Greetings and politeness in Croatian
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the ten openers everything else builds on. Play the ten Croatian words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 11 Croatian phrases in this lesson
- Dobar danDO-bar DAN
- Hello
- Dobro jutroDO-bro YOO-tro
- Good morning
- Dobra večerDO-bra VE-cher
- Good evening
- Doviđenjado-vee-JEN-ya
- Goodbye
- Vidimo seVEE-dee-moh seh
- See you
- MolimMO-leem
- Please
- HvalaHVA-la
- Thank you
- Nema na čemuNEH-ma na CHEH-mu
- You're welcome
- Žao mi jeZHA-o mi ye
- Sorry
- Oprostiteo-PROS-tee-teh
- Excuse me
- Drago mi jeDRA-go mi ye
- Nice to meet you
Standard greeting used throughout the day. Works in both formal and casual settings.
Used until around noon. Jutro means morning.
Said arriving anywhere in the evening. As a parting at night, "laku noć" (LA-ku noch).
The standard farewell. The đ is like a soft "dj" sound. Bok is also used casually.
Literally "we see each other", the everyday goodbye between friends. Doviđenja is the polite one.
Also means "you're welcome" and "here you go" depending on context. Very versatile word.
The everyday word for thanks. Used constantly and appreciated by locals.
Literally means "there is nothing to it." A polite and natural response to thanks.
Literally "it is a pity to me", the real apology.
Formal, to get attention or to ask to pass. With friends: "oprosti".
Literally "it is dear to me", said with a handshake.