What does it mean word for word?
The phrase nedostaješ mi is literally constructed as "you are lacking to me", where the person being missed acts as the subject of the sentence.
Which one should you use?
Depending on who you are talking to and how many people are involved, you will choose different forms: nedostaješ mi is the standard form for one person, while nedostajete mi is used for more than one person or for a single person in a formal context. Additionally, Fališ mi serves as an informal alternative to nedostaješ mi.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Republika Srpska, nedostaješ mi is used to express missing someone.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form nedostaješ mi uses the second-person singular, which is appropriate when speaking to one person informally. To address more than one person or to one person in a formal setting, use nedostajete mi. If you want to express the past tense "I missed you", the form changes based on the gender of the person you are addressing: use nedostajala si mi for a female and nedostajao si mi for a male.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid trying to translate "I miss you" word-for-word into Bosnian as Ja te nedostajem. This is grammatically incorrect. In Bosnian, the person who is being missed must be the subject of the sentence.
Did you know?
- While nedostaješ mi is standard, the alternative fališ mi comes from the verb faliti, which is used to describe a missing part of a mechanical object or a gap in a fence.
- The word mi is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *my, which forms the basis for the first-person pronouns across almost all Slavic languages.
- Using the formal nedostajete mi for one person is not just about politeness, but can create a deliberate emotional distance or a sense of profound respect between speakers.
Example sentences for Bosnian are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Emir and Jasmina are talking on the phone.
- EmirZdravo Jasmina, nedostaješ mi.Hello Jasmina, I miss you.
- JasminaI ti meni, Emir.I miss you too, Emir.
- EmirKada se konačno vidimo?When are we finally seeing each other?
- JasminaNadam se da je vrlo brzo.I hope it is very soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I miss you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
