ja se zovem

My Name Is

Level 1

To say your name, use zovem se; the word ja is optional.

How It Works

Bosnian uses a verb with se for names: Zovem se Tarik. The word ja is optional. Add it for emphasis: Ja se zovem Tarik, a ovo je Emina.

PersonForm
Izovem se
you (one friend)zoveš se
he, shezove se
wezovemo se
you (polite or plural)zovete se
theyzovu se

The short word se wants to be second in its clause. So it follows ja or the verb if the verb comes first, but it never starts the sentence. Ask with Kako se zoveš? or, politely, Kako se zovete?

Examples (5)

  1. Zovem se Tarik.

    My name is Tarik.

    Verb first, then se.

  2. Ja se zovem Ajla.

    My name is Ajla.

    With ja, se is second.

  3. Kako se zoveš?

    What is your name?

    The question to a friend.

  4. Ona se zove Selma.

    Her name is Selma.

    Third person singular.

  5. Kako se zovete?

    What is your name?

    The polite question.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting se after the verb when ja comes first

    Ja zovem se Lejla.
    Ja se zovem Lejla.

    When ja starts the sentence, se takes the second place, before the verb. You may hear Ja zovem se in speech, but the standard puts se second.

How It Connects

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

ja se zovemLevel 1My Name Is

Learn This First

Introducing yourself uses the pronoun ja.

Words in This Pattern

zvatiseja