Online courses for learning the Croatian language (both free and paid): Guide for 2023
We are all different, and we learn differently. Learning the Croatian language is both hard and challenging due to its complexities, even for a native speaker.
For some of us, learning a foreign language is much easier and more comfortable through online resources rather than attending regular in-person classes.
Maybe you prefer to learn from the comfort of your home, you don’t have time to attend classes, or you live too far away to attend school. Whatever the reason is, many Croatian free and paid online courses can help you learn the language online.
If you prefer to learn Croatian in a language school, view the biggest Croatian language schools in Croatia in this guide.
In this post, we cover:
The facts are these…
Online courses for learning the Croatian language
Free online Croatian language courses
Never use lack of money as a reason not to learn Croatian. Several really good free Croatian language courses can help get you to a conversational level. It all depends on how much effort you put into learning.
#1 Croaticum
Croaticum offers free online courses for A1 and A2 Croatian language levels in cooperation with Središnji državni ured za Hrvate izvan Hrvatske (Central State Office for Croats Outside Croatia) and Filozofski fakultet (Faculty of Humanity and Social Sciences) in Zagreb.
[Read: Croatian Central State Office for Croats Abroad]
It is possible to start the free individual courses anytime. You may choose between taking a course with English or Spanish instructions. Courses consist of 80 units of 45 minutes each.
Get started with the A1 online course here.
Get started with the A2 online course here.
#2 HR4EU
HR4EU is a free online e-learning site for learning the Croatian language developed by the Filozofski fakultet (Faculty of Humanity and Social Sciences) in Zagreb.
In addition to language lessons, the site provides information about Croatian culture, history, gastronomy, and practical information for people who are coming to work or study in Croatia. The language lessons include Croatian quizzes, exercises, a dictionary, and video tutorials. Learning is individual, and you can start anytime.
[Read: How to apply for a work permit in Croatia]
The following Croatian language course levels are available:
- Beginner course
- Intermediate course
- Advanced course
- Croatian for business users
- Croatian for students
Get started here.
#3 Easy Croatian
Easy Croatian is a non-profit education site that includes free online lessons for the Croatian language, organized by topics. In addition, you can use their content in any way as long as you reference them as a source.
The site includes more than 100 sections with detailed theoretical and practical instructions for a better understanding of the language.
Get started here.
Paid online Croatian language courses
If you want to take your online Croatian learning up a notch, several intensive paid programs function both in group and individual settings.
#1 UNIZG HiT-1
Sveučilište u Zagrebu (University of Zagreb) offers an e-learning course for beginners with no previous or basic knowledge of the Croatian language. It is organized in cooperation with the Hrvatska matica iseljenika (Croatian Heritage Foundation) and Sveučilišni računski centar (SRCE) (University Computing Center).
This is a group course that functions similarly to a student class in a regular classroom. The instructions are held via Skype/webinar.
24 teaching hours are formed into 7 units spread over 4 weeks. Units end with short online tests scheduled with the professor. Explanations of units are available in Croatian, English, and Spanish. The final exam consists of written and oral parts.
The course is available to begin 2 times per year:
- Spring course runs from March to May
- Autumn course runs from September to November
More information about the course, including prices, is available here.
Get started by requesting an application form by sending an email to ecroatian@gmail.com.
#2 Croatian Language Academy
Croatian Language Academy (CLA) offers online intensive language group courses for learning Croatian in a short period. The course includes 70 lessons that are divided into 5 weeks of learning. Classes are organized into small groups of up to 9 people guided by certified professors.
Available levels of the Croatian language range from A1 to B2. Classes are held 4 times a week.
To enroll in the course, contact CLA by visiting their office at Trg Francuske Republike 14, 10 000 Zagreb (view map), calling +385 (0)99 542 02 44, or filling out this web form.
More information about the course and prices are available here.
#3 Let’s Learn Croatian
Let’s Learn Croatian offers a combination of online individual and group lessons, given by native speakers. Classes are held via Skype and Zoom.
Individual lessons improve your language skills. They are flexible and can be scheduled according to your free time.
Group lessons engage you in conversation with up to 8 other students from around the globe. They have several options for start times and topics.
Each lesson lasts 45 minutes. It is recommended to take 1 individual and 1 group lesson per week to achieve the best results.
More information about the course and prices is available here.
Get started by contacting them via this contact form or by sending an email to contact@letslearncroatian.co.uk.
#4 Croatian Language School
Croatian Language School (CLS) offers an online Skype program to learn the Croatian language. Skype group lessons include up to 4 people. CLS is headquartered in London, but also offers live language lessons in Lošinj and Zagreb.
CLS offers 3 types of classes:
- Beginner (A1) and Elementary (A2)
- Intermediate (B1 and B2)
- Advanced (C1 and C2)
Each lesson lasts 50 minutes. Sessions are arranged in agreement with the teacher. You can take a free trial lesson to see if you like this course.
More information is available here.
Get started by signing up via this contact form or emailing info@easycroatian.com.
We have many resources for learning Croatian, including our word and phrase of the week. We post it every Monday on our home page and send a voice and written lesson in our newsletter. If you want to receive it, sign up for our newsletter here.
View our other Croatian language posts
- 3 Croatian dialects: Što, Kaj, and Ča
- 5 (kinda harsh) reasons why you should learn Croatian
- 5 more (happy) reasons to learn Croatian
- Biggest Croatian language schools in Croatia
- Croatian phrases and words you might encounter when immigrating to Croatia
- English idioms that are a little different in Croatian
- How to learn Croatian by changing how you speak English
- Weekly Croatian lessons
Sources:
Croaticum
Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Easy Croatian
Sveučilište u Zagrebu
Croatian Language Academy
Let’s Learn Croatian
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.
