Words With h

Level 3

Bosnian keeps h in many words, such as hljeb, hiljada, mahala and lahko, although everyday speech sometimes drops it, as in lako.

How It Works

Words that keep their h include hljeb, hiljada, hrana, hvala, hajde, mahala and kahva. In careful speech and in many families, the h is heard clearly.

With hWithout h
lahkolako
mehkomeko
lahaklak

Both columns are standard. The form with h sounds more Bosnian and a little more careful, and the form without h is very common in everyday speech. In school and in the press you will see both.

Do not drop the h from a word that has no pair. People write hljeb, not ljeb, and hiljada with an h at the start.

Examples (5)

  1. Hvala ti puno.

    Thank you very much.

    Hvala starts with h.

  2. Kupujem hljeb u pekari.

    I am buying bread at the bakery.

    Hljeb keeps its h.

  3. Moja mahala je mirna.

    My neighbourhood is quiet.

    Mahala has an h in the middle.

  4. Test je bio lahak.

    The test was easy.

    Lahak is the form with h, and lak is the form without it.

  5. Jastuk je mehak.

    The pillow is soft.

    Mehak keeps the h. Mek is also heard.

Common Mistakes

  • The h is dropped from a word that keeps it.

    Kupujem ljeb.
    Kupujem hljeb.

    Hljeb has no pair without h, so write the h.

How It Connects

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

Words With hLevel 3

Learn This First

H is kept in Bosnian spelling.

Words in This Pattern

hranahljebhiljadahvalamahalamehkolahko