zdravo / ćao
Hello and Goodbye
Zdravo and ćao work for hello and bye among friends; doviđenja is the polite goodbye.
How It Works
Zdravo means hello. Ćao means hello or bye and is very relaxed. Both are good for friends, family and people your age.
Doviđenja is a polite goodbye that works with anyone. Learners often use it with strangers, and that is right. You can also use vidimo se (see you) with friends.
| Word | Use |
|---|---|
| zdravo | hello, friendly |
| ćao | hi or bye, very casual |
| doviđenja | goodbye, polite |
| vidimo se | see you |
In ćao the letter ć sounds like a soft ch, a little like the ch in cheese said with the tongue closer to the roof of the mouth. Spell it with ć, not like the Italian word.
Examples (4)
- Zdravo, Emina!
Hello, Emina!
Zdravo to a friend.
- Ćao, Adnane, vidimo se!
Bye, Adnan, see you!
Ćao as a goodbye, with a vocative name.
- Doviđenja, gospođo Selmić.
Goodbye, Mrs. Selmić.
Doviđenja is polite.
- Zdravo svima!
Hello, everyone!
Svima means to all.
Common Mistakes
Spelling ćao like the Italian word
Ciao, Emina!Ćao, Emina!In Bosnian the word is written with ć.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice zdravo / ćao in Bubblegum
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