The language of Croatia is Croatian called Hrvatski. Although many people also speak English, learning some common words shows respect when visiting Croatia.

Good day:    Dobar dan 

Good morning:    Dobro jutro

Good evening:    Dobro Veèer 

 Hi / Bye:    Bok   

Please:   Molim

Thank you:   Hvala

Yes:   Da

No:   Ne

Some fun idioms that don’t translate into English!

Kao da je pao s Marsa

One of the most humorous expressions in Croatian is “Kao da je pao s Marsa,” which translates to “As if he fell from Mars.” This phrase is used to describe someone who seems completely out of touch with reality or is acting very strangely. Imagine someone who is entirely unaware of a situation that everyone else finds obvious—this person could be said to have “fallen from Mars.”

**Example:**
– Croatian: “Gleda me kao da je pao s Marsa.”
– English: “He looks at me as if he fell from Mars.”

Mačji kašalj

The expression “Mačji kašalj” translates to “Cat’s cough” and is used to describe something that is very easy to do. It’s similar to the English expression “a piece of cake.” If someone tells you that a task is “mačji kašalj,” you can rest assured that it’s not going to be difficult.

**Example:**
– Croatian: “Za njega je taj ispit bio mačji kašalj.”
– English: “For him, that exam was a piece of cake.”

Pala mu je sjekira u med

“Pala mu je sjekira u med” means “His axe fell into the honey.” This phrase is used to describe someone who has unexpectedly come into good fortune or luck. Imagine the joy of finding your axe, a vital tool, suddenly covered in sweet honey—such a fortuitous event!

**Example:**
– Croatian: “Dobio je posao iz snova, pala mu je sjekira u med.”
– English: “He got his dream job; his axe fell into the honey.”

Prodaješ maglu

If someone accuses you of “prodaješ maglu,” they are saying, “You are selling fog.” This idiom is used to describe someone who is making false promises or talking nonsense. It suggests that the person is trying to deceive others with empty words.
Example:
– Croatian: “Nemoj mi prodavati maglu, znam da to nije istina.”
– English: “Don’t sell me fog; I know that’s not true.”

Ko vruća žaba

The phrase “Ko vruća žaba” translates to “Like a hot frog” and is used to describe someone who is in an uncomfortable or awkward situation. The imagery of a frog being in a hot place and trying to escape captures the essence of discomfort very well.

**Example:**

– Croatian: “Osjećao sam se ko vruća žaba kad su me svi gledali.”

– English: “I felt like a hot frog when everyone was looking at me.” 

Retrieved from: https://talkpal.ai/vocabulary/funny-figurative-expressions-in-the-croatian-language/