Bosniak - Bosnian

Bosniak and Bosnian are two similar words with similar meanings that should now be carefully distinguished. Until well into the twentieth century, they both meant '[an inhabitant] of Bosnia'.

• That general meaning is now best expressed by Bosnian.
• Bosniak should now be used for 'a Muslim inhabitant of Bosnia', and has been since the Wars of Yugoslav Succession (1991–5).

Etymological note: Bosniak is a straight transliteration, borrowing the Bosnian word [Bošnjak. Bosnian is a regular formation from Bosnia, itself of uncertain origin; but probably from the name of a river Bosna, through Latin Bossinaand Greek Βόσονα.