Holidays, birthdays, gifts and the words for wishing people well. In Croatian this topic is called Blagdani i slavlja. Below are 16 words and phrases with pronunciation, English and Arabic meanings, and a real example sentence for each. Tap ▶ to hear them.
Holidays and celebrations are where Croatian traditions shine. These words help you wish people well and join in.
blagdan
Pronunciation: BLAHG-dahn
public holiday / feast day
noun
عيد / عطلة رسمية
Sutra je blagdan, trgovine ne rade. Tomorrow is a holiday, the shops are closed. غدًا عيد، والمتاجر مغلقة.
Božić
Pronunciation: BOH-zheech
Christmas
noun
عيد الميلاد المجيد
Božić slavimo s obitelji. We celebrate Christmas with the family. نحتفل بعيد الميلاد مع العائلة.
Uskrs
Pronunciation: OOS-krs
Easter
noun
عيد الفصح
Za Uskrs bojimo jaja. For Easter we paint eggs. في عيد الفصح نلوّن البيض.
Nova godina
Pronunciation: NOH-vah GOH-dee-nah
New Year
phrase
رأس السنة
Sretna Nova godina! Happy New Year! سنة جديدة سعيدة!
rođendan
Pronunciation: ROH-jehn-dahn
birthday
noun
عيد ميلاد
Kada ti je rođendan? When is your birthday? متى عيد ميلادك؟
čestitam
Pronunciation: CHEHS-tee-tahm
congratulations
phrase
مبروك / أهنئك
Čestitam ti rođendan! Happy birthday to you! أهنئك بعيد ميلادك!
poklon
Pronunciation: POH-klohn
gift
noun
هدية
Hvala ti na poklonu. Thank you for the gift. شكرًا لك على الهدية.
proslava
Pronunciation: PROH-slah-vah
celebration / party
noun
احتفال
Proslava počinje u sedam. The celebration starts at seven. يبدأ الاحتفال في السابعة.
slaviti
Pronunciation: SLAH-vee-tee
to celebrate
verb
يحتفل
Volimo slaviti s prijateljima. We like to celebrate with friends. نحب الاحتفال مع الأصدقاء.
kolač
Pronunciation: KOH-lahch
cake / pastry
noun
كعكة
Baka peče kolač za blagdan. Grandma bakes a cake for the holiday. الجدة تخبز كعكة للعيد.
tradicija
Pronunciation: trah-DEE-tsee-yah
tradition
noun
تقليد
To je stara obiteljska tradicija. That is an old family tradition. هذا تقليد عائلي قديم.
pjesma
Pronunciation: PYEHS-mah
song
noun
أغنية
Ova pjesma se pjeva za Božić. This song is sung at Christmas. تُغنّى هذه الأغنية في عيد الميلاد.
ples
Pronunciation: plehs
dance
noun
رقص
Kolo je tradicionalni ples. The kolo is a traditional dance. الكولو رقصة تقليدية.
čestitka
Pronunciation: CHEHS-teet-kah
greeting card
noun
بطاقة تهنئة
Poslala mi je čestitku poštom. She sent me a card by post. أرسلت لي بطاقة تهنئة بالبريد.
sretno
Pronunciation: SREHT-noh
good luck / happily
phrase
حظًا سعيدًا
Sretno na ispitu! Good luck in the exam! حظًا سعيدًا في الامتحان!
živjeli
Pronunciation: ZHEEV-yeh-lee
cheers
phrase
في صحتكم
Živjeli! Za tvoj rođendan! Cheers! To your birthday! في صحتكم! نخب عيد ميلادك!
How to use these words
The wishes agree with the holiday: Sretan Božić and Sretan Uskrs, but Sretna Nova godina, because godina is feminine.
Čestitam! (congratulations) works for birthdays, exams, weddings and new jobs.
Many Croatians also celebrate their name day (imendan), the saint’s day that matches their name.
A little culture
Christmas Eve, Badnjak, is often a meatless dinner, with dried cod (bakalar) a favourite on the coast. Advent in Zagreb is one of Europe’s best-loved Christmas markets, and the Rijeka Carnival is one of the biggest in Europe.
Common mistakes
Saying “Sretan Nova godina”. Godina is feminine, so it is Sretna Nova godina.
Confusing Božić (Christmas Day) and Badnjak (Christmas Eve).
Quick quiz: croatian celebrations
Christmas Eve is…
“Happy New Year!” is…
Which Zagreb event is a famous Christmas market?
Practise these 16 phrases
Reading a list is a start. To remember these words you need to use them: Malingo turns this topic into 4 short lessons with listening, speaking, matching and translation exercises, and reminds you to review words before you forget them.
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