Bošnjani
Bošnjani (pronounced:
bo∫ani ;sing.;
Latin:
Bosniensis) was the original name for the
Bosnian people. The term itself has no equivalent in the
English language and it is typically used in in its untranslated version. Used during the
Middle Ages and mentioned in Bosnian ruler
Kulin Ban's Bosnian statehood from 1189.
It appeared in a number of documents from the period, often coupled with the word Good (
"Dobri" in Bosnian language). Debate on the exact nature of the term is inconclusive. Some historians believe that it indicates an unique ethnicity while others believe that it indicates a geographical identity, rather than an ethnic. Today the name is considered archaic, and is used only in the correct historical context. During the
Ottoman era the preferred term for an inhabitant of Bosnia came to be
Bošnjak (Bosniak), with the suffix
"-iak" replacing the traditional
"-anin". During the Austro-Hungarian era the term Bosniak was also preffered until the beginning of the 20th century. The situation changed again in the
20th century, as
Bosanac (Bosnian) came to be the preferred term. Following their national awakening and rebirth in the early 1990s,
Bosniaks re-established the (by then) archaic term
Bošnjaci (Bosniaks) for their nation based on the word's historical ethno-geographic connoations.
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Bosnians*
Bosniaks*
Nations of Bosnia and Herzegovina
