Language/Croatian/Vocabulary/Greetings-and-Introductions

Croatian Vocabulary → Basic Croatian Vocabulary → Greetings and Introductions

Learning how to greet others and introduce yourself in Croatian is essential when traveling or living in Croatia. In this lesson, you will learn some basic Croatian phrases and expressions to use in everyday situations.

Useful Phrases

Below are some commonly used phrases for greetings and introductions:

Croatian	Pronunciation	English
Dobar dan	DOH-bahr dahn	Good day
Dobro jutro	DOH-broh YOO-troh	Good morning
Laku noć	LAH-koo nohch	Good night
Bok	bohk	Hi / Bye
Hvala	HVAH-lah	Thank you
Molim	MOH-leem	Please / You're welcome
Kako se zoveš?	KAH-koh seh zoh-VEHSH	What's your name?
Zovem se...	ZOH-vehm seh	My name is...
Drago mi je	DRAH-goh mee yeh	Nice to meet you

When introducing yourself, it's customary to shake hands and state your name. You can use the phrase "Drago mi je" after stating your name to express pleasure in meeting the person.

Basic Expressions

Here are some basic expressions that you can use on a daily basis:

• Dobro jutro! - Good morning!
• Dobar dan! - Good afternoon!
• Laku noć! - Good night!
• Bok! - Hi / Bye!
• Bok, kako si? - Hi, how are you?
• Hvala! - Thank you!
• Hvala lijepa! - Thank you very much!
• Molim! - Please! / You're welcome!
• Izvoli(te)! - Here you go! / You're welcome!
• Oprosti(te), nisam razumio(a). - Sorry, I didn't understand.
• Kako se zoveš? - What's your name?
• Zovem se... - My name is...
• Koliko imaš godina? - How old are you?
• Imam... godina. - I am... years old.
• Gdje si? - Where are you?
• Ja sam iz... - I am from...

Cultural Tips

In Croatian culture, it is customary to greet people with a handshake, but hugs and kisses on the cheek are also common among friends and family. When addressing someone, it's impolite to use their first name unless they give you permission. Instead, use their title (e.g. gospodin for Mr., gospođa for Mrs., and gospođica for Miss) followed by their last name. It's also appropriate to offer a small gift, such as flowers or chocolate, when visiting someone's home.

When meeting someone for the first time, it's important to introduce yourself and shake hands. Using "molim" and "hvala" are seen as polite and respectful, even if you don't speak Croatian fluently. When saying goodbye, it's customary to say "doviđenja" (goodbye) or "ćao" (bye).

Practice Exercise

Practice your Croatian greetings and introductions by greeting your friends or family members in Croatian. Use the phrases and expressions you learned in this lesson to introduce yourself and ask how they're doing.

Sources

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

Table of Contents - Croatian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

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Nouns and Pronouns

• Nouns: Gender and Number
• Personal Pronouns

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Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Telling Time

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Verbs and Tenses

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

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Daily Activities

• Common Activities
• Hobbies and Interests

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Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjectives: Gender and Number
• Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

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Food and Drink

• Common Foods
• Eating Out

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Croatian Culture and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Traditional Music and Dance

Related Lessons

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