Language/Bosnian/Grammar/Plurals
Hi Bosnian learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about plural nouns in Bosnian. Plural nouns refer to more than one person, place, or thing. In English, most plural nouns are formed by adding -s or -es to the end of a word, but in Bosnian, the rules are a bit more complex.
Once you've mastered this lesson, take a look at these related pages: Questions, Negation, Questions and Negations & Adjective Agreement.
Forming Plurals[edit | edit source]
In Bosnian, the plural form of a noun is formed in several different ways, depending on the gender and ending of the noun. Here are some general rules to keep in mind:
Adding -i[edit | edit source]
For most masculine nouns ending in a consonant, you can form the plural by adding -i to the end of the word. For example:
Bosnian | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
pas | /pâːs/ | dog |
psi | /psî/ | dogs |
Adding -e[edit | edit source]
Feminine nouns that end in -a can often be made plural by replacing the -a with -e. For example:
Bosnian | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
jabuka | /jâbuka/ | apple |
jabuke | /jâbuke/ | apples |
Note that not all feminine nouns follow this rule.
Adding -a[edit | edit source]
Some masculine nouns ending in a consonant can form their plural by adding -a to the end of the word. For example:
Bosnian | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
grad | /grâːd/ | city |
gradovi | /gradovî/ | cities |
Adding -ovi and -evi[edit | edit source]
Some masculine nouns ending in -a, -e, -i, or -o can form their plural by adding either -ovi or -evi to the end of the word. For example:
Bosnian | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
slušalica | /sluʃâlitsa/ | headphones |
slušalice | /sluʃâlitse/ | headphones |
Note that not all masculine nouns ending in -a, -e, -i, or -o follow this rule.
Changing the Stem[edit | edit source]
Some nouns change their stem in the plural form. For example:
Bosnian | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
majka | /mâjka/ | mother |
majke | /mâjke/ | mothers |
In this example, the -a in the stem of the noun changes to -e in the plural form.
Exceptions[edit | edit source]
As with any language, there are always exceptions to the rules. Here are some common exceptions to the plural rules:
Masculine Nouns with a Soft Stem[edit | edit source]
Masculine nouns that end in a soft consonant (e.g. c, č, š, ž, đ) have a different plural form. Instead of adding -i or -a, you add -evi or -ovi to the end of the stem. For example:
Bosnian | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
kolač | /kôlaʧ/ | cake |
kolačevi | /kôlaʧevî/ | cakes |
Irregular Plurals[edit | edit source]
Some nouns have irregular plural forms that do not follow any discernible pattern. Here are a few examples:
Bosnian | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
dijete | /dîjete/ | child |
djeca | /djêtsa/ | children |
zub | /zûb/ | tooth |
zubi | /zûbî/ | teeth |
oko | /ôko/ | eye |
oči | /ôtʃî/ | eyes |
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: Imam jedan pas. (I have one dog.)
- Person 2: Koliko pasa imaš? (How many dogs do you have?)
- Person 1: Imam tri psa. (I have three dogs.)
Culture and Interesting Facts[edit | edit source]
Bosnian is a Slavic language spoken mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as in Serbia, Croatia, and Montenegro. It is an official language of Bosnia and Herzegovina and is spoken by over 2 million people worldwide.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has a rich cultural heritage, with influences from Christianity, Islam, and other religions. Traditional Bosnian music is often played on instruments such as the accordion and the clarinet, and is characterized by its melancholic melodies and soulful lyrics.
Practice[edit | edit source]
To practice forming plural nouns in Bosnian, try translating the following words into their plural forms:
- kuća (house)
- mačka (cat)
- pjesma (song)
- čovjek (man)
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
In this lesson, we learned about forming plural nouns in Bosnian. We saw that the rules for forming plurals depend on the gender and ending of the noun, and that there are exceptions to these rules. By practicing these rules, you will be able to speak Bosnian more fluently and communicate more effectively with native speakers. Don't forget to find native speakers on Polyglot Club and ask them any questions if you have any doubts.
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Sources[edit | edit source]
Great work on completing this lesson! Take a moment to investigate these connected pages: Personal pronouns, Introduction to Bosnian Grammar: Verbs and Conjugation, Bosnian Alphabet and Pronunciation & Past Tense.
Videos[edit | edit source]
Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian Grammar: The Genitive Plural of Nouns ...[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Give your Opinion
- How to Use Be
- Personal pronouns
- Future Tense
- Negation
- Pronouns
- Nouns
- How to Use Have
- Adjectives