Anyone looking to take a trip to Europe is likely looking at Croatia in the process, too, and if that’s the case, there’s a bunch of Croatian words for travel to be aware of.
One of Europe’s most stunning destinations, Croatia is infamous for the complexity of its language. Even though the language itself isn’t easy to learn, knowing the right words and how to pronounce them is going to make your life much easier by default.
Here, you’ll find over 50 absolutely essential Croatian phrases and words we suggest you learn before visiting.
What Does This Croatian Guide Cover?
This guide covers a wide variety of basic Croatian phrases in a handy, to-the-point format. Here’s the summary:
- Over 50 most useful Croatian words for travel spread across six themed categories
- Easy and simple English pronunciation guidelines for each featured word
- Common mistakes for travelers in Croatia to avoid
- Top travel tips for first-time visitors
- FAQs about the Croatian language that are good to learn
Who Is This Croatian Language Guide For?
This guide is primarily written for first-time visitors to Croatia with little to no knowledge of the Croatian language. Its goal is to rapidly educate people in this situation with useful, actionable information that’s easy to retain and handy to keep in mind.
Learning these 50 Croatian words for travel will help you navigate daily situations in this beautiful middle-European country and make you a much more pleasant tourist than most others are. This level of respect will be directed back at you by the locals, so it’s a win-win situation no matter what.
Croatian Words For Greetings And General Politeness
Politeness goes a long way in any situation, and doubly so when you’re dealing with strangers from a different culture. The most important Croatian words for travel, with that in mind, are the ones you’ll use whenever you enter a shop, hotel, restaurant, or virtually anywhere else. Croatians love courtesy.
| English | Croatian | Pronunciation | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hello (informal) | Bok | bokh | |
| Hello (formal) | Dobar dan | DOH-bar dan | |
| Goodbye | Doviđenja | doh-vee-JEH-nyah | |
| Please | Molim | MOH-leem | |
| Thank you | Hvala | HVAH-lah | |
| You’re welcome | Nema na čemu | NEH-mah nah CHEH-moo | |
| Sorry / Excuse me | Oprostite | oh-PROH-stee-teh | |
| Yes / No | Da / Ne | dah / neh | |
| Good evening | Dobra večer | doh-BRAH veh-CHER | |
| I am… | Ja sam… | YAH sahm | |
| Can I… | Mogu li… | MOH-guh lee |
Tip: Use dobar dan when entering a business, for example, or whenever you’re uncertain about which tone to adopt. Once you’ve established that it’s casual, switch over to the more casual bok. Requests should be followed with molim. You can learn more about public courtesy in Croatia using our guide for travelers in Croatia.
Croatian Words For Travel And Navigation
Wherever you go, navigation is probably going to be a major hurdle, and knowing what to ask the locals should be your number one priority. Quite simply, these helpful Croatian words and phrases will help you get from A to B, and sometimes that’s all you need.
| English | Croatian | Pronunciation | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where is? | Gdje je? | GDYEH yeh | |
| Left | Lijevo | lee-YEH-voh | |
| Right | Desno | DES-noh | |
| Straight (ahead) | Ravno | RAV-noh | |
| Bus station | Autobusna | ow-toh-BOOS-nah | |
| Train | Vlak | vlakh | |
| Taxi | Taksi | TAK-see | |
| Airport | Zračna luka | ZRACH-nah LOO-kah | |
| Where’s the bathroom? | Gdje je WC? | GDYEH yeh VEH-tseh | |
| What time is it? | Koliko je sati? | KOH-lee-koh yeh SAH-tee |
Tip: If you’re only going to remember a single “getting around” phrase, make it the gdje je question. It’s not too hard to improvise the name of a thing you’re looking for afterward, and as soon as the Croatian you’re talking to knows you need to find a particular place or item, they’ll be able to assist you.
Croatian Words For Food & Drink
Croatian cuisine boasts a huge amount of variety, and though it’s most well-known for its Mediterranean offerings, that’s just a small part of the greater whole, with ample variety depending on what region you’re in. Here’s how to actually try some of it in practice.
| English | Croatian | Pronunciation | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water | Voda | VOH-dah | |
| Beer | Pivo | PEE-voh | |
| Wine | Vino | VEE-noh | |
| Coffee | Kava | KAH-vah | |
| Menu | Jelovnik | yeh-lov-NEEK | |
| Bill, please | Račun, molim | RAH-choon MOH-leem | |
| Bread | Kruh | kroo | |
| I am vegetarian | Ja sam vegetarijanac | yah sahm veh-geh-tah-REE-yah-nats |
Tip: Waiters don’t always hover around their clients in Croatia. As a tourist, you will have to call out for the waiter sooner or later, and using the word oprostite is a great, polite way of doing just that.
Croatian Words For Shopping
There’s no getting around shopping as a tourist, and Croatia plays host to some of the most memorable mom ‘n’ pop shops and roadside stands you’ll see anywhere else. These Croatian words for travel will help you buy memorabilia and delicious treats in no time whatsoever.
| English | Croatian | Pronunciation | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| How much does it cost? | Koliko košta ovo? | KOH-lee-koh KOH-shtah oovo | |
| Cheap | Jeftino | yef-TEEH-noh | |
| Expensive | Skupo | SOO-poh | |
| Market | Tržnica | TRZH-nee-tsah | |
| Shop | Trgovina | tr-GOH-vee-nah | |
| Do you have? | Imate li? | ee-MAH-teh lee | |
| Receipt | Račun | rah-CHOON | |
| Open | Otvoreno | oht-VOH-reh-noh |
Tip: While haggling can and does happen in some shopping contexts (i.e. small-scale, unofficial stores and such) it’s not nearly as extensive and commonplace as it is in some eastern cultures.
Croatian Words For Emergencies
There’s a world of difference between expecting emergencies and simply being prepared for them, on the off chance that something does happen. We highly recommend doing the latter, and if you’re traveling through Croatia, there’s immense value in knowing the following words.
| English | Croatian | Pronunciation | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Help | Upomoć | oo-POH-moch | |
| I need a doctor | Trebam liječnika | TREH-bahm lee-YECH-nee-kah | |
| Police | Policija | poh-LEE-tsee-yah | |
| Hospital | Bolnica | BOHL-nee-tsah | |
| Call the ambulance | Zovite hitnu | ZOH-vee-teh HEE-tnoo | |
| Pharmacy | Ljekarna | lyeh-KAR-nah | |
| Fire | Vatra | VAH-trah | |
| I’m lost | Izgubio / Izgubila sam se | eez-GOO-bee-oh / eez-GOO-bee-la sahm seh |
Tip: Croatia is one of the safest countries in the world, but again, it pays to be prepared. Add the emergency number 112 to your phone before traveling and have it on speed dial just in case you need it.
Speaking English won’t preclude you from getting help, either, as most any 112 operator will understand and speak it. If you’d like to learn even more, check out Ling’s Croatian emergency phrases guide.
Numbers And Essential Croatian Phrases
Finally, it’s good to know some rudimentary numbers and other assorted phrases while exploring Croatia. These will fit into most any situation, and they will inevitably come in handy sooner or later. With just a few Croatian words for travel from this list, of all the ones featured in this article, you can do an awful lot while traveling.
| English | Croatian | Pronunciation | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| One | Jedan | YEH-dahn | |
| Two | Dva | dvah | |
| Three | Tri | tree | |
| Do you speak English? (informal) | Pričaš li engleski? | PREE-cha-sh lee eng-LES-kee | |
| Do you speak English? (formal) | Govorite li engleski? | goh-VOH-ree-teh lee eng-LES-kee | |
| I don’t understand | Ne razumijem | neh rah-ZOO-mee-yem | |
| My name is… | Moje ime je… | MOH-yeh imeh yeh | |
| Good morning | Dobro jutro | doh-broh YOO-troh | |
| Wonderful / Beautiful / Gorgeous | Predivno | preh-DEEV-noh | |
| Thank you | Hvala | hvah-LAH | |
| I’m glad | Drago mi je | DRAH-goh mee yeh |
Tip: Make good use of the Pričaš li engleski? phrase and its more formal cousin. Most Croatian locals living in touristy areas will speak English to some extent, and this opens up a pathway for you to get them to help you out with whatever you need.
Common Mistakes To Avoid When Using Croatian Words For Travel
Here are some common mistakes travelers often make while interacting with Croatians, and some context on why they’re considered mistakes to begin with.
- Mispronouncing the more unique Croatian alphabet letters, such as Č, Đ, Ž, and Š: these don’t exist in English, but they do roughly correspond to “ch,” “j,” “zh,” and “sh,” respectively.
- Appearing dismissive by overusing da: A single da is always better than nodding along and repeatedly saying da, da, da. Croatians can appear more reserved than some other cultures are, so don’t overcorrect to make up for the difference.
- Mistaking gendered forms: as a gendered language, Croatian has very many words that change form depending on whether the speaker is male or female. This sounds awkward and goofy to the locals if you get it wrong, though it’s not something to get riled up about unless you’re in a formal setting.
- Skipping the greeting: this is frowned upon almost universally in Croatian culture, so greet the staff wherever you go.
Is Croatian A Complicated Language To Learn?
Croatian has a reputation as a tough language for English speakers, mainly because of its seven grammatical cases, gendered nouns, and verb conjugations. But here’s the good news for travelers: it’s also a phonetic language.
This means that once you learn the basic pronunciation rules, you can read menus, signs, and directions out loud with reasonable accuracy. You don’t need to master Croatian grammar to get by, is what we’re getting at. Just a small bank of basic Croatian phrases will take you much further than you’d think.
Do People In Croatia Speak English?
Yes, many Croatians in tourist areas speak English, and often very well. In cities like Zagreb, Dubrovnik, and Split, and at most hotels, restaurants, and attractions, English is widely understood.
That said, in smaller towns, on quieter islands, or at local markets away from the main tourist trail, Croatian is the only reliable option. This is exactly why knowing even a few Croatian words, like the ones outlined above, shows that you’ve made an effort.
What Are Some Basic Croatian Phrases?
The most essential basic Croatian phrases for travelers are Bok (Hi/Bye), Hvala (Thank you), Molim (Please), Dobar dan (Good day), Oprostite (Excuse me), Gdje je…? (Where is…?), and Račun, molim (The bill, please). These basic phrases cover greetings, politeness, navigation, and dining.
What Does “Dobar Dan” Mean In Croatian?
Dobar dan means “Good day” in Croatian and is the standard formal greeting used throughout the day. This means when entering a shop, meeting someone new, or addressing a stranger.
It’s pronounced doh-bar dan. Croatian greetings change depending on the time of day and your familiarity with the person: Dobro jutro is used for good morning, Dobra večer for good evening, and the informal Bok works for both hello and goodbye with friends.
What Does “Kako Ste” Mean?
Kako ste? (kah-koh steh) means “How are you?” in Croatian. Specifically, the formal version is used with strangers, older people, or anyone you’ve just met. It uses the formal Vi (you), which is an important distinction in Croatian culture.
With friends or people your own age, you’d use the informal Kako si? (kah-koh see?) instead. If someone asks you Kako ste?, a simple Dobro, hvala (“Fine, thank you”) is the standard reply.
What Is The Unspoken Rule In Croatia?
One of the most important unspoken rules in Croatia is to always greet people when you enter a shop, café, or any local business. Walking in without saying dobar dan is considered rude. It signals that you see the staff as invisible.
Quick Roundup: Croatian Words For Travel
Here’s a recap of what we covered on this Croatian words for travel guide:
- Croatian is phonetic. This means that simply knowing the pronunciation rules means you can read menus, signs, directions, and more with decent accuracy.
- Learn hvala, molim, and dobar dan first.
- Always greet people in Croatian when you meet them; this specifically means store staff and such.
- Pair the navigation phrase gdje je with the name of something to have a Croatian local help you find it.
- In emergencies, remember to dial 112.
Get Ready To Explore Croatia With Ling!
The 50 Croatian words and phrases we’ve outlined in this article are all you need for an absolutely delightful tourist trip to Croatia. Though it’s host to a truly complicated language, just a handful of Croatian words for travel are all you need to enjoy your stay in the country.
If you’re ready to go beyond this list, it’s time for you to download the Ling app. With full Croatian language courses, audio pronunciation by native speakers, bite-sized lessons, and gamified practice sessions, vocabulary will stick with you in no time at all.
Ling has 10M+ downloads and is available in 70+ languages, so it’s a phenomenal value add to your application roster. Download the Ling app and start learning Croatian the easy way.
