Signification
Asking a friend about their well-being.
Contexte culturel
The 'Coffee Culture': Asking 'Kako si?' is often the start of a 2-hour ritual. If you ask this, be prepared to actually sit down and listen. In Montenegro, you might hear 'Kako si?' answered with 'A, evo, jadan...' (Oh, here, poor me...), a common humorous way to start a conversation about life's hardships. People here are known for a slower pace of life. 'Kako si?' might be answered with 'Polako' (Slowly/Take it easy), reflecting the local 'ravnica' (plain) mentality. In the capital, speed is key. 'Kako si?' is often shortened or replaced by 'Gde si?' as people rush to their next meeting.
The 'A ti?' Rule
Always follow up your answer with 'A ti?' (And you?). It's considered polite and keeps the conversation flowing.
Don't be too brief
If you just say 'Dobro' and stop, you might seem cold. Add 'Hvala na pitanju' (Thanks for asking).
Signification
Asking a friend about their well-being.
The 'A ti?' Rule
Always follow up your answer with 'A ti?' (And you?). It's considered polite and keeps the conversation flowing.
Don't be too brief
If you just say 'Dobro' and stop, you might seem cold. Add 'Hvala na pitanju' (Thanks for asking).
The Ethical Dative
Close friends say 'Kako si mi?'. That little 'mi' (to me) adds a layer of 'How are you doing for my sake?', showing deep closeness.
The Honest Answer
Don't be shocked if a Serb spends 10 minutes answering 'Kako si?'. It's a sign they trust you!
Teste-toi
You are meeting your best friend for a drink. Which greeting is most appropriate?
Zdravo! _______?
Since it's your best friend, you must use the informal singular 'si'.
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb 'biti'.
E, Marko! Kako ___ ti danas?
Marko is a first-name basis friend, so 'si' is the correct 2nd person singular form.
Match the phrase to the correct person.
1. Kako si? | 2. Kako ste?
Informal 'si' for family, formal 'ste' for professionals.
Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.
Ana: Ćao, kako si? Bojan: Dobro sam, hvala. ______?
Bojan should return the question using the same level of formality Ana used.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Ti vs. Vi (Informal vs. Formal)
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesZdravo! _______?
Since it's your best friend, you must use the informal singular 'si'.
E, Marko! Kako ___ ti danas?
Marko is a first-name basis friend, so 'si' is the correct 2nd person singular form.
1. Kako si? | 2. Kako ste?
Informal 'si' for family, formal 'ste' for professionals.
Ana: Ćao, kako si? Bojan: Dobro sam, hvala. ______?
Bojan should return the question using the same level of formality Ana used.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsGenerally no, unless you go there every day and are friends. Use 'Kako ste?' to be safe.
'Dobro sam' (I'm fine) or 'Evo, ide' (Here, it's going).
Yes, it is identical and perfectly understood in all BCMS (Bosnian, Croatian, Montenegrin, Serbian) variants.
Because 'si' is a clitic and must follow the first stressed word ('Kako').
Only if the email is to a friend. For business, use 'Nadam se da ste dobro'.
No, 'Kako si?' is the same whether you ask a man or a woman.
You must use 'Kako ste?', which is the plural form.
Yes, it's very common to just start with 'E, kako si?'.
You say 'Kako si zapravo?' or 'Kako si zaista?'.
Among young people in cities, yes. 'Kako si?' feels slightly more personal.
Expressions liées
Kako ste?
formal formHow are you? (Formal/Plural)
Šta ima?
similarWhat's up?
Kako ide?
similarHow's it going?
Šta radiš?
builds onWhat are you doing?
Gde si?
slangWhere are you? (Hey!)
