Ways to say it
| Bosnian | Note |
|---|---|
| zovem se | Latin |
| ja sam | Latin |
| moje ime je | Latin |
| ime mi je | Latin |
These phrases are used to identify yourself to others. Zovem se is the most natural and common way to introduce yourself in almost all standard social situations. For a very direct approach, you can say ja sam followed by your name.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase zovem se literally means "I call myself".
Which one should you use?
Zovem se is the most natural and common way to introduce oneself in Bosnian, whereas moje ime je sounds more formal or like a direct translation from English. Ja sam is a very direct way to say "I am [Name]", which is common in casual introductions.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Zovem se is suitable for almost all standard social situations. Moje ime je is a more formal and structured way to state your name. Ja sam is common in casual introductions.
Did you know?
- While ja means 'I' in the phrase ja sam, the same word is also used in Bosnian to mean 'yes' as a loanword from German.
- In many Bosnian social settings, a formal introduction with zovem se is often followed by a handshake, a gesture that is more common than a verbal 'nice to meet you' in very quick encounters.
- The word ja (I) is often dropped in zovem se because the verb ending already indicates that 'I' am the one performing the action.
Examples in context
- Zovem se Hašimoto.My name is Hashimoto.This sentence shows how to use zovem se to introduce yourself.Tatoeba #2667148 by Boshnjanin, translation #430219 by witbrock
- Moje ime je Jack.My name is Jack.This sentence shows how to use moje ime je to introduce yourself.Tatoeba #7531110 by Ricardo14, translation #1646 by CN
- Zovem se Laurie.My name is Laurie.Tatoeba #2503839 by onlyslavic, translation #2500297 by CN
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jasmina and Adnan meet for the first time at a party.
- JasminaZdravo, zovem se Jasmina.Hello, my name is Jasmina.
- AdnanDrago mi je, Jasmina. Ja sam Adnan.Nice to meet you, Jasmina. I am Adnan.
- JasminaDrago mi je, Adnane.Nice to meet you, Adnan.
- AdnanOdakle dolaziš?Where are you from?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “my name is” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ime, ja, je, sam, se, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
