Talk about Croatia’s past, its regions and its cultural life. In Croatian this topic is called Povijest i kultura. Below are 21 words and phrases with pronunciation, English and Arabic meanings, and a real example sentence for each. Tap ▶ to hear them.
Croatia’s long history, from Roman palaces to medieval towns and modern independence, is all around you as you travel. These words help you read museum signs and talk about culture.
povijest
Pronunciation: POH-vee-yehst
history
noun
تاريخ
Volim čitati o povijesti Dubrovnika. I like reading about the history of Dubrovnik. أحب القراءة عن تاريخ دوبروفنيك.
stoljeće
Pronunciation: STOH-lyeh-cheh
century
noun
قرن
Katedrala je iz trinaestog stoljeća. The cathedral is from the thirteenth century. الكاتدرائية من القرن الثالث عشر.
kralj
Pronunciation: krahly
king
noun
ملك
Tomislav je bio prvi hrvatski kralj. Tomislav was the first Croatian king. كان توميسلاف أول ملك كرواتي.
neovisnost
Pronunciation: NEH-oh-vees-nohst
independence
noun
استقلال
Hrvatska je proglasila neovisnost 1991. Croatia declared independence in 1991. أعلنت كرواتيا استقلالها عام 1991.
spomenik
Pronunciation: SPOH-meh-neek
monument
noun
نصب تذكاري
Spomenik stoji na glavnom trgu. The monument stands on the main square. يقف النصب التذكاري في الساحة الرئيسية.
baština
Pronunciation: BAHSH-tee-nah
heritage
noun
تراث
Stari grad je svjetska baština. The old town is world heritage. المدينة القديمة تراث عالمي.
regija
Pronunciation: REH-gee-yah
region
noun
منطقة / إقليم
Svaka regija ima svoj naglasak. Every region has its own accent. لكل منطقة لهجتها الخاصة.
Dalmacija
Pronunciation: dahl-MAH-tsee-yah
Dalmatia
noun
دالماسيا
Dalmacija je poznata po moru i vinu. Dalmatia is known for its sea and wine. تشتهر دالماسيا بالبحر والنبيذ.
kazalište
Pronunciation: KAH-zah-leesh-teh
theatre
noun
مسرح
Kazalište je puno svake večeri. The theatre is full every evening. المسرح ممتلئ كل مساء.
umjetnost
Pronunciation: OOM-yeht-nohst
art
noun
فن
Umjetnost je važan dio kulture. Art is an important part of culture. الفن جزء مهم من الثقافة.
književnost
Pronunciation: KNYEE-zhehv-nohst
literature
noun
أدب
Hrvatska književnost ima dugu tradiciju. Croatian literature has a long tradition. للأدب الكرواتي تقليد طويل.
pisac
Pronunciation: PEE-sahts
writer
noun
كاتب
Miroslav Krleža je najpoznatiji hrvatski pisac. Miroslav Krleža is the most famous Croatian writer. ميروسلاف كرليجا أشهر كاتب كرواتي.
festival
Pronunciation: FEHS-tee-vahl
festival
noun
مهرجان
Ljeti se održava mnogo festivala. Many festivals are held in summer. تُقام مهرجانات كثيرة في الصيف.
običaj
Pronunciation: OH-bee-chahy
custom
noun
عادة / تقليد
To je stari dalmatinski običaj. That is an old Dalmatian custom. هذه عادة دالماسية قديمة.
narod
Pronunciation: NAH-rohd
people / nation
noun
شعب
Hrvatski narod voli pjesmu. The Croatian people love song. الشعب الكرواتي يحب الغناء.
utjecaj
Pronunciation: OOT-yeh-tsahy
influence
noun
تأثير
Talijanski utjecaj vidi se u Istri. The Italian influence can be seen in Istria. يظهر التأثير الإيطالي في إستريا.
izum
Pronunciation: EE-zoom
invention
noun
اختراع
Kravata je hrvatski izum. The tie is a Croatian invention. ربطة العنق اختراع كرواتي.
izumitelj
Pronunciation: ee-ZOO-mee-tehly
inventor
noun
مخترع
Nikola Tesla je bio izumitelj. Nikola Tesla was an inventor. كان نيكولا تيسلا مخترعًا.
kravata
Pronunciation: KRAH-vah-tah
tie
noun
ربطة عنق
Kravata dolazi iz Hrvatske. The tie comes from Croatia. ربطة العنق أصلها من كرواتيا.
nalivpero
Pronunciation: NAH-leev-peh-roh
fountain pen
noun
قلم حبر
Penkala je usavršio nalivpero. Penkala perfected the fountain pen. طوّر بينكالا قلم الحبر.
znanstvenik
Pronunciation: ZNAHN-stveh-neek
scientist
noun
عالِم
Ruđer Bošković je bio znanstvenik. Ruđer Bošković was a scientist. كان روجر بوشكوفيتش عالِمًا.
How to use these words
Stoljeće is a century: u 17. stoljeću, in the 17th century.
Baština is heritage; spomenik a monument.
Narod means a people or nation, and običaj a custom.
A little culture
Croatia declared independence in 1991. Its UNESCO World Heritage sites include the old city of Dubrovnik and Diocletian’s Palace in Split. The necktie (kravata) comes from Croatia, the mechanical pencil and fountain pen were developed by the Croatian inventor Slavoljub Penkala, and Nikola Tesla was born in the village of Smiljan in Croatia.
Common mistakes
Saying “istorija”. That is Serbian; the Croatian word for history is povijest.
Confusing pisac (writer) with pismo (letter).
Quick quiz: history & culture
Which Croatian inventor developed the mechanical pencil?
Croatia declared independence in…
“History” in Croatian is…
Practise these 21 phrases
Reading a list is a start. To remember these words you need to use them: Malingo turns this topic into 5 short lessons with listening, speaking, matching and translation exercises, and reminds you to review words before you forget them.
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