Croatian places with the suffix “-ica”

Have you ever noticed there are many words in Croatian that end with the suffix -ica? We certainly did.
The suffix -ica is often used throughout the Croatian language. It is pronounced like “eat-sa“. It can be used to imply that something is diminutive or small. Prijateljica (a female friend) is an example.
However, there is also a seemingly endless list of places (especially shops) that end with -ica as well. In these cases, -ica does not imply a diminutive.
We were so fascinated by this common thread that we made an entire list of the shops, buildings, and locations that end with -ica. If we missed any, be sure to let us know! If you had not noticed this commonality yet, you’ll certainly see it now.
The facts are these…
Croatian places that end with -ica
Place: alatnica
Meaning: toolbox
Place: autobusna stanica
Meaning: bus station
Place: autopraonica
Meaning: car wash
[Read: Guide on driving in Croatia including highways, tolls, gas stations, car washes, and parking]
Place: bolnica
Meaning: hospital
Place: brijačnica
Meaning: barbershop
Place: cvjećarnica
Meaning: flower shop
Place: čitaonica
Meaning: reading room
Place: gostionica
Meaning: pub, tavern
Place: hladionica
Meaning: cold store
Place: igraonica
Meaning: indoor playground
Place: kemijska čistionica
Meaning: dry cleaner
Place: kladionica
Meaning: betting shop
Place: klaonica
Meaning: slaughterhouse
Place: knjižnica
Meaning: library
Place: kockarnica
Meaning: casino
Place: konjušnica, konjušarnica
Meaning: stable
Place: kopirnica
Meaning: copy shop
Place: kotlovnica
Meaning: boiler room
Place: kovačnica
Meaning: forge, blacksmith
Place: kupaonica
Meaning: bathroom
Place: lakirnica
Meaning: paint room
Place: lugarnica
Meaning: forester’s cottage
Place: ljevaonica
Meaning: foundry
Place: mesnica
Meaning: butcher shop

Place: mjenjačnica
Meaning: currency exchange office
Place: mrtvačnica
Meaning: morgue
[Read: How to die in Croatia: Part 2 (What you should do before you die in Croatia)]
Place: papirnica
Meaning: paper shop
Place: pečenjarnica
Meaning: rotisserie
Place: pekarnica
Meaning: bakery
Place: pivnica
Meaning: pub, beerhouse
Place: praonica
Meaning: laundry
Place: pisarnica
Meaning: writing office
Place: poslovnica
Meaning: bureau, business office
Place: predavaonica
Meaning: lecture hall
Place: printaonica
Meaning: printing house
Place: prodavaonica
Meaning: store, shop
Place: promatračnica
Meaning: observatory
Place: pušionica
Meaning: smoking room
Place: radionica
Meaning: workshop, studio
Place: rađaonica
Meaning: birthing room
Place: ribarnica
Meaning: fish market
[Read: A guide to buying Adriatic fish at the market]
Place: rođendaonica
Meaning: birthday house

Place: (s)palionica
Meaning: incinerator
Place: sladoledarnica
Meaning: ice cream shop
Place: slastičarnica
Meaning: pastry shop
Place: slušaonica
Meaning: listening room
Place: smočnica
Meaning: pantry
Place: spavaonica
Meaning: bedroom
Place: stanica
Meaning: station (like a bus station, for example)
Place: sušionica
Meaning: drying room
Place: suvenirnica
Meaning: souvenir shop
Place: svlačionica
Meaning: dressing room, changing room
Place: šivaonica, krojačnica
Meaning: tailor shop
Place: štedionica
Meaning: savings (bank)
Place: talionica
Meaning: smelter
Place: tiskarnica
Meaning: print shop and office supplies
Place: točionica
Meaning: taproom
Place: tržnica
Meaning: market
[Read: A local’s guide to buying food at Croatia’s farmer’s market]
Place: učionica
Meaning: classroom
Place: varionica
Meaning: brewhouse
Place: veterinarska stanica
Meaning: veterinary station
Place: vikendica
Meaning: holiday house
Phrase: vježbaonica
Meaning: exercise room
Place: voćarnica
Meaning: fruit shop
Place: zalagaonica
Meaning: pawnshop
Place: zalogajnica
Meaning: diner, snack bar
Place: zlatarnica
Meaning: jewelry store
Place: željeznička stanica
Meaning: train station
[Read: Train travel in Croatia (including loads of discounts)]
View our other Croatian vocabulary posts
- 14 Croatian words that change around the country
- All the ways to say “Hi” and “Bye“ in Croatian
- Basic Croatian words and phrases to get through life in Croatia
- Croatian vocabulary you might need at a restaurant or cafe in Croatia
- Exclamations for when you need to shout
- Holiday words and phrases
- How to ask how someone is doing
- How to ask where the toilet is in Croatian (and how to find public toilets throughout Croatia)
- How to tell time (in Zagreb, Split, Istria, and Dubrovnik)
- 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.