60+ basic Croatian phrases you need to know (English to Croatian)

So, you’re off to hunt Game of Thrones film locations in Croatia and you want to have some basic Croatian in your pocket for when you get there.

Great choice!

English is pretty well-spoken in Croatia these days, but it’s always a smart move to have some basic Croatian phrases ready for everyday situations.

You’ll be amazed at just how much easier your day-to-day shopping and restaurant interactions in Croatia will be when you know how to say thank you in Croatian or hello in Croatian.

To help you prepare for your holiday to Croatia, I’ve made a list of the most common and useful Croatian words and phrases (from English to Croatian).

You don’t need to be an expert linguist to travel like a pro in Croatia. Just memorise these Croatian phrases and you’ll be good to go!

Facts About the Croatian Language

As a Slavic language, Croatian shares a close common history with Serbian and Bosnian, and the three languages are incredibly similar.

Croatian is also considered one of the three official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina. So, if you head over there soon, take the Croatian you’ve learned with you!

All languages have their strange quirks, and a lot of them are to do with colour (like how in Japanese blue and green are often interchangeable). In Croatian, people with blonde hair are actually considered to have blue hair!

Croatian Pronunciation (English to Croatian)

Croatian has no q, w, x, or y sounds, and it also has no silent letters. Every letter in every word must be clearly pronounced. So, don’t worry too much about speed. Speak slowly and clearly, and you’ll be okay.

The letter j doubles as a ‘y’ sound, like it does in many European languages. If you see it written anywhere, remember it’s a y, not a j. You’ll also see ‘Dž’ and ‘Ž’ a lot. The first is a sort of hard j sound, like in ‘fudge’.

The latter is a soft j or z sound, just like in ‘pleasure’. One last thing to remember: the letter c by itself is a ‘ts’ sound, not a ‘k’ sound. Remember these pronunciation rules and you’ll be fine!

Here, you can find a list of Croatian words with audio.

Basic Greetings in Croatian

Knowing these simple Croatian phrases and words means you’ll be able to say hello and goodbye to anyone you meet, make friends more easily, and seem more approachable to locals. Being able to blend in is better for everyone, and you can do that with just these few words.

Hello – Bok

Good morning – Dobro jutro

Good day – Dobar dan (the most common phrase and the one I always use)

Good evening – Dobra večer

Goodbye – Doviđenja

Basic Croatian Phrases

Adding a little politeness and friendliness to your greetings and farewells can go a long way. If you’re going to be visiting the same shop or café a few times, you’ll want to be friendly with the staff, so go in with a few friendly basics!

Yes – Da

No – Ne

How are you? – Kako si?

What’s your name? – Kako se zoveš?

Nice to meet you – Drago mi je

Sorry – Žao mi je

Excuse me – Oprostite

Please – Molim

Thank you – Hvala (definitely learn this one!)

I don’t understand – Ne razumijem

Do you speak English – Govorite li engleski?

Where can I find the toilets? – Gdje je zahod?

Emergency

This is one that you hopefully won’t need, but you’ll be glad to have it if you do! Quite often, we can forget to find information about medical help (like each country’s emergency number) but it’s so worth knowing these things if ever you need them!

Help! – U pomoć!

Fire – Požar

Stop! – Stani!

Call the police! – Pozovite policiju!

Go away! – Pustite me na miru!

Basic Croatian for Eating and Ordering Food

When you go to a restaurant, a lot of questions can get thrown back and forth, so these phrases can save you a big headache when you get to a café or restaurant.

And if you’re out with friends and family or you meet some locals that you want to eat and drink with, remember to say ‘Živjeli!’ when you start drinking. This is the Croation version of ‘cheers!’ and roughly translates to ‘good health!’

Can I see a menu please? – Mogu li dobiti jelovnik?

I’m a vegetarian – Ja sam vegetarijanac

How much is it? – Koliko je to?

Can I get the bill/cheque please? – Mogu li dobiti račun?

That was great! – Sve je bilo odlično!

Breakfast – Doručak

Lunch – Ručak

Dinner – Večera

Water – Voda

Wine – Vino (you’ll want to remember this one)

Read next: Delicious food you have to try in Croatia

Directions

Whether you’re in a car or on foot, asking for directions can solve you a lot of confusion and wasted time. Fortunately, you only need the questions, because answers are usually given with a lot of hand signals.

How do I get to the…? – Kako ču doci do…?

Could you tell me where … is? – Możete li mi reci gdje je …?

Left – Lijevo

Right – Desno

Train station – Żeljeznička stanica

Bus station – Autobusna stanica

Airport – Aerodrom

Museum – Muzej

Shopping

Shopping is a pretty minimal thing, and you can get by with a ‘thank you’ / hvala. But here are some useful phrases just in case.

How much is this? – Koliko je to?

I want to buy this – Żelim platiti

Keep the change – Zadrżite

Read next: What to see at Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

Croatian Numbers

Numbers are used everywhere, from ordering at a restaurant to prices in a shop or when buying tickets into a museum or onto a bus.

Number	Bosnian
1	jedan
2	dva
3	tri
4	četiri
5	pet
6	šest
7	sedam
8	osam
9	devet
10	deset
20	dvadeset
30	trideset
40	četrdeset
50	pedeset
60	šezdeset
70	sedamdeset
80	osamdeset
90	devetdeset
100	sto
1000	tisuća

FAQ – Croatian phrases

What are some basic Croatian phrases?

Here are some basic Croatian phrases to get you started:

• Hello: Bok
• Goodbye: Doviđenja
• Please: Molim
• Thank you: Hvala
• Yes: Da
• No: Ne
• Excuse me/Sorry: Oprostite
• I don’t understand: Ne razumijem
• How much is this?: Koliko ovo košta?
• Where is the bathroom?: Gdje je WC?

What is a famous Croatian saying?

A popular Croatian saying, “Pametnije je popustiti,” means “It’s smarter to back off sometimes.” It’s like saying it’s better to avoid a fight and keep things cool rather than push and start trouble. It’s all about picking what’s worth fighting for.

How do you say no in Croatia?

In Croatia, you say “no” by saying “ne.”

How do you cheers in Croatia?

In Croatia, you say “Živjeli” when you cheers.

More posts about Croatia you might like

• Croatia itinerary: 24 amazing things to do in Croatia
• Croatia travel guide: The Ultimate Croatia Travel Guide for First-Timers
• Car Rental: The Ultimate Guide to Renting a Car in Croatia
• Facts: 20 Fun Facts About Croatia that You Didn’t Know
• Rovinj: 12 amazing things to do in Rovinj
• Dubrovnik: 10 awesome things to do in Dubrovnik
• Game of Thrones: Croatia’s Game of Thrones locations: Dubrovnik
• Plitvice from Split: 3 best Plitvice Lakes tours from Split you can’t miss
• Plitvice from Zagreb: 7 best Plitvice Lakes tours from Zagreb