The news in Croatian
Hrvatski pisac Pavao Pavličić napisao je novu knjigu koja se zove Najljepše hrvatske uvrede1. Knjiga govori o sedamdeset hrvatskih uvreda i njihovom podrijetlu2. Pavličić piše s humorom o hrvatskom jeziku. Knjiga objašnjava zanimljive hrvatske riječi, kao što su ološ3 i janpik4. Strani govornici ponekad se iznenade6 hrvatskim psovkama5.
- uvreda (f.)
Riječ ili čin kojim se nekome nanosi sramota ili vrijeđa njegovo dostojanstvo. ↩︎ - podrijetlo (n.)
Izvor ili početak nečega; odakle nešto potječe. ↩︎ - ološ (m.)
Pogrdna riječ za osobu ili skupinu ljudi lošeg morala ili niskog društvenog statusa. ↩︎ - janpik (m.)
Pogrdna hrvatska riječ za osobu koja se ponaša glupo ili je nepristojna. ↩︎ - psovka (f.)
Gruba ili uvredljiva riječ koja se koristi za izražavanje ljutnje ili prezira. ↩︎ - iznenaditi
Doživjeti nešto neočekivano; biti zatečen nečim što se nije predvidjelo. ↩︎
Translation
Text comprehension
Question 1: How many Croatian insults does the book cover?
Question 2: What is the title of Pavao Pavličić’s new book?
Vocabulary
| Croatian | English |
|---|---|
| uvreda (f.) | |
| podrijetlo (n.) | |
| ološ (m.) | |
| janpik (m.) | |
| psovka (f.) | |
| iznenaditi | |
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Read the full story
Croatian writer Pavao Pavličić has published a new book titled Najljepše hrvatske uvrede (The Most Beautiful Croatian Insults), released by the artistic organisation Lađa od vode. The book examines seventy Croatian insults, exploring the playful and fluid nature of the Croatian language with humour and storytelling.
The book investigates the origins and lives of various Croatian words used as insults or terms of abuse. Readers curious about the origin of the word ološ (riffraff), the verb pimplati, or why an Osijek local might call someone a janpik, will find answers within its pages. The book also explores the connection between the word prčvarnica and prč, which in Dalmatia means a male goat.
In the book’s introduction, Pavličić reflects on how Croatian swearing can shock foreign speakers.
Advanced: Reports from Croatia
- How Did Some of Croatia’s Juiciest Insults Come About? Pavao Pavličić Reveals All in New Book (tportal kultura)
- Pavao Pavličić: We Swear by Mothers Out of Affection Too, But When You Translate It, People Are Horrified (Večernji kultura)
- Book Najljepše hrvatske uvrede by Pavao Pavličić Published (HRT Magazin)
- How to Insult With Linguistic Cover: Pavao Pavličić’s New Book Has the Answer (Glas Istre kultura)
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