Language/Croatian/Vocabulary/Greetings-and-Introductions

Croatian → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Basic Croatian Vocabulary → Greetings and Introductions

Greetings and introductions are essential in any language and culture. They are the first step in establishing a connection with someone and can set the tone for the rest of the conversation. In this lesson, we will learn how to greet people and introduce ourselves in Croatian. We will cover basic phrases and expressions that will help you navigate social interactions in Croatia. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently greet someone and introduce yourself in Croatian.

Greetings

Let's start with some common greetings in Croatian. These greetings can be used at different times of the day and in various settings. Remember to use the appropriate greeting based on the context.

Good Morning

In Croatian, we say "Dobro jutro" to greet someone in the morning. It is a polite and formal way of saying "good morning."

Examples:

Croatian	Pronunciation	English
Dobro jutro	DOH-broh YOO-troh	Good morning

Good Afternoon

To greet someone in the afternoon, we say "Dobar dan" in Croatian. It is a versatile greeting that can be used in both formal and informal settings.

Examples:

Croatian	Pronunciation	English
Dobar dan	DOH-bahr dahn	Good afternoon

Good Evening

When the sun sets and it's time to greet someone in the evening, we say "Dobra večer" in Croatian. It is a polite and formal way of saying "good evening."

Examples:

Croatian	Pronunciation	English
Dobra večer	DOH-brah VEH-cher	Good evening

Good Night

To bid someone farewell before going to bed, we say "Laku noć" in Croatian. It is the equivalent of saying "good night" in English.

Examples:

Croatian	Pronunciation	English
Laku noć	LAH-koo notch	Good night

Hello/Hi

In informal settings, you can use the casual greeting "Bok" to say hello or hi in Croatian. It is commonly used among friends and peers.

Examples:

Croatian	Pronunciation	English
Bok	BOK	Hello / Hi

How are you?

To ask someone how they are doing, we use the phrase "Kako si?" in Croatian. It is a common question used in both formal and informal settings.

Examples:

Croatian	Pronunciation	English
Kako si?	KAH-koh see?	How are you?

Introductions

Now that we have covered greetings, let's move on to introductions. When meeting someone for the first time or introducing yourself to a group, it's important to know how to properly introduce yourself in Croatian.

My name is...

To introduce yourself, you can say "Ja se zovem..." followed by your name in Croatian. This phrase is used to express your name.

Examples:

Croatian	Pronunciation	English
Ja se zovem Ana.	Yah seh ZOH-vem AH-nah	My name is Ana.

Nice to meet you

In Croatian, we say "Drago mi je" to express "nice to meet you" when meeting someone for the first time. It is a polite and friendly way to acknowledge the introduction.

Examples:

Croatian	Pronunciation	English
Drago mi je.	DRAH-goh mee yeh	Nice to meet you.

Where are you from?

To ask someone about their nationality or place of origin, we use the phrase "Odakle si?" in Croatian. It is a common question asked during introductions.

Examples:

Croatian	Pronunciation	English
Odakle si?	OH-dah-kleh see?	Where are you from?

I am from...

To state your nationality or place of origin, you can say "Ja sam iz..." followed by the name of your country or city in Croatian. This phrase is used to express your origin.

Examples:

Croatian	Pronunciation	English
Ja sam iz Hrvatske.	Yah sahm eez HRR-vahts-keh	I am from Croatia.

What do you do?

To ask someone about their profession or occupation, we use the phrase "Čime se baviš?" in Croatian. It is a common question asked during introductions.

Examples:

Croatian	Pronunciation	English
Čime se baviš?	CHEE-meh seh BAH-veesh?	What do you do?

I am a...

To state your profession or occupation, you can say "Ja sam..." followed by your profession or occupation in Croatian. This phrase is used to express your line of work.

Examples:

Croatian	Pronunciation	English
Ja sam učitelj.	Yah sahm OO-chee-teh-ly	I am a teacher.

Cultural Insights

In Croatian culture, greetings and introductions play an important role in social interactions. Croatians value politeness and respect, especially when meeting someone for the first time. It is customary to greet others with a smile and maintain eye contact during introductions. Handshakes are commonly used, especially in formal settings, while hugs and kisses on the cheek are reserved for close friends and family members.

Croatian society places importance on personal connections and building relationships. Taking the time to greet someone properly and engage in small talk is seen as a sign of respect and interest. It is common to ask about the well-being of the other person and engage in a brief conversation before moving on to the main topic.

Regional variations may exist in the usage and understanding of greetings and introductions. In some parts of Croatia, such as Dalmatia, people may greet each other with a more relaxed and informal approach, using phrases like "Bok" or "Ćao" instead of the formal greetings mentioned earlier. It is always a good idea to observe and adapt to the local customs when interacting with people from different regions.

Now, let's practice what we have learned!

Exercise

1. Translate the following phrases from English to Croatian:

• Good morning
• How are you?
• My name is Marko.
• Nice to meet you.
• Where are you from?
• I am a student.

2. Answer the following questions in Croatian:

• Kako si?
• Odakle si?
• Čime se baviš?
• Gdje živiš?
• Kako se zoveš?

Solutions

1. Translations:

• Good morning - Dobro jutro
• How are you? - Kako si?
• My name is Marko. - Ja se zovem Marko.
• Nice to meet you. - Drago mi je.
• Where are you from? - Odakle si?
• I am a student. - Ja sam student.

2. Answers:

• Kako si? - Dobro sam, hvala. A ti?
• Odakle si? - Iz Zagreba sam.
• Čime se baviš? - Studiram medicinu.
• Gdje živiš? - Živim u Splitu.
• Kako se zoveš? - Zovem se Ana.

Congratulations on completing this lesson! You have learned how to greet people and introduce yourself in Croatian. Practice these phrases and expressions in your daily interactions to improve your language skills. In the next lesson, we will explore numbers and counting in Croatian.

Table of Contents - Croatian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Nouns: Gender and Number
• Personal Pronouns

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Telling Time

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense of Regular Verbs
• Present Tense of Irregular Verbs

  ---

Daily Activities

• Common Activities
• Hobbies and Interests

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjectives: Gender and Number
• Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

  ---

Food and Drink

• Common Foods
• Eating Out

  ---

Croatian Culture and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Traditional Music and Dance

Sources

• Croatian Culture - Greetings — Cultural Atlas
• Learn to speak Croatian | Brainscape
• Croatian Learn Croatian In A Week Start Speaking (PDF ...

Other Lessons

• Languages
• Weather
• Countries
• Count to 10
• Fruits
• Count from 1 to 10
• Vegetables
• House
• Phrasal Verbs and Collocations
• Nature