bosnian

British  

/ ˈbɒznɪən /

adjective

1. of or relating to Bosnia or its inhabitants

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noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Bosnia

2. the language spoken in Bosnia-Herzegovina, formerly regarded as a dialect of Serbo-Croatian

Usage

The Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian languages were regarded as dialects of Serbo-Croat before the three countries emerged as independent states in the 1990s. Some linguists still refer to a single Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian (BHS) language; however, the more common practice is to treat Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian as separate languages, even though they are mutually intelligible. Many Montenegrins refer to their language as 'Serbian', though there is also a movement to rename it 'Montenegrin'. The terms Serbo-Croat and Serbo-Croatian are no longer commonly used, though they are preserved in this dictionary when historically correct, such as the derivation of a word from Serbo-Croat before Bosnia separated from Yugoslavia.

Example Sentences

And surely for Barbarez, who took a path rarely traveled, willing to bet big on Bosnian football.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2026

"His career is connected to the country's own image - resilience, persistence and proving people wrong," Bosnian journalist Sasa Ibrulj says of Dzeko.

From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026

Dokic, born in Rome to Bosnian parents, is part of a Bosnian diaspora thought to be as large as two million people.

From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026

Hailing it as a "major step forward", Bosnian Prime Minister Borjana Kristo also thanked US partners.

From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026

When Zlata wrote about Bosnian children becoming the “soldiers” and the soldiers becoming “children,” at first I didn’t get her meaning.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers