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.
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
- 10 Croatian clichés to drop into conversation with a Croat
- 10 ways to use “Može”
- All the ways to say “Hi” and “Bye“ in Croatian
- Holiday words and phrases
- How to ask how someone is doing
- How to use “Veze” and express connection in Croatian
- Immigration words and phrases
- Sledding and winter vocabulary
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.