Bok, kako si?
The English phrase 'hi, how are you?' is translated into Croatian as Bok, kako si?
The phrase Bok, kako si? is used to say 'hi, how are you?' Within this phrase, Bok means 'Hi' and kako si means 'how are you' in an informal context. Bok is a versatile word that can mean both 'hi' and 'bye' depending on the context.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Bok, kako si? is an informal expression that should only be used with friends, family or people you know well. For a formal way to say 'Hi, how are you?', use Dobar dan, kako ste? In this formal version, Dobar dan means 'Good day' and kako ste means 'how are you'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the coastal region of Dalmatia, the informal greeting Ćao, kako si? is used.
When do people say it?
When someone says Bok, kako si?, a natural response is Dobro sam, hvala. A ti? (I am well, thanks. And you?). If someone uses the formal Dobar dan, kako ste?, they are using the equivalent of 'Good day, how are you?' and the response would be Dobar dan, dobro sam, hvala. A vi? meaning 'Good day, I'm fine, thank you. And you?'
Did you know?
- The word Bok might actually be a shortened version of the phrase Bog s tobom, which means 'God be with you'.
- In the coastal region of Dalmatia, people often use Ćao instead of Bok, borrowing the greeting from the Italian 'Ciao'.
- While Bok is now used across Croatia, it originated from the colloquial speech of Zagreb and the surrounding Kajkavian dialect area.
Examples in context
- Bok, kako si?Hi, how are you?
- Hej, bok, kako si?Hey, hi, how are you?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bok, kako, CC BY-SA 4.0.
