Ways to say it
| Bosnian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ćao | /t͡ɕâːo/ | Latin |
| zdravo | /zdrâʋo/ | Latin |
| merhaba | Latin | |
| halo | Latin | |
| bok | /bok/ | Latin |
While ćao is a common and informal way to greet someone, halo is primarily used when answering the telephone. For formal settings, you might use Dobar dan, which translates to 'good day'.
Which one should you use?
ćao is used both for 'hi' and 'bye' in informal settings. zdravo is a more neutral greeting than ćao and can be used in a wider variety of social situations. merhaba is often perceived as more formal or polite than ćao or zdravo.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a casual greeting, use ćao. For a more neutral or polite approach, zdravo or merhaba are appropriate. In formal settings, use Dobar dan.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The word bok is a common greeting in Croatia and is sometimes heard in parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, though it is less common than ćao or zdravo in central Bosnia.
How do you pronounce it?
/tɕâːo/
Did you know?
- Bosnian ćao is a direct loanword from the Italian ciao.
- The use of merhaba can signal a person's cultural or religious background or a desire to show specific traditional politeness beyond the neutral zdravo.
- The informal greeting zdravo literally translates to 'healthy' or 'sane'.
Examples in context
- Zdravo.Hi.This example shows how to use the neutral greeting zdravo.Tatoeba #466190 by FeuDRenais, translation #538123 by CM
- Poslovni partner: Zdravo, radujem se saradnji.Business partner: Hello, I look forward to collaborating.
- Ćao, kako si?Hi, how are you?
- Ćao, vidimo se kasnije.Hi, see you later.
Example conversation
Amar and Amra meet on the street.
- AmarĆao, Amra!Hi, Amra!
- AmraĆao, Amare.Hi, Amar.
- AmarGdje ideš?Where are you going?
- AmraIdem u grad.I am going to town.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hi” translations and entries ćao, zdravo, bok, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries halo, merhaba, zdravo, ćao, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
