Adjectives in -ski

Adjectives from Places

Level 2

Adjectives from place names usually end in -ski, -ški or -čki: bosanski, sarajevski, mostarski, banjalučki.

How It Works

The pattern is the same for most places.

PlaceAdjective
Bosnabosanski
Sarajevosarajevski
Mostarmostarski
Tuzlatuzlanski
Zenicazenički
Banja Lukabanjalučki
Bihaćbihaćki
Travniktravnički

Names that end in -ka, -ca or -k change the last sound: Zenica gives zenički, Banja Luka gives banjalučki and Travnik gives travnički. Many names add -an- before the ending, as in tuzlanski.

The adjective agrees with its noun like any other adjective: sarajevski ćevap (masculine), sarajevska kafana (feminine), sarajevsko pivo (neuter). It is written with a small letter, unless it is part of a name.

Examples (5)

  1. Sarajevski ćevapi su poznati.

    Sarajevo-style ćevapi are famous.

    Sarajevski agrees with the plural ćevapi.

  2. Pijem bosansku kafu.

    I am drinking Bosnian coffee.

    Kafa is feminine, so the adjective ends in -u in the accusative.

  3. Zenički autobus kasni.

    The Zenica bus is late.

    Zenica becomes zenički.

  4. Volim banjalučke ćevape.

    I like Banja Luka ćevapi.

    The adjective agrees with the plural masculine accusative.

  5. Travnički sir je dobar.

    Travnik cheese is good.

    Travnik gives travnički.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the place name as an adjective.

    Sarajevo ćevapi su dobri.
    Sarajevski ćevapi su dobri.

    A place name cannot describe a noun, so change it to an adjective.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Adjectives in -skiLevel 2Adjectives from Places

Learn This First

The -ski ending forms adjectives.

Words in This Pattern

-ski