Regional Speech
Forms such as đe for gdje are regional and not written in the standard, while dropped h, as in lako, is both common in speech and accepted in writing.
How It Works
| Standard | Heard in some regions | Note |
|---|---|---|
| gdje | đe | spoken only |
| lijep, dijete | lip, dite | ikavian speech in some areas |
| hajde | ajde | common in speech |
| lahko | lako | both are standard |
The rule of thumb is this. A form that is also accepted in writing, such as lako, is part of the standard. A form that only appears in speech, such as đe, belongs to a region.
You do not need to learn regional speech to be understood. If a friend uses Đe si, brate?, you can answer in the standard form: Evo me ovdje. Poppy teaches the Sarajevo standard, and people in most parts of the country will understand it.
Examples (4)
- Gdje si, brate?
Where are you, brother?
This is the standard form.
- Đe si, brate?
Where are you, brother?
Some regions say đe for gdje in speech.
- To je lako.
That is easy.
Lako is accepted in writing.
- Ajde, idemo kući!
Come on, let's go home!
Ajde is a spoken short form of hajde.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Regional speech.
Related Patterns
Words in This Pattern
Practice Regional Speech in Bubblegum
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