If you are going to Croatia, whether for tourism, for work or for any other reason, you may want to learn a few words and expressions that may help you in your daily life!
In this post, we will help you to learn the basic words that may be useful. We will also tell you a little bit more about the pronunciation of the tough ones because Croatian is very different from English and they have letters we don’t. Let’s go then!
The basis :
- Hello! - Dobar dan!
(NB : If you are going to the Istrian County, you may use “Ciao!” instead). - Good morning - Dobro jutro! (“j” is pronounced as in “year”).
- Hi! / Bye! : Bok!
Credit: Valentine Adelmant-Régnier
- Goodbye! - Doviđenja! (“đ” is pronounced as in “Jack”)
- Good night - Laku noć (“ć” is pronounced as in “church”)
- How are you? - Kako si?
- Good, and you? - Dobro sam. A ti?
Credit: Valentine Adelmant-Régnier
- Thank you - Hvala (“h” is pronounced as a mix between “r” and “h”)
- You’re welcome - Molim
- Please - Molim
- I’m sorry - Oprostite
- Good appetite - Dobar tek
- Yes - Da
- No - Ne
- What is your name? - Kako se zoveš?
- My name is ____ - Zovem se _____.
- Ok - Može / Dobro
- Maybe - Možda (“ž” is pronounced as in “pleasure”)
- I don't know - Ne znam
Languages and nationalities :
- Do you speak English? - Govoriš li engleski? (“š” is pronounced as in “sheet”)
- I don’t speak Croatian - Ne govorim hrvatski
- I am English / French / Spanish / Italian / German - ja sam Englez / Francuz / Španjolac / Talijan / Njemac
(Francuz : “c” is pronounced as in “tsar” ; Španjolac : “š” is pronounced as in “sheet”; “j” as in “year” and “c” as in “tsar” ; Njemac : “nj” as in “onion and “c” and as in “tsar”)
.png)
Credit: Valentine Adelmant-Régnier
- I don’t understand - Ne razumijem
Asking for help :
- Where are the toilets? - Gdje se nalazi WC?
Credit: Valentine Adelmant-Régnier
- I need help - Trebam vašu pomoć (“š” is pronounced as in “sheet” and “ć” as in “church”)
- I need a doctor - Treba mi doktor
- I am sick - Bolestan (masc.) / Bolesna (fem.) sam.
- I am hurt - Povrijedio (masc.) / Povrijedila (fem.) sam se.
- I am lost - Izgubio (masc.) / Izgubila (fem.) sam se.
In shops and transport :
- How much costs a ticket to ___ _? - Koliko košta karta za _____? (“š” is pronounced as in “sheet”)
- Where does this train / bus go? - Kamo ide ovaj vlak / autobus? (“j” is pronounced as in “year”)
- A ticket to ____, please - Molim Vas, jednu kartu za _____
- Can I pay with my card? - Mogu li platiti kreditnom karticom?
- Where can I change money ? - Gdje mogu razmijeniti novac?
- Where can I find an ATM? - Gdje se nalazi bankomat?
- The bill, please! - Račun, molim! (“č” is pronounced as in “chalk”)
- Can I have the menu? - Mogu li dobiti jelovnik?
- How much is it? - Koliko košta? (“š” is pronounced as in “sheet”)
- I’m not interested - Nisam zainteresiran(a).
- It’s too expensive - To je preskupo.
Credit: Valentine Adelmant-Régnier
Numbers :
0 - nula
1 - jedan
2 - dva
3 - tri
4 - četiri (the “č” is pronounced as in “chalk”)
5 - pet
6 - šest (“š” is pronounced as in “sheet”)
7 - sedam
8 - osam
9 - devet
10 - deset
Well, with all those words and sentences, I think that you can go to Croatia in total peace of mind! Normally most of the Croatian speak (at least basic) English, but it is always nice to try to speak like a local and to learn the country’s culture. Also, people will be enchanted if you speak to them in Croatian, even if it is for a few words.
Feel free to comment if you have any suggestions that you may add. Bok!
.jpg)
 (2).png)
.jpg)
.jpg)