What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of како, meaning "how" and си, which is the second-person singular form of the verb бити (to be), meaning "are".
Which one should you use?
While како си? is the standard way to ask how someone is, you might also encounter Kako ide? for a more casual "How's it going?" or Шта има? for a very colloquial "What's up?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
како си? is the standard and most common way to ask "How are you?" in an informal setting. For a more colloquial greeting among friends, you can use Шта има?
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Belgrade dialect, you may hear the variation Kako si, bre? In the Bosnian dialect, the variation Kako si, jarane? is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form како си? is singular and informal. If you are addressing more than one person, or if you want to show respect to a single person, use the formal/plural form како сте?
How do you pronounce it?
kako si?
When do people say it?
A standard, polite response to како си? is Добро сам, хвала, which means "I am well, thank you.". If you are not feeling well, you can substitute добро with ne baš dobro to say you are "not so good" or use the informal phrase nije baš to indicate you are "not really" feeling well.
Did you know?
- In many Balkan social circles, answering 'too well' to како си? can actually be seen as suspicious or a sign that you are bragging. It is often more culturally natural to give a modest or neutral response.
- In the Bosnian variation Kako si, jarane?, the word јаран for 'friend' is derived from the Turkish word yaran, reflecting the deep Ottoman influence on the region's language.
- If you use the formal како сте? in a very casual setting like a pub with close friends, you might actually sound sarcastic or like you are jokingly distancing yourself from them.
Examples in context
- Dobro se osećam, hvala!I'm feeling well, thank you!
- Zdravo, како си?Hello, how are you?
- Добро дошао, како си?Welcome, how are you?
