Make calls, leave messages and arrange or cancel appointments. In Croatian this topic is called Telefon i termini. Below are 20 words and phrases with pronunciation, English and Arabic meanings, and a real example sentence for each. Tap ▶ to hear them.
Phone calls and appointments are hard in a new language because you cannot see the other person. These words and set phrases make calls and paperwork much easier.
nazvati
Pronunciation: NAH-zvah-tee
to call (by phone)
verb
يتصل
Mogu li vas nazvati sutra? Can I call you tomorrow? هل يمكنني الاتصال بك غدًا؟
javiti se
Pronunciation: YAH-vee-tee seh
to get in touch / to answer
verb
يتواصل / يرد
Javit ću se čim stignem. I will get in touch as soon as I arrive. سأتواصل معك فور وصولي.
poruka
Pronunciation: POH-roo-kah
message
noun
رسالة
Ostavite poruku nakon signala. Leave a message after the tone. اتركوا رسالة بعد الإشارة.
broj
Pronunciation: brohy
number
noun
رقم
Koji je vaš broj telefona? What is your phone number? ما رقم هاتفك؟
zauzeto
Pronunciation: zah-OO-zeh-toh
busy / engaged
adjective
مشغول
Stalno je zauzeto, probajte kasnije. It is constantly busy, try later. الخط مشغول باستمرار، حاولوا لاحقًا.
poziv
Pronunciation: POH-zeev
call
noun
مكالمة
Imam propušteni poziv. I have a missed call. لدي مكالمة فائتة.
termin
Pronunciation: TEHR-meen
appointment
noun
موعد
Imam termin kod zubara u dva. I have a dentist appointment at two. لدي موعد عند طبيب الأسنان في الثانية.
dogovoriti
Pronunciation: doh-goh-VOH-ree-tee
to arrange / agree
verb
يرتّب / يتفق
Možemo li dogovoriti sastanak? Can we arrange a meeting? هل يمكننا ترتيب اجتماع؟
otkazati
Pronunciation: oht-KAH-zah-tee
to cancel
verb
يلغي
Moram otkazati termin. I have to cancel the appointment. يجب أن ألغي الموعد.
potvrditi
Pronunciation: poht-VR-dee-tee
to confirm
verb
يؤكد
Molim vas, potvrdite termin porukom. Please confirm the appointment by message. من فضلكم، أكّدوا الموعد برسالة.
kasniti
Pronunciation: KAHS-nee-tee
to be late
verb
يتأخر
Oprostite, malo ću kasniti. Sorry, I will be a little late. عذرًا، سأتأخر قليلًا.
hitno
Pronunciation: HEET-noh
urgent / urgently
adverb
عاجل
Nazovite me, hitno je. Call me, it is urgent. اتصلوا بي، الأمر عاجل.
e-pošta
Pronunciation: EH-posh-tah
email
noun
بريد إلكتروني
Poslat ću vam sve e-poštom. I will send you everything by email. سأرسل لكم كل شيء بالبريد الإلكتروني.
kasnije
Pronunciation: KAHS-nee-yeh
later
adverb
لاحقًا
Nazvat ću vas kasnije. I will call you later. سأتصل بك لاحقًا.
slobodan
Pronunciation: SLOH-boh-dahn
free / available
adjective
متاح / حر
Jeste li slobodni u utorak? Are you free on Tuesday? هل أنتم متاحون يوم الثلاثاء؟
obrazac
Pronunciation: OH-brah-zahts
form
noun
استمارة
Ispunite ovaj obrazac. Fill in this form. املأ هذه الاستمارة.
potpis
Pronunciation: POHT-pees
signature
noun
توقيع
Ovdje treba vaš potpis. Your signature is needed here. توقيعك مطلوب هنا.
osobna iskaznica
Pronunciation: OH-sohb-nah EES-kahz-nee-tsah
ID card
noun
بطاقة الهوية
Osobna iskaznica je u novčaniku. The ID card is in the wallet. بطاقة الهوية في المحفظة.
ispuniti
Pronunciation: ees-POO-nee-tee
to fill in
verb
يملأ
Morate ispuniti obrazac. You have to fill in the form. يجب أن تملأ الاستمارة.
šalter
Pronunciation: SHAHL-tehr
service counter
noun
شباك الخدمة
Idite na šalter broj tri. Go to counter number three. اذهب إلى الشباك رقم ثلاثة.
How to use these words
People answer the phone with Halo? or Molim?; to explain why you are calling say Zovem u vezi…, I am calling about…
A termin is an appointment or time slot: Trebam termin kod liječnika, I need a doctor’s appointment.
Potvrditi is to confirm, otkazati to cancel, dogovoriti to arrange.
A little culture
At offices you will often take a number and wait for your šalter, the service counter. Bring your osobna iskaznica or passport, because almost every form asks for it.
Common mistakes
Reading termin as a school term. In Croatian it means an appointment.
Confusing potvrditi (confirm) and otkazati (cancel) when rearranging a visit.
Quick quiz: phone & appointments
“Termin” means…
“To cancel” is…
How do people usually answer the phone?
Practise these 20 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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