Sound and Spelling

Level 1

Read what you see: one letter, one main sound, with a few exceptions.

How It Works

Bosnian has a spelling system close to its sound system. English speakers find this a relief.

Most of the time:

  • every letter is pronounced;
  • the same letter has the same sound;
  • there are hardly any silent letters.

Speech changes a little when two consonants meet. A voiced sound such as d can become voiceless before k, t or s. In some words spelling shows the change, as in slatka (sweet, feminine), next to sladak (masculine). In others it keeps the root, so predsjednik (president) is written with d and sounds close to t.

When you are unsure, check a dictionary, because spelling keeps the root in words such as predsjednik. Always write the marks: š, č, ć, ž and đ.

Examples (4)

  1. Čitam kako piše.

    I read as it is written.

    One letter gives one main sound.

  2. Sladak kolač, slatka kafa.

    A sweet cake, a sweet coffee.

    The d in sladak turns into t in slatka, and the spelling shows it.

  3. Predsjednik je došao.

    The president has arrived.

    The word keeps d in spelling, though in speech the d sounds close to t.

  4. Šta želiš?

    What do you want?

    Both š and ž need their marks.

Common Mistakes

  • Dropping the marks.

    Sta zelis?
    Šta želiš?

    Š and ž are separate letters, and the marks are part of the spelling.

How It Connects

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

Sound and SpellingLevel 1

Learn This First

Spelling and sound link up once the letters are known.

Words in This Pattern

izgovorpravopis