hvala
Latin
To say "thank you" in Bosnian, you use hvala. Wiktionary also lists zahvaljujem.
Meaning: an expression of gratitude (intj)
Ways to say it
| Bosnian | Note |
|---|---|
| hvala | Latin |
| zahvaljujem | Latin |
The phrase is used to express gratitude. You can also use the colloquial puno hvala to mean "many thanks" or "thanks a lot".
Which one should you use?
While hvala is the standard way to say "thank you", the verb zahvaljujem is a more formal, singular form used specifically to mean "I am grateful" in official or highly polite contexts. For a more casual tone, you can use puno hvala to mean "many thanks".
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the pronoun vam to hvala to create hvala vam makes the expression polite or allows you to address a group of people. The informal version uses the pronoun ti in hvala ti.
When do people say it?
When someone says thank you, the standard response is nema na čemu, which means "you're welcome" or "no problem".
Did you know?
- In many Balkan cultures, a physical gesture of placing a hand over one's heart while saying hvala conveys much deeper sincerity than the words alone.
- In some regional contexts, a person might respond to hvala with molim, which literally means 'I pray' or 'please'. It serves as a versatile 'you are welcome'.
- The word hvala can also be used as a noun to mean 'praise' or 'glory', which is why it is frequently found in religious texts and hymns.
Examples in context
- Kako se kaže "Hvala" na japanskom?How do you say "thank you" in Japanese?This sentence shows how to ask for the translation of hvala into another language.Tatoeba #478221 by FeuDRenais, translation #281642 by CK
- Hvala vam što ste mi pomogli.Thank you for helping me.
- Hvala ti puno što si došao.Thank you so much for coming.
- Gospođo, hvala vam na ljubaznosti.Madam, thank you for your kindness.
- Mnogo vam hvala na pomoći.Thank you very much for the help.
- Hvala ti na poklonu.Thank you for the gift.
Example conversation
Amar gives Jasmina a book.
- JasminaIzvoli, ovo je knjiga za tebe.Here you go, this is the book for you.
- AmarHvala, Amare!Thank you, Amar!
- JasminaNema na čemu.You're welcome.
- AmarBaš mi treba ova knjiga.I really need this book.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thank you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
