Learn the 12 Bosnian months, four seasons, and how to tell time like a native. Free resources to learn fast!
Do you know how to say “April” in Bosnian? What about asking “What time is the meeting?”
Knowing the months in Bosnian and how to tell time is essential for everyday conversations. Whether you are planning a trip to Sarajevo, scheduling a lesson, or simply wishing a friend a happy birthday, I’m sure this guide will be helpful!
This post builds on our previous guide to dates in Bosnian. Today, we are focusing on the calendar and the clock.
Table of Contents
Want to start learning Bosnian? Check out this complete guide!
The 12 Months in Bosnian
Unlike in English, Bosnian month names are not typically capitalized in the middle of a sentence. Here is the complete list with a simple pronunciation guide.
| # | Bosnian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | januar | YAH-nu-ar | January |
| 2 | februar | FEH-bru-ar | February |
| 3 | mart | Mart | March |
| 4 | april | AH-pril | April |
| 5 | maj | May | May |
| 6 | juni | YOO-nee | June |
| 7 | juli | YOO-lee | July |
| 8 | august | Aw-gust | August |
| 9 | septembar | sep-TEM-bar | September |
| 10 | oktobar | ok-TOH-bar | October |
| 11 | novembar | no-VEM-bar | November |
| 12 | decembar | de-TSEM-bar | December |
Using Months in Sentences
Let’s see how these words work in real sentences. Notice how the month changes form slightly when we say “in” a specific month (this is the Locative case).
| Bosnian Sentence | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Rođen sam u maju. | I was born in May. |
| Putujemo u septembru. | We are traveling in September. |
| Januar je hladan mjesec. | January is a cold month. |
| Vidimo se u februaru! | See you in February! |
| Škola počinje u septembru. | School starts in September. |
The Four Seasons in Bosnian
Once you know the months, learning the seasons is easy.
| Season | Bosnian | Months Included |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Proljeće | Mart, April, Maj |
| Summer | Ljeto | Juni, Juli, August |
| Autumn / Fall | Jesen | Septembar, Oktobar, Novembar |
| Winter | Zima | Decembar, Januar, Februar |
- Volim proljeće jer je sve zeleno. (I love spring because everything is green.)
- Zima je u Bosni često snježna. (Winter in Bosnia is often snowy.)
How to Tell Time in Bosnian
Now that you can talk about months, let us get more precise. Let’s learn how to tell time.
Basic Time Vocabulary
You will need these nouns to build any sentence about time.
| Bosnian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| sat | saht | hour / o’clock |
| minuta | MEE-nu-ta | minute |
| pola | PO-la | half |
The 12-Hour vs. 24-Hour Clock
Bosnia uses both systems, similar to the rest of Europe.
- 12-hour clock: Used for casual conversation (“See you at 7”).
- 24-hour clock: Used for official schedules (train timetables, TV guides, business hours).
“What time is it?”
To ask for the time, use this phrase:
“Koliko je sati?”
(ko-LEE-ko yeh SAH-tee?)
Translation: “How many hours is it?”
How to Say “O’clock”
The formula is simple: “[number] je sat(i)” = “It is [number] o’clock.”
However, the word for hour/o’clock changes depending on the number. This is a crucial grammar rule for Bosnian time.
| Time | Bosnian | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 | Jedan je sat. | 1 = sat (nominative singular) |
| 2:00 | Dva je sata. | 2, 3, 4 = sata (genitive singular) |
| 3:00 | Tri je sata. | 2, 3, 4 = sata (gen. sing.) |
| 4:00 | Četiri je sata. | 2, 3, 4 = sata (gen. sing.) |
| 5:00 | Pet je sati. | 5+ = sati (genitive plural) |
Bosnian uses “half to” the next hour.
- Pola + (next hour number) = Half past the previous hour.
| Time | Bosnian | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1:30 | Pola dva | Half to two |
| 2:30 | Pola tri | Half to three |
| 6:30 | Pola sedam | Half to seven |
Time of Day Phrases
To clarify whether you mean 7 AM or 7 PM, add these context phrases.
| Bosnian | English | Time Range |
|---|---|---|
| ujutro | in the morning | 5 AM – 11 AM |
| podne | noon | 12:00 PM |
| poslijepodne | in the afternoon | 12 PM – 5 PM |
| navečer | in the evening | 5 PM – 9 PM |
| noću | at night | 9 PM – 5 AM |
| ponoć | midnight | 12:00 AM |
- Budim se u sedam ujutro. (I wake up at 7 AM.)
- Večeramo u osam navečer. (We have dinner at 8 PM.)
Are Bosnian months capitalized?
Generally no, unless they start a sentence. Unlike English, Bosnian month names are written in lowercase.
What is the difference between “sat” and “sati”?
“Sat” means both “hour” and “o’clock.” It changes the case ending based on the number: 1 = sat, 2-4 = sata, 5+ = sati.
Does Bosnia use AM and PM?
Not usually. Bosnian relies on context phrases like “ujutro” (morning) or the 24-hour clock.
What are the seasons in Bosnian?
Proljeće (spring), ljeto (summer), jesen (autumn/fall), zima (winter).
Why is “pola dva” 1:30?
Bosnian counts time as “half to the next hour.” Pola dva = half to two = 1:30.
What are the main greetings in Bosnian?
Bosnian has a lot of greetings. you will use different ones depending on the factors such as the level of formality, the religion of the person you’re talking to, etc. Check out this guide to learn all about it!
Conclusion
Now you can talk about the calendar and the clock in Bosnian. You know the 12 months, the four seasons, and how to ask for the time without confusion.
What would you like to learn next?
- Review the Dates and Ordinal Numbers guide.
- Or book a trial lesson to practice these phrases with a native speaker.
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