Saying Hello in Croatian
When visiting a new country, one of the simplest ways to connect with the locals is by greeting them in their language. In Croatia, as in many places worldwide, greetings are more than just a formality—they are an important part of building rapport and showing respect for the culture and people. By taking the time to learn even a few basic phrases, you open doors to friendlier interactions and can make your experience more enjoyable. Whether you’re meeting new people, entering shops, or simply passing by someone on the street, these phrases will help you feel more connected to the language and the culture.
While Croatian may be (a little) different from your native language, don’t worry—learning the most common greetings is a great place to start, and with a bit of practice, you’ll feel more confident in your conversations.
How to greet someone
In Croatian, the way you greet someone depends on the level of formality. You’ll use a formal greeting when addressing an older person, someone you don’t know well, or someone you want to show respect to. For everyone else—friends, family, young people or people you’re familiar with—you can use an informal greeting.
Informal greetings
Use these when speaking to:
- prijatelj → friend (male)
- prijateljica → friend (female)
- mama → mum
- tata → dad
- sestra → sister
- brat → brother
Common informal greetings include:
Bok! → Hello!
Vidimo se! → I’ll see you around.
Čujemo se! → We’ll talk soon.
Uživaj! → Enjoy yourself!
Želim ti lijep dan! → I wish you a nice day!
Formal greetings
Use these when speaking to:
- Susjed → neighbour (male)
- Susjeda → neighbour (female)
- Profesor → teacher (male)
- Profesorica → teacher (female)
- Gospođa → Mrs
- Gospodin → Mr
Common formal greetings include:
Dobro jutro! → Good morning!
Dobar dan! → Good day!
Dobra večer! → Good evening!
Laku noć! → Good night!
Doviđenja. → Goodbye.
Želim Vam ugodan dan! → I wish you a pleasant day! (formal)
Želim Vam lijep dan! → I wish you a nice day! (formal)
Times of the day:
Free 6-week email course
Just starting with Croatian? Get one easy lesson per week plus a short exercise to help things stick. Course launches in May – sign up now to be among the first to receive it!
Croatian small talk – don’t get confused!
You might hear someone ask “Gdje si ti?” (“Where are you?”), even when they can clearly see the person. Or they might say “Jesi živ(a)?” (“Are you alive?”), even though the person is obviously perfectly fine. Don’t worry—this isn’t a matter of life or death! These expressions are just another way of asking “Što ima?” (What’s up?). It’s all part of the fun, casual nature of Croatian small talk!
Pa gdje si ti? → Where’ve you been?
Evo me! → Here I am!
Što ima? → What’s up?
Ništa. Sve po starom! → Nothing. Everything’s as usual!
Once you learn the key Croatian greetings, you’re ready to start making meaningful connections and engaging in basic conversations. With these expressions under your belt, you’ll feel more confident greeting others and getting to know them in Croatian!