B2 · Upper intermediate

🏦 Croatian Money & banking المال والمصارف

Open an account, pay bills, and talk about saving and borrowing. In Croatian this topic is called Novac i banka. Below are 16 words and phrases with pronunciation, English and Arabic meanings, and a real example sentence for each. Tap ▶ to hear them.

Money words are practical from day one: ATMs, cards, cash and exchange. If you live in Croatia you will also need the words for accounts, loans and saving.

banka

Pronunciation: BAHN-kah

bank

noun

بنك

Banka je otvorena do pet.
The bank is open until five.
البنك مفتوح حتى الخامسة.

račun

Pronunciation: RAH-choon

account / bill

noun

حساب / فاتورة

Želim otvoriti račun.
I would like to open an account.
أريد فتح حساب.

kartica

Pronunciation: KAHR-tee-tsah

card

noun

بطاقة

Plaćam karticom.
I am paying by card.
أدفع بالبطاقة.

gotovina

Pronunciation: goh-TOH-vee-nah

cash

noun

نقد

Imate li gotovinu?
Do you have cash?
هل معك نقود؟

bankomat

Pronunciation: BAHN-koh-maht

ATM / cash machine

noun

صراف آلي

Bankomat je iza ugla.
The ATM is around the corner.
الصراف الآلي خلف الزاوية.

podići novac

Pronunciation: POH-dee-chee NOH-vahts

to withdraw money

phrase

يسحب نقودًا

Moram podići novac.
I have to withdraw money.
يجب أن أسحب نقودًا.

uplatiti

Pronunciation: oo-PLAH-tee-tee

to deposit / to pay in

verb

يودع

Uplatila sam plaću na račun.
I deposited my salary into the account.
أودعت راتبي في الحساب.

štedjeti

Pronunciation: SHTEH-dyeh-tee

to save (money)

verb

يدّخر

Štedim za novi auto.
I am saving for a new car.
أدّخر لسيارة جديدة.

posuditi

Pronunciation: poh-SOO-dee-tee

to borrow / to lend

verb

يستعير / يُقرض

Možeš li mi posuditi dvadeset eura?
Can you lend me twenty euros?
هل يمكنك إقراضي عشرين يورو؟

kredit

Pronunciation: KREH-deet

loan

noun

قرض

Uzeli smo kredit za stan.
We took out a loan for the flat.
أخذنا قرضًا للشقة.

kamata

Pronunciation: KAH-mah-tah

interest

noun

فائدة

Kamata je visoka.
The interest is high.
الفائدة مرتفعة.

tečaj

Pronunciation: TEH-chahy

exchange rate / course

noun

سعر الصرف

Koji je tečaj eura danas?
What is the euro exchange rate today?
ما سعر صرف اليورو اليوم؟

mjenjačnica

Pronunciation: myeh-NYAHCH-nee-tsah

currency exchange

noun

مكتب صرافة

Mjenjačnica je pored pošte.
The currency exchange is next to the post office.
مكتب الصرافة بجانب البريد.

skupo

Pronunciation: SKOO-poh

expensive

adjective

غالٍ

Život u Zagrebu postaje skup.
Life in Zagreb is getting expensive.
الحياة في زغرب تصبح غالية.

jeftino

Pronunciation: YEHF-tee-noh

cheap

adjective

رخيص

Kava je ovdje jeftina.
Coffee is cheap here.
القهوة رخيصة هنا.

proračun

Pronunciation: PROH-rah-choon

budget

noun

ميزانية

Imamo mali proračun za putovanje.
We have a small budget for the trip.
لدينا ميزانية صغيرة للرحلة.

How to use these words

Račun means both a bank account and a bill: otvoriti račun is to open an account, Račun, molim asks for the bill.
Podići novac is to withdraw money; uplatiti is to pay in.
Posuditi means both to borrow and to lend: Možeš li mi posuditi deset eura?, can you lend me ten euros?

A little culture

Croatia has used the euro since 2023, and cards are accepted almost everywhere. A practical tip: when a cash machine (bankomat) or card terminal offers to charge you in your home currency, choosing euros is usually cheaper.

Common mistakes

Thinking posuditi only means borrow. Context tells you who gives and who receives.
Confusing tečaj as only a course: in banking it is the exchange rate.

Quick quiz: money & banking

Cash is…

A cash machine is a…

“Posuditi” means…

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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