Pronunciation can be one of the hardest parts of learning a language. Training to adapt your mouth to get the pronunciation right is no easy feat, especially in Croatian, with its rolling Rs and special letters.
But here’s the good news: Croatian words are spelled out exactly as they sound! So, as long as you know the sound of each letter of the alphabet, you’ll be able to pronounce Croatian words easily! To get you started, I’ve put together this easy Croatian pronunciation guide for beginners.
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Croatian Pronunciation
In Croatian pronunciation, what you see is what you say. Every letter is spoken, and there aren’t any silent ones or tricky combinations that create new sounds. And best of all, the way a letter sounds doesn’t change, no matter where it is in a word. Pretty simple and consistent, right?
So, let’s start by learning all the letters in the Croatian alphabet.
The Croatian Alphabet
The Croatian alphabet is a standard Latin alphabet. It consists of 30 letters, with some unique ones that aren’t found in any other language. Here’s how they follow in order and how you would say each one:
As you can see, there are special letters called digraphs in the Croatian alphabet. They’re “dž, lj, and nj“.
Lj and nj are kind of like two letters fused together, but they’re considered single letters. Imagine the word million. You would use the letter “lj” in that word. And “nj” is kind of like the Spanish letter ñ. You can hear it in the Spanish word señor.
Other special letters are “đ, č, ć, š, and ž“. They’re also used only in Croatian and a few other Slavic languages. Learn more about these special characters below!
The Subtle Differences Between Ć, Č, Đ, And DŽ
You may be a little confused as to what the difference between these letters is. In Croatian writing, you’ll see letters č and ć, and letters đ and dž that look and sound similar, but they represent different sounds in the Croatian language. Here’s how they should be pronounced:
- Č is a hard ch, like in chop. An example of this word is čokolada (chocolate).
- Ć is softer, and it sounds kind of like a T in British English. You can hear it while saying the word Tuesday. A Croatian example is kuća (house).
- DŽ is a hard J, similar to when you say jungle. An example is the same word in Croatian: džungla (jungle).
- Đ is a soft J, like in Django.
If you’re in a school setting or taking a language exam, it’s important to pronounce these letters correctly. Remember that they are officially considered separate letters.
But here’s the good news. The reality is much more relaxed. Many native Croatian speakers don’t even pronounce these letters correctly. In fact, it’s fine if you follow the more relaxed approach as well. Most people will understand what you want to say, even if your pronunciation isn’t perfect.
What Are Those Marks Above Letters?
Those little marks above letters č, ć, š, and ž are called diacritics and they matter! They’re not just accents like some people think! If you don’t use them, you can drastically change the meaning of the word. Take a look at these two words, for example:
- koža (skin)
- koza (goat)
Without those tiny marks, you might end up saying something completely different, like putting sunscreen on a goat instead of your skin. So, while they may seem small, diacritics are a big deal in Croatia!
A Bit About Croatian Vowels
There are five main vowels in Croatian: a, e, i, o, and u. But there’s a little twist. There are variations of these vowels that can either be short or long, which gives us ten vowel sounds in total.
Every syllable has a vowel at its core. For example, the length of a vowel can completely change a word’s meaning, so it matters how you say it. The word luk, for example, is a Croatian homonym, but it’s said a bit differently in both cases. The length of the vowel can completely change the word’s meaning:
- luk (short u) means onion.
- luk (long u) means arch or bow.
Unlike in English, where vowels can be a bit unpredictable, Croatian vowels always sound the same. For example, a is always pronounced like the ‘a’ in father, so there are no surprises here.
The Half Vowel R
In Croatian, the letter T can sometimes act like a vowel, meaning it can form the core of a syllable, just like a, e, i, o, or u. This happens in words where there are no other vowels, such as krv (blood), prst (finger), and grm (bush). That’s why we call it the half vowel or syllabic consonant.
When you say these words, the sound of the R carries the rhythm of the syllable. For example, in krv, you don’t say “ker-vuh” or add any extra vowel sounds; the r itself acts like the vowel.
This feature also appears in longer words like srce (heart) and brdo (hill), where r forms one of the syllables. It’s a unique aspect of Slavic languages and can feel unusual to English speakers because, in English, R is always paired with a vowel and never acts as one on its own.
How Do You Say “Pronunciation” In Croatian?
In Croatian, the word for pronunciation is izgovor . It comes from the verb izgovoriti, meaning “to pronounce” or “to articulate.”
Easy Croatian Vocabulary To Practice Your Pronunciation!
Down below is some everyday Croatian vocabulary. How would you pronounce these words?
Try to put everything you’ve learned so far into practice. First, try to say the word, then listen to the recording and compare how you said the word first. That’s a great way to get a hang of Croatian pronunciation!
For more fun lessons like this, download the Ling app and start learning Croatian today with interactive lessons, games, and quizzes that make mastering a new language easy and enjoyable!
Frequently Asked Questions About Croatian Pronunciation
1. Is The H Silent In Croatian?
The letter H is not silent in Croatian. It’s pronounced like the H in the English word happy.
2. Is The J Silent In Croatian?
The letter J is not silent in Croatian. It’s pronounced like the Y in the English word yes.
3. Do Croatians Roll Their R?
Yes, Croatians roll their R. It’s a tricky thing to learn, but not impossible with a little bit of practice.
You’re Ready To Start Speaking Croatian!
If you were feeling discouraged at first, I hope I made you feel a little at ease: Croatian words are pronounced exactly how they’re written! You won’t come across any silent letters or weird combinations. Once you learn the sounds for each letter of the Croatian alphabet, you’ll master Croatian pronunciation in no time!
Remember that the alphabet has some special characters like č, ć, š, ž, đ, dž, nj, and lj, and that they’re important if you’re trying to master correct pronunciation! But don’t stress yourself out too much. As a beginner, these subtle differences aren’t the main point right now. Focus on being understood, and as you gain confidence, you can work on refining your pronunciation.
