šta radiš?
what are you doing? in Bosnian is expressed as šta radiš?
The phrase šta radiš? is used to ask someone about their current activity. It also functions as a casual greeting similar to "what's up?" or "what are you up to?" in a social context. In some regions, you may hear the emphatic form Šta radiš ti?, where adding ti provides extra emphasis. In certain dialects or casual conversations, the phrase Šta se radi? is used to mean "What's up?" or "What's happening?"
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of šta (what) and radiš (you are doing/working).
Which one should you use?
Čime se bavite? is used specifically to ask someone what they do for a living in a formal context.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Šta radiš? is used in most regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
How does it change in a sentence?
When addressing someone formally or a group of people, change the form to šta radite?
Did you know?
- In many Bosnian social settings, answering 'šta radiš?' with a literal description of your actions can feel too formal. Often, a simple 'ništa' (nothing) is the standard, culturally expected response to this greeting.
- In some parts of the Balkans, the phrase can be used to express suspicion. If someone asks 'Šta radiš ti?' with a certain tone, they aren't asking about your hobby, but rather 'What are you up to?' in a suspicious way.
- The word šta is inherited from the Proto-Slavic root *čьto, which is a distant relative of the Chakavian word čȁ.
Examples in context
- Hej, šta radiš?Hey, what are you doing?
Example conversation
Tarik sees Jasmina working on her laptop at a cafe.
- TarikHej Jasmina, šta radiš?Hey Jasmina, what are you doing?
- JasminaSamo pišem jedan email.Just writing an email.
- TarikDa li si veoma zauzeta?Are you very busy?
- JasminaNe, možemo popiti kafu.No, we can drink coffee.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries šta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
