The Aorist

Level 6

Aorist: -h, -(e), -(e), -smo, -ste, -še.

How It Works

doćividjetireći
jadođohvidjehrekoh
tidođevidjereče
on, onadođevidjereče
midođosmovidjesmorekosmo
vidođostevidjesterekoste
onidođoševidješerekoše

The aorist tells a sequence of short, finished events. It belongs to storytelling, folk songs and older writing.

In daily Bosnian the perfect has taken over. A few aorist forms live on in fixed exclamations, such as Odoh! (I am off!) and Evo ga, dođe!

Most aorists come from perfective verbs, because the aorist describes a completed action.

If you meet an unfamiliar form ending in -h, -smo, -ste or -še, check whether it could be an aorist before you look for a new verb.

Examples (5)

  1. Dođoh u Mostar u zoru.

    I came to Mostar at dawn.

    Dođoh is the I form.

  2. Vidjesmo rijeku i most.

    We saw the river and the bridge.

    Vidjesmo is the we form.

  3. Reče mu sve.

    He said everything to him.

    Reče is the third person.

  4. Pogledah kroz prozor, a vani kiša.

    I looked out the window, and it was raining outside.

    Pogledah is I form.

  5. Odoh!

    I am off!

    A fixed exclamation, still heard.

How It Connects

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

The AoristLevel 6

Learn This First

The aorist tense.

Words in This Pattern

doćividjetirećiaorist