Ways to say it
| Serbian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ћао | ćȃo | /t͡ɕâːo/ | Cyrillic |
| здраво | Cyrillic | ||
| мерхаба | Cyrillic | ||
| хало | Cyrillic | ||
| бок | bok | Cyrillic | |
| ćao | /t͡ɕâːo/ | Latin | |
| zdravo | /zdrâʋo/ | Latin | |
| merhaba | Latin | ||
| halo | Latin | ||
| bok | /bok/ | Latin |
The various forms of "hi" in Serbian depend on the context of the greeting. ћао is an informal greeting used to say both "hi" and "bye". здраво is a general, all-purpose greeting similar to "hello" or "hi". хало is used specifically when answering the telephone rather than greeting someone in person.
Which one should you use?
While ћао is used for both arriving and leaving, it is strictly informal. In contrast, здраво is more versatile and can be used in slightly less casual settings. Note that while здраво is a greeting, the related adjective здрав means "healthy".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ћао is an informal term. здраво is a neutral greeting suitable for a wider range of situations. If you need more formal time-specific greetings, you might use Dobar dan (good day/afternoon), Dobro jutro (good morning) or Dobro veče (good evening).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the southern parts of Serbia, people use the laid-back phrase ćao bre to say hi to friends or peers.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of ћао is /tɕâːo/.
Did you know?
- The greeting мерхаба is a linguistic remnant of the Ottoman period in the Balkans, originating from Arabic.
- The spelling of these greetings can change depending on whether you use the Cyrillic or Latin alphabet.
- The word бок is a regional greeting more common in Croatia and Vojvodina, reflecting a distinct linguistic boundary within the broader region.
Examples in context
- Ћао.Hi.This sentence shows a simple use of ћао.Tatoeba #8830487 by Lebad, translation #538123 by CM
- Ћао, момци.Hi, guys.This sentence shows ћао used when greeting a group.Tatoeba #8852220 by Lebad, translation #2561375 by Hybrid
- Здраво, народе.Hi, everybody.This sentence shows the neutral greeting здраво used for a group of people.Tatoeba #8844020 by Lebad, translation #3924471 by BHO
- Dobar dan, kako ste?Good day, how are you?
- Ćao, šta ima?Hi, what's up?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Marko and Marija meet briefly on a street corner.
- MarkoЋао, Марија!Hi, Marija!
- MarijaЋао, Марко. Како си?Hi, Marko. How are you?
- MarkoДобро сам, хвала.I am well, thanks.
- MarijaДраго ми је што те видим.It is good to see you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hi” translations and entries ћао, бок, ćao, zdravo, bok, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries мерхаба, ћао, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
