Say hello in the Balkans

• Hello Živjo ZHEE-vyoh
• Thank you Hvala HVAH-lah
• Please Prosim PROH-seem
• Cheers! Na zdravje! nah ZDRAHV-yeh
• The bill, please Račun, prosim RAH-choon PROH-seem
• How much is it? Koliko stane? KOH-lee-koh STAH-neh
• Yes / No Ja / Ne yah / neh
• Goodbye Nasvidenje nahs-VEE-deh-nyeh

Slovenians switch to English fast, but a "Dober dan" when you walk into a shop is always noticed.

• Hello Bok bohk
• Thank you Hvala HVAH-lah
• Please Molim MOH-leem
• Cheers! Živjeli! ZHEE-vyeh-lee
• The bill, please Račun, molim RAH-choon MOH-leem
• How much is it? Koliko košta? KOH-lee-koh KOSH-tah
• Yes / No Da / Ne dah / neh
• Goodbye Doviđenja doh-vee-JEH-nyah

"Bok" is the casual hello and goodbye in one word. In Dalmatia you will also hear "Ajme!" for anything from surprise to despair.

• Hello Zdravo ZDRAH-voh
• Thank you Hvala HVAH-lah
• Please Molim MOH-leem
• Cheers! Živjeli! ZHEE-vyeh-lee
• The bill, please Račun, molim RAH-choon MOH-leem
• How much is it? Koliko košta? KOH-lee-koh KOSH-tah
• Yes / No Da / Ne dah / neh
• Goodbye Doviđenja doh-vee-JEH-nyah

In Sarajevo you will often hear "Merhaba" as well as "Zdravo". Say yes to the Bosnian coffee, and take your time with it.

• Hello Zdravo ZDRAH-voh
• Thank you Hvala HVAH-lah
• Please Molim MOH-leem
• Cheers! Živjeli! ZHEE-vyeh-lee
• The bill, please Račun, molim RAH-choon MOH-leem
• How much is it? Koliko košta? KOH-lee-koh KOSH-tah
• Yes / No Da / Ne dah / neh
• Goodbye Doviđenja doh-vee-JEH-nyah

Locals joke that Montenegrins are relaxed by nature. "Polako" (slowly, take it easy) is a word you will hear a lot.

• Hello Zdravo ZDRAH-voh
• Thank you Hvala HVAH-lah
• Please Molim MOH-leem
• Cheers! Živeli! ZHEE-veh-lee
• The bill, please Račun, molim RAH-choon MOH-leem
• How much is it? Koliko košta? KOH-lee-koh KOSH-tah
• Yes / No Da / Ne dah / neh
• Goodbye Doviđenja doh-vee-JEH-nyah

Serbian is written in both Cyrillic and Latin letters, so the same street sign can appear twice. "Živeli!" is said with eye contact.

• Hello Përshëndetje pur-shun-DET-yeh
• Thank you Faleminderit fah-leh-meen-DEH-reet
• Please Ju lutem yoo LOO-tem
• Cheers! Gëzuar! guh-ZOO-ar
• The bill, please Llogarinë, ju lutem loh-gah-REE-nuh, yoo LOO-tem
• How much is it? Sa kushton? sah koosh-TOHN
• Yes / No Po / Jo poh / yoh
• Goodbye Mirupafshim meer-oo-PAHF-sheem

Watch out: "Po" means yes and "Jo" means no. Some older Albanians also shake their head for yes, so listen to the word.

• Hello Tung! toong
• Thank you Faleminderit fah-leh-meen-DEH-reet
• Please Ju lutem yoo LOO-tem
• Cheers! Gëzuar! guh-ZOO-ar
• The bill, please Llogarinë, ju lutem loh-gah-REE-nuh, yoo LOO-tem
• How much is it? Sa kushton? sah koosh-TOHN
• Yes / No Po / Jo poh / yoh
• Goodbye Mirupafshim meer-oo-PAHF-sheem

Most people speak Albanian; "Tung!" is the quick, friendly hello. Serbian is spoken too, and many young people speak English or German.

• Hello Здраво (Zdravo) ZDRAH-voh
• Thank you Благодарам (Blagodaram) blah-GOH-dah-rahm
• Please Ве молам (Ve molam) veh MOH-lahm
• Cheers! На здравје! (Na zdravje) nah ZDRAHV-yeh
• The bill, please Сметката, ве молам (Smetkata, ve molam) SMET-kah-tah, veh MOH-lahm
• How much is it? Колку чини? (Kolku čini?) KOHL-koo CHEE-nee
• Yes / No Да / Не (Da / Ne) dah / neh
• Goodbye Довидување (Doviduvanje) doh-vee-DOO-vah-nyeh

Macedonian is written in Cyrillic. "Благодарам" (blagodaram) is a mouthful, so a smile while you try goes a long way.