Croatian exclamations for when you need to shout

croatian
Image by Digital Spy

There are moments when words just need to spring from our lips in a manner beyond our control to express excitement, frustration, surprise, or happiness. Since exclamations tend to be a reflex, our mind usually tells our mouth to express our feelings in the language we are most comfortable in.

If you’re not fluent in Croatian, you are probably still exclaiming in your native language. That is perfectly alright and understandable.

For the day when you are ready to exclaim in Croatian, we’ve put together a list of the most important Croatian exclamations you should know.

Let’s start…

Croatian exclamations for when you need to shout

Ajde! Hajde!

Meaning: come on
Explanation: to encourage someone to move or go faster

Ajme!

Meaning: wow, oh
Explanation: to express surprise, pain, outrage, reproach

Amen! Aleluja!

Meaning: amen, hallelujah
Explanation: to express ‘Thank God’, something finally happened

Bravo!

Meaning: bravo
Explanation: to praise someone who did a good job

Bok! Pozdrav! Zbogom! Adijo!

Meaning: hi
Explanation: a way to greet others

Čin-Čin!

Meaning: ding-dong
Explanation: to imitate the sound of the bell

Cmok!

Meaning: kiss
Explanation: to imitate the sound of a kiss

Čekaj!

Meaning: wait
Explanation: used as a buzzword on different occasions

Čovječe!

Meaning: man
Explanation: to express astonishment or admiration

Dobro došao! Dobro došla! Dobro došli!

Meaning: welcome
Explanation: to welcome someone (from left to right: singular masculine, singular feminine, plural masculine)

Fuj!

Meaning: eww
Explanation: to express disgust or that something is dirty

Halo! Alo! Hej! Ej! Oj!

Meaning: Hello, hi
Explanation: to express astonishment, to call someone, to say “hi”

Hura! Jupi!

Meaning: hooray, yay
Explanation: to express delight, greeting, celebration

Iš!

Meaning: go away, shoo
Explanation: to repel, drive away someone/something

Izvrsno! Odlično! Sjajno! Divno! Krasno!

Meaning: excellent, exquisite, splendid, wonderful
Explanation: to express approval or admiration

Jao! Joj! Au!

Meaning: ouch
Explanation: to express unhappiness, sadness, trouble, regret

Jebi ga! Jebo te! Jebem mu!

Meaning: fuck it, fuck you, fuck him

Kako da ne!

Meaning: of course not
Explanation: to emphatically affirm something is not true

Ludilo! Ludo!

Meaning: awesome, crazy
Explanation: to express that something is great

Konačno!

Meaning: finally
Explanation: to say that something finally happened

K vragu! Dovraga!

Meaning: damn it, damn
Explanation: used as a buzzword on different occasions

Ma daj! Ma nemoj!

Meaning: oh, come on; oh, don’t
Explanation: to express astonishment or disbelief

Molim te!

Meaning: please
Explanation: to ask someone to do something

Naravno!

Meaning: of course
Explanation: to confirm something

Nema problema!

Meaning: no problem
Explanation: to say that something isn’t a problem or doesn’t matter

Nema šanse!

Meaning: no way
Explanation: to express wondering or say there’s no way that something can happen

Njami! Njam! Mmm!

Meaning: yummy
Explanation: to express that something (or someone) is delicious

O, Bože!

Meaning: oh, God

Opa! Op!

Meaning: wow
Explanation: to express wondering

Pobogu!

Meaning: for heaven’s sake
Explanation: to express that you’re shocked

Stoj! Stop! Stani!

Meaning: stop, freeze
Explanation: to stop someone

U pičku materinu!

Meaning: motherfucker (literally ‘in mother’s pussy’)

Upomoć!

Meaning: help
Explanation: to ask/call for help

U redu! Dobro!

Meaning: okay, alright
Explanation: to agree with something, to express something is okay

Uživaj!

Meaning: enjoy

Zamisli!

Meaning: big deal, who cares
Explanation: to say that something doesn’t matter that much

Živjeli!

Meaning: cheers
Explanation: used when giving a toast

View our other vocabulary posts

Please note: Information provided by Expat in Croatia is only for the purposes of guidance. It does not constitute legal or financial advice in any form. Croatian laws and bureaucratic rules often change, and each personal case is individual, so different rules may apply. For legal advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian lawyer. For financial advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian tax advisor or accountant.

Sharing is Caring:

We only send one email a week on Tuesdays. And no spam, we don't like that either!

Subscribe to the Expat in Croatia Newsletter and get our FREE Croatia Starter Kit.
I'm already subscribed.