Language/Bosnian/Grammar/Special-Characters-and-Sounds
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Introduction[edit | edit source]
Welcome to the lesson on the Bosnian alphabet! In this lesson, we will explore the special characters and sounds that make the Bosnian alphabet unique. Understanding these special characters and sounds is essential for improving your pronunciation and overall speaking skills in Bosnian. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to recognize and correctly pronounce special characters such as č, ć, dž, đ, lj, nj, š, and ž.
The Bosnian alphabet is based on the Latin script, just like English. However, it includes several additional characters that represent specific sounds in the Bosnian language. These special characters and sounds may be unfamiliar to you if you are new to the language, but don't worry! We will guide you through each character and its pronunciation step by step.
Let's dive into the fascinating world of Bosnian special characters and sounds!
Special Characters and Sounds[edit | edit source]
The Bosnian alphabet includes several special characters that are not found in the English alphabet. These characters represent unique sounds in the Bosnian language. Let's explore each special character and its pronunciation:
č[edit | edit source]
The character "č" represents the sound "ch" as in "cheese." It is similar to the "ch" sound in English words like "church" or "chocolate."
Here are a few examples of words containing the character "č":
| Bosnian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| često | [čeh-stoh] | often |
| čarapa | [čah-rah-pah] | sock |
| čokolada | [čoh-koh-lah-dah] | chocolate |
ć[edit | edit source]
The character "ć" represents a soft "ch" sound, similar to the "ch" in the word "churro." It is softer and more gentle than the "č" sound.
Here are a few examples of words containing the character "ć":
| Bosnian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ćevap | [ćeh-vahp] | grilled meat |
| ćirilica | [ćee-ree-lee-tsah] | Cyrillic alphabet |
| ćelav | [ćeh-lahv] | bald |
dž[edit | edit source]
The character "dž" represents the sound "j" as in "jump." It is similar to the "j" sound in English words like "jeep" or "jazz."
Here are a few examples of words containing the character "dž":
| Bosnian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| džem | [jehm] | jam |
| džep | [jehp] | |
| džamija | [jah-mee-yah] | mosque |
đ[edit | edit source]
The character "đ" represents the sound "dj" as in "adjacent." It is similar to the "dj" sound in English words like "adjacent" or "adjourn."
Here are a few examples of words containing the character "đ":
| Bosnian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| đak | [djahk] | student |
| đavo | [djah-voh] | devil |
| đumbir | [djoom-beer] | ginger |
lj[edit | edit source]
The character "lj" represents a unique sound that is not found in English. It is a combination of the sounds "l" and "y," pronounced together.
Here are a few examples of words containing the character "lj":
| Bosnian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ljeto | [lyeh-toh] | summer |
| ljubav | [lyoo-bahv] | love |
| ljubičica | [lyoo-bee-chee-tsah] | violet |
nj[edit | edit source]
The character "nj" represents a unique sound that is not found in English. It is a combination of the sounds "n" and "y," pronounced together.
Here are a few examples of words containing the character "nj":
| Bosnian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| njuškalo | [nyoo-shkah-loh] | sniffer |
| nježan | [nyeh-zhahn] | gentle |
| njiva | [nyee-vah] | field |
š[edit | edit source]
The character "š" represents the sound "sh" as in "ship." It is similar to the "sh" sound in English words like "sheep" or "shampoo."
Here are a few examples of words containing the character "š":
| Bosnian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| šuma | [shoo-mah] | forest |
| šal | [shahl] | scarf |
| škola | [shkoh-lah] | school |
ž[edit | edit source]
The character "ž" represents the sound "zh" as in "treasure." It is similar to the "zh" sound in English words like "treasure" or "measure."
Here are a few examples of words containing the character "ž":
| Bosnian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| život | [zhee-voht] | life |
| žuti | [zhoo-tee] | yellow |
| žena | [zheh-nah] | woman |
Cultural Insights[edit | edit source]
The Bosnian language is spoken not only in Bosnia and Herzegovina but also in other countries in the Balkans, such as Serbia, Croatia, and Montenegro. Although the Bosnian alphabet is similar to the Croatian and Serbian alphabets, there are slight variations in the usage and understanding of special characters.
It is important to note that the Bosnian language has gone through various changes and influences throughout history. The use of the Latin script and special characters like č, ć, dž, đ, lj, nj, š, and ž is a reflection of the language's unique history and cultural heritage.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country known for its rich cultural diversity and historical significance. The use of special characters in the Bosnian alphabet is a testament to the country's linguistic and cultural identity.
Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]
Now that you have learned about the special characters and sounds in the Bosnian alphabet, it's time to practice! The following exercises will help you reinforce your understanding and improve your pronunciation.
Exercise 1: Pronunciation Practice Listen to the audio recordings and repeat the words after the native speaker. Pay attention to the correct pronunciation of the special characters.
1. čokolada 2. ćevap 3. džem 4. đak 5. ljubav 6. njiva 7. šuma 8. život
Exercise 2: Word Recognition Match the Bosnian words with their English translations.
1. često 2. ćirilica 3. džep 4. đavo 5. ljeto 6. njega 7. šal 8. žena
a. often b. Cyrillic alphabet c. pocket d. devil e. summer f. care g. scarf h. woman
Solutions[edit | edit source]
Exercise 1:
1. čokolada - [čoh-koh-lah-dah] - chocolate 2. ćevap - [ćeh-vahp] - grilled meat 3. džem - [jehm] - jam 4. đak - [djahk] - student 5. ljubav - [lyoo-bahv] - love 6. njiva - [nyee-vah] - field 7. šuma - [shoo-mah] - forest 8. život - [zhee-voht] - life
Exercise 2:
1. često - a. often 2. ćirilica - b. Cyrillic alphabet 3. džep - c. pocket 4. đavo - d. devil 5. ljeto - e. summer 6. njega - f. care 7. šal - g. scarf 8. žena - h. woman
Congratulations on completing the exercises! Keep practicing to improve your pronunciation and familiarity with the special characters in the Bosnian alphabet.
Sources[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Give your Opinion
- Personal pronouns
- Gender
- Conditional Mood
- Comparatives and Superlatives
- Personal Pronouns
- How to Use Have
- Future Tense
- Subject Verb Object
- Plurals
| ◀️ Bosnian Alphabet and Pronunciation — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Subject-Verb-Object ▶️ |