Croatian introductions
Introducing yourself is a crucial part of connecting with people, and it’s one of the first phrases you’ll need to know when you meet someone new. In this lesson, we’ll focus on introducing yourself and asking someone for their name—phrases that will help you start conversations right away, whether traveling or talking to locals. It’s also a great way to practice the vocabulary and grammar you’ve learned while making the most of real-world interactions.
In Croatian, there are two ways to ask someone for their name, depending on the situation: a more informal version for friends and peers and a formal version for strangers or people you want to show respect to.
- Informal: Kako se zoveš? → What’s your name?
- Formal: Kako se zovete? → What’s your name?
Quick Tip
If you’re unsure when to use each form, check back on our greetings lesson for more tips.
Informal and formal introductions
Let’s look at an example of both informal and formal introductions:
Informal Introduction:
A: Bok, ja sam Ivana, kako se ti zoveš? → Hi, I’m Ivana, what’s your name?
B: Ja se zovem Anna, drago mi je. A ti? → My name is Anna, nice to meet you. And you?
Formal Introduction:
A: Dobar dan, gospodine. Kako se zovete? → Good day, Sir. What’s your name?
B: Dobar dan! Zovem se Bojan Bojić, a Vi? → Good day! My name is Bojan Bojić, and yours?
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A breakdown of the key phrases
Kako se zoveš? → What’s your name? (informal)
Kako se zovete? → What’s your name? (formal)
zvati se → to be called
Tko si ti? → Who are you?
Zovem se… → My name is… (literally: I’m called…)
Moje ime je… → My name is…
Ja sam… → I am…
ime → name
nadimak → nickname
prezime → surname
A ti? → And you? (informal)
A Vi? → And you? (formal)
Drago mi je. → I’m pleased to meet you.
I meni. → Me too. (I’m pleased to meet you, too.)
Introducing yourself (examples)
Formal:
A: Dobar dan, gospođo. Kako se zovete? → Good day, Madam. What’s your name?
B: Dobar dan! Zovem se Aleksandra Mijić, a Vi? → Good day! My name’s Aleksandra Mijić, and yours?
A: Ja sam Darko Marić. → I am Darko Marić.
B: Drago mi je. → Nice to meet you.
A: I meni. → You, too.
When you know how to introduce yourself and ask someone’s name in Croatian, you’re one step closer to building connections and having friendly conversations. These simple exchanges will help you feel more confident when meeting new people in Croatian!
Language guide
Explore grammar and learning tips in our Croatian language guide.
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Love & Relationships
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Grammar Essentials
Want to give a command or make a polite request? This guide teaches how to use and soften the imperative in Croatian.
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Grammar Essentials
Every noun in Croatian has a gender – learn to recognize masculine, feminine, and neuter forms with helpful patterns.
