Croatian Greetings

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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

Formal greetings

Use these when speaking to:

• Susjed → neighbour (male)
• Susjeda → neighbour (female)
• Profesor → teacher (male)
• Profesorica → teacher (female)
• Gospođa → Mrs
• Gospodin → Mr

Times of the day:

• Jutro → morning
• Dan → day
• Večer → evening
• Noć → night

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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!