hljeb / kruh

Hljeb and Kruh

Level 5

Hljeb is the Bosnian choice, and kruh is also heard in Bosnia.

How It Works

WordWhere it is common
hljebthe usual choice in Bosnia
kruhCroatia, and also heard in Bosnia
hlebSerbia (ekavian spelling)

All three mean the same thing. The Bosnian spelling keeps the h and the ijekavian je after l: hljeb. The word declines like other masculine nouns: hljeba (of bread), hljebu, hljeb. For kruh, the genitive is kruha.

For other bread types, Bosnians use somun (the flat bread for ćevapi) and pogača (a round loaf). Use them by name.

If you choose one word for your own writing, choose hljeb. When you read Croatian news you will meet kruh, and you will understand it without trouble.

Examples (5)

  1. Kupi hljeb u pekari.

    Buy bread at the bakery.

    Hljeb is the usual Bosnian word.

  2. Svaki dan jedemo svjež hljeb.

    We eat fresh bread every day.

    Hljeb is the object.

  3. Baka mi je dala komad kruha.

    Grandma gave me a piece of bread.

    Kruh is also heard in Bosnia, and komad asks for the genitive.

  4. Ćevapi dolaze u somunu.

    Ćevapi come in somun.

    Somun is the special flat bread.

  5. Hljeb je još topao.

    The bread is still warm.

    Hljeb is masculine, so topao has no ending.

How It Connects

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hljeb / kruhLevel 5Hljeb and Kruh

Learn This First

Two words for bread.

Words in This Pattern

hljeb