Foodies, adventurers, history buffs, and yogis, a Mediterranean oasis is waiting for you in Croatia! But before you book and pack your bag, why not give the Croatian language a try? Learning a few fun phrases in Croatian will make the experience that much more rewarding and immersive.
Learning a language is one of the best ways to learn about a new place and the people who live there. Plus, it’s appreciated by the locals. It’s a great way to show respect for the people and place you’re exploring. Keep reading to learn some basic Croatian phrases, and our pick of the most unique and fun phrases in Croatian to spice up your visit.
Why Visit Croatia?
Apart from being one of the filming locations for Game of Thrones, Croatia is home to stunning coastlines, beautiful waterfalls, ancient architecture, rolling lavender hills, white-sand beaches, and 2,715 hours of sunshine a year. With 8 national parks, 11 nature parks, and 2 nature preserves, there’s no end to natural beauty. Plus, it has its share of fun facts. The smallest town in the entire world is in Croatia (Hum has a population of twenty-three!). And the Dalmatian dog comes from Croatia (cute!).
A Little Bit About Croatian
The Croatian language is a South Slavic language and the official language in Croatia. It is spoken by seven million people, including residents of Bosnia and Herzegovina where it is one of three official languages, and the European Union, where it is one of 24 official languages.
Its alphabet has 30 letters, including eight letters you won’t find in the Latin alphabet (č, ć, dž, đ, lj, nj, š and ž). And letters you won’t find in their alphabet are: a q, w, x, or y. Wild!
Everyday Survival Croatian Phrases
Hello
Good day
Thank you
How are you?
Goodbye
Yes
No
Sorry
Excuse me
Please
Bok
Dobar dan
Hvala
Kako ste?
Dovinđenja
Da
Ne
Žao mi je
Oprostite
Molim
(Pronounced Bohk)
(Pronounced Do-bar-dahn)
(Pronounced Hva-lah)
(Pronounced Kah-koh steh?)
(Pronounced Doh-vee-jen-yah)
(Pronounced Da)
(Pronounced Ne)
(Pronounced Zha-oh-me-yeh)
(Pronounced Oh-proh-stee-teh)
(Pronounced Moh-leem)
Fun Phrases in Croatian
Building on our series of crazy funny local sayings (check out our Icelandic blog to compare and giggle), here’s our pick of the most interesting and fun phrases in Croatian. Let these phrases bewilder, amuse, and inspire you.
1. Prebit Ću Te ‘Ko Vola U Kupusu: “I Will Beat You Like an Ox in a Cabbage Field”
Starting off with a bang, we have this delightful phrase. Used to express anger and frustration about something, this phrase is a hollow threat. No one who says this is actually planning on inflicting bodily harm on anyone, but they want them to know that they’re mad! Think siblings. As to the cabbage field and the ox, your guess is as good as ours.
When to Use It
Your travel buddy leans over to pour themselves another glass of white wine, spilling five of your oysters off the table and onto your lap.
2. Mi O Vuku, a Vuk Na Vrata: “We Were Talking About the Wolf, and Now It’s at the Door.”
We have a similar phrase in English: “Speak of the devil.” You’re chatting away about someone—saying good, or bad things—and all of a sudden, there they are in front of you. It’s almost like you summoned them with your words.
When to Use It
You’re fangirling over your favorite Travel Yogi yoga instructor (naturally) and they appear out of thin air, grateful for the kind words.
3. Gledaš ‘Ko Tele U Šarena Vrata: “Staring Like a Calf at a Painted Door.”
While this phrase does not entirely make sense—it turns out that cattle are colorblind and wouldn’t know the difference between a painted or unpainted door—it’s still fun. Honestly, the best phrases don’t entirely make sense. The idea here is that a calf would stare dumbfounded at a painted door. The phrase is used to make fun of someone when they’re struggling to make a decision or are particularly confused about something.
When to Use It
Your travel buddy didn’t learn any Croatian before your trip, and stares back blankly when a local asks them a simple question: “Kako ste?”
4. Da Padne Na Leđa, Razbio Bi Nos: “If He Fell on His Back, He Would Break His Nose”
Do you know those people that are extremely talented at having bad things happen to them? Like, they always spill something on their nice clothes (guilty as charged) or seem to twist an ankle whenever they walk out the door? This phrase is about them (you, me). It essentially means, whatever they do, they’ll be unlucky. Even if they fall on their back, they’ll find a way to also break their nose.
When to Use It
Your new friend lost her wallet, passport, and sunglasses over the last 24 hours, and, this is important, her spirits are high enough to engage in some light teasing.
5. Tko Pod Drugim Jamu Kopa Sam U Nju I Upada: “The One Who Digs a Hole Under Another Will Fall in Himself”
If you’ve ever planned a plot against someone—be it a prank or something more sinister—this phrase will try to stop you. It isn’t saying that your plot might backfire, it’s saying that it will. Plotting against someone will only result in hardship for you as well. Karma, anyone?
When to Use It
You watch as a teenager keys a car. You mutter this phrase to your friend.
6. Doće Maca Na Vratanca: “The Cat Will Come to the Tiny Door”
Okay, this one’s pretty similar to the falling-in-a-hole saying. It means that anything bad that you do will come back and haunt you. No actions are done without consequences, so you should think twice about your actions before you do something that you’ll regret. ← any reason behind this saying like for the other options here?
When to Use It
You overhear someone say they want to dine-and-dash at the local Croatian restaurant. You say this to your lunch date, and they nod.
7. Ispeći Pa Reći: “Bake It, Then Say It”
This one is for all of us out-loud thinkers. You know, those of us who sometimes blabber on a bit without thinking about what we are going to say first. This saying essentially means: let your thoughts bake in the oven a bit. Once they’re cooked, (aka once you’ve thought about it) you can say it out loud.
When to Use It
Your buddy said something dumb, again.
8. Tko To Može Platit‘: “Who Can Pay for This?”
The next time you are moved by an extraordinary experience, the kind that money can’t buy, use this phrase. It’s essentially a rhetorical question. Who can pay for this? No one, obviously. Happiness can’t be bought. This feeling, this experience isn’t for sale.
When to Use It
After a breathtaking hike to a waterfall on the Travel Yogi Croatian Yoga Adventure.
Practice Your Croatian With The Travel Yogi
Your relaxing, rejuvenating Croatian adventure awaits you. On the Travel Yogi Croatian Yoga Adventure, you’ll experience the best of Mediterranean life, without any of the stress of planning your own vacay.
Think sun-soaked coastal hikes, local seafood and wine, hikes in Krka National Park, wandering in charming villages, harvesting oysters with local fishermen (say what?), and much, much more. Learn more here. And if you really loved these phrases, and want to keep learning languages, check out our favorite Icelandic phrases.