Daj boze is a Bosnian interjection, similar to the English inshallah. It means "God willing" or, literally, "let's see". It is used as a form of prayer in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Montenegro. It is also commonly used in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania. It is a common expression used by non-theists as well, as it is a non-sectarian and non-religious way to pray or wish for something. It is also popular in many kinds of pop music, especially from Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
The word derives from the perfective verb dati, which is a conjugation of d
It is sometimes used in informal writing, for example by journalists or bloggers. However, it should not be considered a formal part of the language; it should only be used as a sign of politeness or respect to a person. In some areas, this is not used at all.
For example, it is not a good idea to answer a shopkeeper's question, "What is your price?" with the phrase "Ne daj boze." This could be taken as a threat that you will never leave. In some places, it might even be cursed, since it hints that you are looking at the goods without intention of buying them.
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