Language/Bosnian/Vocabulary/Common-Foods

Bosnian → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Food and Drink → Common Foods

Introduction

In this lesson, you will learn the names of some common Bosnian foods and dishes, as well as food-related vocabulary that you can use in conversations about meals, grocery shopping, and eating out. Bosnian cuisine is shaped by the country's geography, climate, and history, with influences from Turkish, Mediterranean, and Central European culinary traditions.

Common Foods

Here are some common Bosnian foods and dishes:

Bosnian	Pronunciation	English Translation
Burek	[burɛ̌ːk]	A savory pastry made of phyllo dough filled with meat, cheese, spinach, or potato.
Ćevapi	[tɕɛ̂ʋapi]	Grilled meat sausages served with onion, ajvar (pepper spread), and somun (flatbread).
Pljeskavica	[pljɛ̌skavitsa]	A large, flat meat patty often stuffed with cheese, served with onion, kajmak (sour cream), and lepinja (a type of bread).
Sarma	[sârma]	Stuffed cabbage rolls filled with minced meat, rice, and spices, served with yogurt or sour cream.
Pita	[pîta]	A type of baked pastry filled with cheese, spinach, meat, or potato.
Grašak	[grâʃak]	Green pea soup with carrots, potatoes, and smoked meat.
Teleća čorba	[tɛˈlɛtʃa ˈtʃɔrba]	A soup made of veal, vegetables, and spices, often served with homemade noodles or dumplings.
Čorba od krompira	[ˈtʃɔrba ɔd ˈkrɔmpira]	A thick potato soup with vegetables, meat, and paprika.
Paprikaš	[paprikâʃ]	A stew made of meat, paprika, onions, tomatoes, and potatoes, often served with pasta.
Uštipci	[ûʃtɪptsi]	Fried dough balls served with kajmak or ajvar.

Some common ingredients used in Bosnian cuisine include:

• Mesno: meat (beef, pork, lamb, chicken)
• Mlečno: dairy (milk, cheese, sour cream)
• Povrćee: vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, peppers)
• Voće: fruits (apples, pears, plums)
• Kruh: bread (somun, lepinja, pita)
• Tjestenina: pasta (penne, spaghetti)
• Začini: spices (salt, pepper, paprika, cinnamon)

Grocery Shopping

When shopping for groceries in Bosnia, you might want to know how to ask for certain items. Here are some useful phrases:

Bosnian	Pronunciation	English Translation
Da li imate...?	[da li iˈmaːtɛ]	Do you have...?
Imate li mlijeko?	[iˈmatɛ li ˈml̩ijɛ̌ːkɔ]	Do you have milk?
Koliko košta ovo?	[kɔl̩iko ˈkɔʃta ˈɔvɔ]	How much does this cost?
Hvala, to je sve.	[hvaːla tɔ je ˈsvɛ]	Thank you, that's all.

At the Restaurant

When dining out in Bosnia, you might encounter some unique dishes and culinary traditions. Here are some useful phrases for ordering at a restaurant:

Bosnian	Pronunciation	English Translation
Da li ima slobodan sto?	[da li iˈma ˈslɔbɔdan stɔ]	Do you have a free table?
Molim Vas, jelovnik.	[ˈmɔlim vas ˈjɛlɔ̌vnik]	Can I have the menu, please?
Šta biste preporučili?	[ʃta bîstɛ prɛpɔrûːtʃili]	What do you recommend?
Račun, molim.	[ˈratʃun ˈmɔlim]	The bill, please.

Here are some traditional Bosnian dishes you might want to try:

• Ćevapi: grilled meat sausages served with onion, ajvar, and somun
• Burek: savory pastry filled with meat, cheese, spinach, or potato
• Ražnjići: skewered and grilled meat cubes served with onion, ajvar, and somun
• Sarma: stuffed cabbage rolls filled with minced meat, rice, and spices, served with yogurt or sour cream
• Musaka: baked dish made of layered potatoes, minced meat, and eggplant, topped with melted cheese and breadcrumbs
• Paprikaš: stew made of meat, paprika, onions, tomatoes, and potatoes, often served with pasta
• Japrak: stuffed grape leaves filled with minced meat, rice, and herbs

Conclusion

In this lesson, you learned the names of some common Bosnian foods and dishes, as well as food-related vocabulary that you can use in conversations about meals, grocery shopping, and eating out. Try some traditional Bosnian dishes and explore the rich and diverse cuisine of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Table of Contents - Bosnian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Bosnian Alphabet

• Bosnian Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Special Characters and Sounds

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Basic Bosnian Sentence Structure

• Subject-Verb-Object
• Questions and Negations

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Greetings and Introductions

• Common Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

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Nouns and Pronouns

• Noun Gender and Plurals
• Personal Pronouns

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Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

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Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Telling Time

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Food and Drink

• Common Foods
• Ordering at a Restaurant

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Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

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Bosnian Customs and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Traditional Music and Dance

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Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Agreement
• Comparatives and Superlatives

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Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Describing Relationships

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Hobbies and Leisure Activities

• Common Hobbies
• Sports and Fitness

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Bosnian Literature and Cinema

• Famous Writers and Works
• Bosnian Cinema

Related Lessons

• Numbers and Counting
• Asking for Directions
• Fruits
• Ordering at a Restaurant
• Numbers
• House
• Days of the Week
• Modes of Transportation
• Family
• Nature