Croatian exclamations for when you need to shout
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.
Croatian exclamations
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
Cin-cin!
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 in different occasions
Čovječe!
Meaning: man
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
(H)alo! Ej! Hej! 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!
Meaning: excellent, exquisite, splendid
Explanation: to express approval or admiration
Jao! Joj! Au!
Meaning: ouch
Explanation: to express unhappiness, sadness, trouble, regret
Jebi ga! Jebo te!
Meaning: fuck it, fuck you
Kako da ne!
Meaning: of course, not
Explanation: to emphatically affirm something is not true
Ludilo!
Meaning: awesome
Explanation: to express that something is great
Konačno!
Meaning: finally
Explanation: to say that something finally happened
K vragu!
Meaning: damn it
Explanation: used as a buzzword in different occasions
Ma daj!
Meaning: Oh, come on
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, to say there’s no way that something can happen
Njami!
Meaning: yummy
Explanation: to express that something (or someone) is delicious
O, Bože!
Meaning: oh, god
Opa!
Meaning: wow
Explanation: to express wondering
Pobogu!
Meaning: for heaven’s sake
Explanation: to express that you’re shocked
Stoj! Stop!
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!
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
