Writing a Letter

Level 4

A letter begins with Poštovani gospodine or Poštovana gospođo and ends with S poštovanjem, and Vi is often written with a capital when one person is addressed.

How It Works

PartFormalFriendly
opening, manPoštovani gospodine Hodžiću,Dragi Amire,
opening, womanPoštovana gospođo Delić,Draga Ajla,
unknown readerPoštovani,Zdravo,
closingS poštovanjem,Pozdrav, or Srdačan pozdrav,

In a letter to one person you address politely, many writers capitalise Vi, Vas, Vam and Vaš. This is usual in formal letters. In ordinary dialogue, write vi with a small letter. When you write to several people, keep the plural vi small.

Keep the tone steady. A formal letter keeps Vi from the first line to the last, and a friendly letter keeps ti.

Examples (5)

  1. Poštovani gospodine Hodžiću,

    Dear Mr Hodžić,

    Poštovani agrees with gospodine, and Hodžiću is in the vocative.

  2. Poštovana gospođo Delić,

    Dear Mrs Delić,

    Poštovana is feminine.

  3. Zahvaljujem Vam na odgovoru.

    Thank you for your reply.

    Vam is capitalised in a letter.

  4. S poštovanjem, Lejla Begić

    Yours sincerely, Lejla Begić

    This is the usual closing.

  5. Draga Ajla, kako si?

    Dear Ajla, how are you?

    A friendly letter uses draga and ti.

Common Mistakes

  • The greeting uses the nominative.

    Poštovani gospodin Hodžić,
    Poštovani gospodine Hodžiću,

    A greeting calls the person, so it uses the vocative.

How It Connects

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

Writing a LetterLevel 4

Learn This First

Letter greetings use the vocative form.

Words in This Pattern

poštovanjegospodingospođa