Has someone you know in Croatia just passed a big milestone in their life? Learning how to say congratulations in Croatian is a wonderful way to share in someone’s joy and achievements. With the right words, you can make your interactions feel more heartfelt.
In Croatian, as in many languages, tone, formality, and context can really affect how your message is received. Let’s look at the basic ways to say congratulations, understand the difference between formal and informal language, and talk about common situations where you’d want to congratulate someone.
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Ways To Say Congratulations In Croatian
In Croatian, there isn’t just one way to congratulate someone. It depends on the context and the relationship you have with the person you’re congratulating. Here are the basic expressions:
- Čestitam – This is the standard way to say “Congratulations!” when one person is congratulating another.
- Čestitamo – This is used when a group of people is congratulating someone, meaning “We congratulate you!”
- Čestitke – A more casual way to say “Congrats!”
There are also more informal expressions you can use for a more personal touch:
- Bravo – An informal way to congratulate someone, similar to saying “Well done!” in English.
- Svaka čast – a slang phrase that literally means “All honor to you,” but it’s a casual way of saying “Kudos!” or “Well done!”
How To Congratulate On Special Occasions
There are plenty of times when you’ll want to congratulate someone in Croatian, whether it’s for acing an exam, landing a new job, celebrating a wedding or birthday, welcoming a child, or even winning a big game. Picking the right phrase for the moment helps make your congrats feel more genuine and personal. So, here’s a list of phrases you can use on specific special occasions:
Special Occasion Greetings In Croatian
When it’s someone’s birthday in Croatian, you wouldn’t say čestitam. You would use the phrase sretan rođendan, meaning happy birthday.
If it’s someone’s anniversary, you can use the phrase sretna godišnjica to say happy anniversary.
Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Croatia? Use the phrase sretna nova godina, meaning happy new year.
During Christmas time in Croatia, use the phrase sretan Božić to wish someone a Merry Christmas.
What To Keep In Mind
When congratulating someone in Croatia, a little knowledge of local customs goes a long way!
When you meet someone in Croatia, a firm handshake with eye contact is standard. For close friends and family, they usually greet with kisses on the cheek.
In general, make sure you’re polite and friendly. Don’t worry too much about making mistakes with the language—efforts to learn even a few phrases are always appreciated. And remember, Croatians value genuine interactions, so your warm congratulations will always be well received.
How Do You Say “Great Achievement” In Croatian?
In Croatian, great achievement is said as veliki uspjeh.
To congratulate someone on their great achievement, you can say Čestitam na velikom uspjehu!
Croatian Useful Vocab For Saying Congrats
Do you have a friend who has recently achieved something incredible? There are more ways to show how proud you are besides just saying čestitam. Here’s a list of some Croatian phrases that you can use to show your admiration for their success:
These phrases are perfect for showing your support and admiration in Croatian. If you want to take your Croatian skills to the next level, check out the Ling app. It’s a fun and easy way to learn, with interactive lessons, games, and quizzes that make studying feel less like a chore. If you’re just starting out or looking to improve, Ling has you covered on both your computer and phone. Unlike other apps, Ling makes learning Croatian engaging and practical, so you’ll be picking up the language in no time.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Is A Common Greeting In Croatia?
The most common casual greeting in Croatian is bok. Another option is ćao. Both are informal and can be used to say hello and goodbye!
If you’re in a more formal setting, then say dobro jutro (good morning), dobar dan (good afternoon), or dobra večer (good evening).
2. What Does Hvala Mean In Croatian?
Hvala means thank you in Croatian.
Besides hvala, which is great for casual conversations, you can use hvala vam in more formal situations. If you want to show extra appreciation, puno ti hvala is the way to go. And when you need to politely decline something, ne hvala is perfect. Remember these for when someone congratulates you!
3. How Do You Say Cheers In Croatian?
To say cheers in Croatian, you can use the word živjeli!
Congratulations, You Know New Croatian Phrases!
Let me just say congrats, or čestitke, for learning new Croatian phrases. Next time you want to congratulate someone in Croatia, you can do so in their native language!
Remember, a bit of language effort goes a long way, so don’t worry about being perfect—your genuine enthusiasm will shine through. With a friendly smile and maybe a cheek kiss if it’s a close friend, you’re all set.
