
- Hej, bok, kako si?Hey, hello, how are you?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bok, kako, CC BY-SA 4.0.
