Bosnian 101

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

Featured Video