Pronunciation

Consonants

Bosnian consonants are crisper than their counterparts in the English language. Approximating the corresponding consonants in Italian or Russian is closer to their true pronunciation.

b
like 'b' in "bed"

c
like 'ts' at the end of "cats" (never like an "s" or "k")

č
pronounced like "ch" as in "church", but with the tongue up on the roof of the mouth

ć
like "ch" as in "chile", but softer, with tongue behind top front teeth

d
like 'd' in "dog"

dž
very close to "j" as in judge, with tongue up on the roof of the mouth

đ
like "j" as in "judge", but softer, with tongue behind top front teeth

f
like 'ph' in "phone"

g
like 'g' in "go" (never pronounced like the "g" in "large")

h
a little more emphasized than the 'h' in "help". Somewhat close to the Spanish jota (j), pronounced in the throat

j
like 'y' in "yellow"

k
like 'k' in "kite"

l
like 'l' in "love"

lj
like the "lya" sound in "million". Combo of the Bosnian "l" and "j" sounds together

m
like 'm' in "mother"

n
like 'n' in "nice"

nj
like "ny" in "Sonya"

p
like 'p' in "pappy"

r
rolled slightly, like the Spanish r in "pero"

s
like 'ss' in "hiss"

š
like "sh" in "sheep", with tongue raised toward roof of mouth

t
like 't' in "top"

v
like 'v' in "victory"

z
like 'z' in "haze"

ž
like the "s" in "measure", with tongue raised toward roof of mouth