ćao, kako si?
ćao, kako si? is the Bosnian way to say "hi, how are you?"
This phrase is a casual greeting used to say hello and ask about someone's well-being.
What does it mean word for word?
In the phrase kako si?, kako means "how" and si is the second-person singular form of the verb "to be" (biti).
Which one should you use?
The part kako si? is the singular form used for one person in an informal context, whereas kako ste? is the plural or formal form.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ćao, kako si? is an informal greeting used with friends, family or peers.
How does it change in a sentence?
To be polite or to address more than one person, use kako ste? instead of kako si?
When do people say it?
A common response to kako si? is Dobro sam, hvala.
Did you know?
- While kako si? asks 'how are you?', people often answer with ide meaning 'it goes', implying that life is moving along moderately.
- The greeting ćao is actually an Italian loanword that entered the language via maritime trade and cultural exchange.
- While ćao is used for hello, it is also the standard way to say 'bye' in Bosnia, making it a versatile two-way greeting.
Examples in context
- Dobar dan, kako ste?Good day, how are you?
- Dobar dan, kako se osjećate?Good day, how are you feeling?
- Zdravo, kako si?Hi, how are you?
- Ćao, kako si?Hey, how are you?
- Pozdrav, kako ide?Greetings, how's it going?
- Zdravo, kako si? / Dobro sam, hvala na pitanju. A ti? / Također sam dobro, hvala!Hi, how are you? / I'm good, thanks for asking. And you? / I'm also good, thanks!
- Hej, ćao, kako si?Hey, hi, how are you?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kako, ćao, CC BY-SA 4.0.
