How to tell time (in Zagreb, Split, Istria, and Dubrovnik)
The Croatian language can sometimes be confusing because it consists of three separated dialects, which are then broken down into endless sub-dialects. When expressing time, different expressions are used in different parts of the country.
Terms used on the Adriatic coast vary from those used in the north. In fact, asking someone the time can quickly out which part of the country they hail from.
Croatians often misunderstand each other, so these differences in speech can be even more confusing for those not from Croatia. We have prepared some examples of how to tell time in the different parts of the country so you can become familiar with the expressions used where you’re living or plan to visit.
How to tell time in different Croatian cities
| Example: 10:50, in the morning | |
| Dubrovnik | Jedanaest manje deset |
| Istria | Deset i pedeset |
| Split | Jedanaest manje deset Jedanaest uri manje deset |
| Zagreb | Deset sati i pedeset minuta Deset i pedeset Deset do jedanaest |
| Example: 11:30, in the morning | |
| Dubrovnik | Jedanaest i po’ |
| Istria | Jedanaest i pol |
| Split | Jedanaest i po’ Jedanaest i po’ uri |
| Zagreb | Jedanaest sati i trideset minuta Jedanaest i trideset Pola dvanaest |
| Example: 11:45, in the morning | |
| Dubrovnik | Podne manje kvarat |
| Istria | Jedanaest i četrdeset pet Podne manje kvarat |
| Split | Podne manje kvarat Podne manje petnaest |
| Zagreb | Jedanaest sati i četrdeset pet minuta Jedanaest i četrdeset pet Trifrtalj(a) dvanaest |
| Example: 12:15, in the afternoon | |
| Dubrovnik | Podne i kvarat |
| Istria | Podne i kvarat Dvanaest i kvarat |
| Split | Podne i kvarat Dvanaest i kvarat |
| Zagreb | Dvanaest sati i petnaest minuta Dvanaest i petnaest Dvanaest i četvrt Frtalj jedan |
| Example: 15:00, in the afternoon | |
| Dubrovnik | Tri ure |
| Istria | Tri ure |
| Split | Tri uri |
| Zagreb | Tri sata Tri |
| Example: 21:20, in the evening | |
| Dubrovnik | Devet ura i dvadeset |
| Istria | Devet i dvadeset |
| Split | Devet uri i dvadeset minuta Devet i dvadeset |
| Zagreb | Devet sati i dvadeset minuta Devet i dvadeset Dvadeset jedan sat i dvadeset minuta |
| Example: Midnight | |
| Dubrovnik | Ponoć |
| Istria | Ponoć Polnoć |
| Split | Ponoć |
| Zagreb | Ponoć |
For more related to learning the Croatian language, click here.
