mleko, lepo, devojka

Ekavian Forms You Will Hear

Level 6

Ekavian forms are Serbian. Bosnian writes ije or je.

How It Works

Bosnian (Ijekavian)Ekavian (heard in Serbia)
mlijekomleko
lijepolepo
djevojkadevojka
vrijemevreme
rijekareka

It is one sound that goes different ways. The old vowel jat becomes e in Ekavian speech and ije or je in Ijekavian speech.

The two are mutually understood. You will hear Ekavian in Serbian music, films and television, and you can read it easily once you know the pattern.

A Bosnian lesson uses the Ijekavian forms. If a Bosnian text shows mleko or devojka, check where the writer comes from, because it is probably a quotation or a Serbian text.

Do not mix the two systems in one text.

Examples (4)

  1. Mlijeko je u frižideru.

    The milk is in the fridge.

    Mlijeko is the Bosnian form of mleko.

  2. Ova djevojka je iz Mostara.

    This girl is from Mostar.

    Djevojka is the Bosnian form of devojka.

  3. Danas je lijepo vrijeme.

    The weather is nice today.

    Lijepo vrijeme is the Bosnian form of lepo vreme.

  4. Rijeka Una je hladna.

    The Una river is cold.

    Rijeka is the Bosnian form of reka.

Common Mistakes

  • Mixing in an Ekavian word in a Bosnian sentence.

    Ova devojka je iz Mostara.
    Ova djevojka je iz Mostara.

    Bosnian uses djevojka.

How It Connects

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

mleko, lepo, devojkaLevel 6Ekavian Forms You Will Hear

Learn This First

Ekavian forms.

Words in This Pattern

mlijekolijepodjevojkavrijemerijeka