July 11, 2022 - Passport, residence, language... when it comes to Croatian identity, what really builds it? After almost three years living in Croatia, I ask myself some questions.

Not long ago, I agreed to help a master's student with her thesis, in which she sought to learn more about South Americans of Croatian ancestry and how the experience of studying the Croatian language in Croatia has helped them forge a kind of Croatian identity. For those not so familiar, the Croatian Government offers a Croatian language study scholarship through the Central State Office for Croats Abroad, in which people who have completed secondary education and who belong to the Croatian community in one way or another, can travel to five Croatian cities (Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, Osijek and now Zadar) to learn more about the country's language and culture. The experience also allows them to explore their roots further, and even presents them with an excellent opportunity to resolve issues related to their citizenship, passport, and more.

Having studied two semesters in Rijeka and one in Zagreb, and being only a few months away from completing three years living in Croatia, I thought that my experiences and anecdotes could be useful for her research. I can now say that for me it was a very introspective conversation. I don't remember the last time I asked myself so many questions about my experience in Croatia so far, or even about my own identity. One of the questions was: ''What makes you feel Croatian?'' I didn't mean to downplay that question, but my answer was simple: ''I'm not Croatian. I am Peruvian''. It makes one wonder, what exactly makes a Croatian identity? What does it really consist of? It may be several factors, such as the following:

Croatian ancestry

I have met many people throughout the years who told me about how their Croatian-born parents taught them about the country they come from or told me about the Croatian dishes and delicacies that their grandparents prepared at home. It's something that, as a sixth-generation Croatian, I couldn't understand unless I was told about it. Little do we know about my ancestor's life and his reasons for leaving Croatia. Over time we have learned that he died young when his son was just a child. And that son grew up and had his own family, and he also died when his son was very young. Thus, in future generations, the sense of belonging was lost or simply ignored.

In my case, and surely for many like me, the only thing we knew was that our last name is Croatian... and that is it. If we really wanted to get more familiar with those roots, it depended a lot on our own will or interest in learning more. Sometimes it seems that the less you know, the less you identify with a place.

Croatian citizenship

My father obtained Croatian nationality for himself, my siblings, and me when we were still little. Back then it was easier than it is now. Although we didn't know much about Croatia, when we got older we realised the difference between knowing the origin of your last name and having the Croatian Government officially recognise your ancestry. You'd think it wouldn't make much of a difference if you'd never left your own country, but somehow I thought it was a great way to pay tribute to my ancestor by acknowledging his own legacy.

Croatian passport

I didn't have a Croatian passport until I was 23 years old. Being from Peru, the only two feasible ways to obtain it were in Croatia (with the condition of being there during the length of time the process takes) or with an appointment at the Croatian Embassy in Chile. We didn't opt for any of those alternatives because we didn't see the need, during all these years, to have a passport. Suddenly we were presented with an opportunity to obtain a Croatian passport in our own country, and even without fully understanding the advantages beyond the obvious ones, we didn't even think twice.

There are many ways to answer the question, ''Where are you from?'' Some say, ''I'm from Argentina'', and others ''are from Australia''. Just as there are those who say that "they were born in Chile.'' But something I have also heard is from those who respond "I have a Croatian passport" to explain that they also have that citizenship. The passport, in addition to being a travel document that allows you to cross borders as a citizen of a particular country, has also been a symbol to show belonging to a nation. Although I felt like I had taken a big step towards knowing more about my roots the day I got mine, I also keep wondering if having the travel document of a country is enough to feel like part of it.

Residence in Croatia

In October it will be three years since I left everything to make Croatia my new home. This time has helped me understand that having residence in a country goes beyond having the police's permission to stay or even beyond owning or renting a square metre or two in a Croatian city. Living in Croatia involves becoming familiar with what surrounds you: public transport, shopping at the store, visiting the family doctor, walking the streets... all this has helped me feel that I'm adapting better and better to a new society. Having a Croatian ID in your wallet makes you feel there's now somewhere to call home. But is it enough?

Learn the Croatian language

For most, having the above is of little use if you don't know the language. In any case, having the ancestry, the citizenship, the passport or even living in Croatia, but not knowing the Croatian language, is like keeping that cultural gap wide open. There's a common misconception about Croatia as a country where you can get by only by speaking English. Although the majority of its local population speaks English, and very well, it could be said that it is merely a resource to facilitate communication with foreigners of all kinds. After studying the Croatian language for three semesters and empirically for another sixteen months, I still believe that my whole life in Croatia falls apart when I can't keep a conversation in Croatian afloat.

But having said all this, what is it then that makes you feel Croatian? Is it just one factor? Is it a combination of many? The only thing I know is that, at least for today, I'm far from being able to feel I have a Croatian identity.

I was born in Lima. I grew up there. My parents are Peruvian, as are my grandparents, as are my great-grandparents, and so on. The closest friends I've had since I was little are also Peruvian. I know the in-depth the history of my country, its many regions, its diverse cultures, and more. Although I'm adapting better and better to this country, I think I am very far from even considering myself Croatian. Furthermore, I believe that despite having citizenship, living here, having a passport, and learning the language, changing my identity is not something I'm looking for. Maybe its something that comes along naturally and is a process of its own.

For more news about the Croatian diaspora, visit our dedicated section.

ZAGREB, 27 June 2022 - The International Summer School of Croatian Language and Culture for Croatian Language Teachers and Students in the Diaspora, which began on 18 June has ended in Krk with participants receiving appropriate certificates.

The summer school is organized by the Croatian Studies Faculty at Zagreb University of Zagreb for participants from Hungary, Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy, with lessons and exercises in the Croatian language.

Participants had the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and teaching competencies and gain new acquaintances. They were also acquainted with the heritage and culture of the islands of Krk and Cres and attended the launch of a book of poems by Vlasta Sindik Pobor.

This is the fifth edition of the Croaticum Summer School of the Croatian Language and Culture and is part of the project of cooperation with ethnic Croatian communities in the Diaspora. The school is supported by the Central State Office for Croats Abroad, the Ministry of Science and Education, and this year, the City of Krk.

For more news about the Croatian diaspora, visit our dedicated section.

June 25, 2022 - Although English is widely spoken throughout the country, you may want to impress your partner, children, parents, or friends with some of these Croatian words and phrases when visiting a restaurant during your vacation by the Croatian Adriatic.

It is very difficult, if not impossible, to learn the Croatian language during your short vacation in the country. If you dare, you can probably go home with a few words you heard on the street or from your host such as dobar dan (good day), bok (hello), or hvala (thank you). Again, if you really want to learn the Croatian language, maybe you could enroll in a course or maybe make friends with a Croat. But if you want to look more interesting and improve your Croatian than just saying the magic words, maybe you could memorize some of these Croatian words and phrases that you can use to get by in a restaurant when interacting with a waiter.

- Mogu li vidjeti jelovnik? (Can I see the menu?)

A perfect way to start your Croatian show, make sure the waiter brings you the menu to see what delicacies the restaurant has to offer. It is pronounced like this: MO-gu li VID-ye-ti JEl-ov-nik.

- Mogu li dobiti...? (Can I have a...?)

The cornerstone for ordering your drinks or food. It is pronounced like this: MO-gu li DO-bi-ti. To give you an idea of what you can ask for, these are some of the most common:

• Pivo (beer), pronounced PI-vo
• Vodu (water), pronounced VO-du
• Čašu vina (a glass of wine), pronounced CHA-shu VI-na
• Malo kruha (some bread), pronounced MA-lo KRU-ha
• Maslinovo ulje (olive oil), pronounced MAS-li-no-vo UL-ye
• Parmezan (parmesan cheese), pronounced PAR-me-zan

- Ukusno! (Delicious!)

Croatian waiters and waitresses often ask you how your food is, and if you are really enjoying it, make sure you say this with a lot of conviction. It is pronounced like this: U-kus-no

- Još jedno, molim! (Another one, please!) 

During the summer, just a beer or a glass of gin won't do the job. You don't have to drink a lot, but in case you want one more, now you know! It is pronounced like this: YOSH YED-no MO-lim

- Gdje je WC? (Where is the bathroom?)

Well, after a few drinks, your bladder will probably ask you for a little break. Don't be shy, since you can ask the waiter or waitress to tell you where the toilets are. It is pronounced like this: g-d-YE ye VE-tse

- Gotov sam/Gotova sam. (I'm finished.)

In addition to asking about your food, restaurant staff will want to ask if you would like something else from the menu, a dessert, or another drink. If you're really full, they won't be offended if you tell them you can't take it anymore. It is pronounced like this: GO-tov SAM/GO-to-va SAM (side note: gotov is for the men, gotova is for the women).

- Mogu li dobiti račun? (Can I have the bill?)

If you think it's time to make a move, make sure the waiter or waitress sees you and make a gesture for them to come over. Once they approach, this is the most formal way to ask for the bill. It is pronounced like this: MO-gu li DO-bi-ti RA-chun

- Gotovina/Kartica (Cash/Card.)

Immediately upon asking for the bill, they will ask you if you want to pay with cash or with a debit or credit card by asking: Gotovina/kesh ili kartica? It is pronounced like this: GO-to-vi-na/KAR-ti-tsa

After using these Croatian words and phrases, rest assured that you will have made a great impression in front of your companions, and most likely the restaurant staff too!

 For more, check out our lifestyle section.

May 22, 2022 - The Central State Office for Croats outside the Republic of Croatia has announced a public call for the Croatian language scholarship for the 2022/2023 semesters. This year, for the first time, those interested will be able to choose the City of Zadar as their preference of location when studying the Croatian language.

With the aim of learning the Croatian language, learning about Croatian culture and preserving national identity, promoting unity and cooperation, and returning emigrated Croats and their descendants to the country, the Central State Office for Croats Abroad announced a public call for scholarships for Croatian language learning in Croatia for the academic year 2022/2023.

The first period of the Croatian language scholarship, called the winter semester, runs from the beginning of October 2022 to the end of January 2023. The second, the summer semester, runs from the beginning of March 2023 to the end of June 2023. The participants, when applying, can choose between studying for one or both semesters.

Who can apply?

Members of the Croatian people, their spouses as well as friends of the Croatian people and the Republic of Croatia who nurture the Croatian identity and promote the Croatian cultural community. They must be over 18, they must have completed at least high school and reside outside of the Republic of Croatia. They can also have resided in the Republic of Croatia for no longer than three years as of the date of the publication of this public invitation.

How and until when can one apply?

The application for this public invitation is to be submitted exclusively in electronic form via the e-application form available HERE. The deadline for submitting applications is June 19, 2022.

In which cities can you study the Croatian language scholarship?

The course is being organised by the Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, Osijek, and the University of Zadar. The scholarship implies regular attendance at classes in the Republic of Croatia in the place where the course is held.

Among other things, the canidadte must indicate their choice of language learning semester in their application (winter, summer, or both), as well as their desired place for attending the course.

For more information about the Croatian language scholarship in Croatia, write me an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject ''Croatian language scholarship''.

All other details are listed in the public invitation and the attached instructions. In case of the need for additional information, candidates can send an inquiry to the e-mail address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. no later than the expiration of the above deadline or in the same period call: +385 (0) 1 / 6444-683, working on the day from 10.00 - 15.00.

For more, check out our lifestyle section.

May the 3rd, 2022 - One of the most common questions one tends to read on expat groups small and large from up and down the country from residents of Croatia nearing the golden five year mark of temporary residence is Do I need to pass a Croatian language test for permanent residence? 

Understandably, this question is usually bombarded with answers from different people from across the world who have residence based on all sorts of different reasons, from marriage to druge svrhe (other purposes) and everything in between, all of whom were approached differently by the authorities.

What Zdenka at the desk in Rijeka says to someone applying who happens to have a Croatian (or indeed Austro-Hungarian) distant relative and what Mirna at Petrinjska in Zagreb says to someone applying based on family reunification will likely be very different. So, let's get to the point. Do you need to take a Croatian language test for permanent residence? The answer is sometimes yes, sometimes no. Helpful, I know. Let's look into who has to take it and who doesn't.

EEA/EU/EFTA citizens

If you hold the citizenship of a European Union, European Economic Area or European Free Trade Association Area country, you do not need to take a Croatian language test for permanent residence. Pure and simple.

The EFTA countries are Iceland, Norway, the Principality of Liechtenstein and Switzerland, none of which are EU or EEA member states or part of the Customs Union and negotiate trade deals separately to the EU, but which do enjoy a similar free trade agreement with the European Union.

Third country citizens

Third country citizens or nationals are individuals who don't hold the citizenship of an EU, EEA or EFTA country. These people typically do need to sit a Croatian language test for permanent residence. The language test is at the B1 level and includes understanding, reading, writing, speaking and perhaps the worst of all for anyone who has spent time around the Croatian language - grammar. 

If you pass this test, you'll be presented with a certificate from any of the education institutes which run these tests which you can then take to MUP as part of your permanent residence application. A list of such institutes running the tests can be found on MUP's website so that you can pick and contact the one closest to your address.

Exceptions for third country citizens

You do not need to take a Croatian language test for permanent residence if you're 65 or over and are unemployed, if you're of pre-school age, or if you've already completed your compulsory (mandatory) primary and/or secondary in Croatia, or if you've completed higher education here.

Citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland who had legal residence in Croatia before the 31st of December, 2020

British citizens who had legal residence in Croatia before the 31st of January 2020 and who as such fall into the category of those who are protected by the Withdrawal Agreement do not need to take a Croatian language test for permanent residence.

British nationals were once also EU citizens, and as such had the rights to freedom of movement, one of the fundamental pillars of the European Union, until the 31st of December, 2020, when the UK's transition period out of the bloc ended. Those British nationals who held temporary or permanent residence before the UK's withdrawal from the bloc, more precisely before the end of its transition period, are protected and have acquired rights in Croatia. Their residence status and rights are unaffected.

That said, they did need to apply for a new residence document which demonstrates their protected status before the end of June, 2021. British citizens who are in this category who have not yet got their new document can still do so and their rights will not be affected, but they may face a small administrative fine for not having made the application before the specified date. The application for the new document is not a new residence application, but merely a demonstration to MUP that you are owed it. If you already held permanent residence in Croatia before the end of the UK's transition period, this will be an extremely easy exercise.

Citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland who did not hold legal residence in Croatia before the 31st of December, 2020

If you're British and didn't exercise your right to free movement across the EU before the aforementioned date, you fall under the category of a third country national and as such need to take a Croatian language test for permanent residence.

Those married to Croatian citizens

If you're an EU/EEA/EFTA citizen married to a Croatian citizen and are applying for permanent residence (which in this case can now be applied for after four years as opposed to five), you do not need to take a Croatian language test for permanent residence based entirely on your own nationality which affords you certain rights in Croatia.

If you're a third country national married to a Croatian citizen and are applying for permanent residence (which is also now after four years in your case, too, not five), you may be asked to take a test, and you may not be. I realise how unhelpful that is, but people have vastly different experiences when it comes to this depending on when they've applied, where they live (and as such which administrative police station they've used), and quite frankly, what side of the bed the clerk woke up on that morning.

For more on nationality and residence in Croatia, keep up with our lifestyle section.

February 3, 2022 - Wordle has taken the internet by storm, testing the wits of millions. What few know, however, is that it was recently adapted into the Croatian language by a group of early enthusiasts of the popular game as a method to encourage its learning. Meet Crodle!

If you're on Twitter, chances are you've seen people all over the place in recent months sharing a set of green, yellow, and gray squares. Either you're confused and don't have the slightest idea what's going on, or you're just another user of the trendy game that's now everywhere you look: Wordle.

Wordle was created by Josh Wardle, a software engineer from Brooklyn, in October 2021. The game that has now taken over the internet, however, started in a very curious, and romantic way. As The New York Times recalls, it so happens that months before its launch, Wardle created it as a kind of gift for his partner, who loved word games. The concept would be one of word guessing, and the name would be a fun one that would combine the pillar on which it was designed and the last name of the person who created it: Wordle.

At first, it was played only by Wardle and his partner, and after several months of obsession, they decided to share it with their families. Shortly after, in October, it would be released worldwide. On November 1st, 90 people played it. Two months later, on a Sunday, 300,000 people were playing it.

One of the reasons why Wordle has become popular so quickly and has won the affection of millions of users is because of its friendly design and easy gameplay. In addition to having a fairly simple concept compared to others that can be found on the Internet, Wordle does not have advertising or annoying pop-ups.

How to play Wordle? You have to guess the Wordle in 6 tries. Each guess must be a valid 5 letter word. Hit the enter button to submit your guess. After each guess, the color of the tiles will change to show how close your guess was to the word. A new Wordle will be available each day! Here are some examples:

(Screenshot/Wordle)

Today the game has millions of users around the world, but among the first loyal users, we must recognize a group of enthusiastic Croats who saw in the original concept an ingenious way to promote the Croatian language and encourage its learning. ''At our language school we were early fans of Wordle, so we decided to create the Croatian version - as a tribute to the original and a fun way to play with the Croatian language'', recalls Maja Jukić, teacher and school manager at the Školica Croatian Language School in Zagreb.

Maja and her colleagues called their Croatian version Crodle, and tell that, just like the original, it's completely free and there’s a new word to guess every day. ''Apart from our fellow citizens here in Croatia, we already have enthusiastic Crodle players with Croatian origins living in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand'', adds Jukić.

The Croatian version features the full Croatian alphabet, but to keep things simple they have considered the letters Dž, Lj and Nj to be counted as two separate letters. (Screenshot/Crodle)

''As we became addicted to the popular word game Wordle, we decided to build a Croatian version for our language students to practice with, and for everyone else to enjoy. Crodle is built with open-source software'', can be read on the game's website.

Anyone can play Crodle from their phone or computer, it's free of ads, and it has a friendly design. To play, click here. Enjoy!

For more, check out Made in Croatia.

ZAGREB, 28 Jan 2022 - Serbian Ombudsman Zoran Pašalić has requested the withdrawal of a Serbian language textbook for eighth-graders which denies the existence of the Croatian, Bosnian and Montenegrin languages, Croatian language-media in the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina reported on Friday.

The media quoted leaders of the ethnic Croat community as describing the recommendation as encouraging.

A definition on the division of South Slavic languages in the contentious textbook, written by a group of authors, says that Serbian, Slovenian, Macedonian and Bulgarian belong to the South Slavic group of languages while "Croats, Bosniaks and some Montenegrins call the Serbian language Croatian, Bosnian, Bosniak and Montenegrin."

Ombudsman Zoran Pašalić said in a statement the approval of the textbook violated the rights of ethnic minorities because it negated the existence of their languages, with Croatian and Bosnian being in official use in Serbia.

Pašalić called on the Education, Science and Technology Ministry to take the necessary steps and withdraw the textbook before the start of the school year 2022/2023 as well as to report to him within 60 days of the action taken.

The ombudsman's decision was welcomed by the Croat National Council (HNV) and the DSHV party of Vojvodina Croats, which in October 2021 said that Serbian eighth-graders were taught that Croatian did not exist.

Croatian President Zoran Milanović and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, too, have protested over the negation of the Croatian language.

For more, check out our politics section.

ZAGREB, 26 Jan 2022 - Pupils at School No691 in Saint Petersburg's Nevsky District can learn six foreign languages, including Croatian.

Since last year, the school with more than 1,500 pupils is home to the Croatian Club and wants to be an exclusive place in the city when it comes to Croatia and its language and culture.

Zagreb and Saint Petersburg have been friends since 1968 and their cooperation has covered various areas, including culture and education.

The cooperation gained new momentum in 2015 thanks to the Zagreb Russian Language and Culture Association and the enthusiasm of No691's headmistress Irina Leonidovna Karpicka, a big lover of Croatia.

Her students can learn Croatian three times a week for a month or two throughout the school year. The groups have numbered 15 to 20 students to date and they have been taught by volunteer Russianists and Croatists.

One of them is Mato Špekuljak, a Russian language and literature professor and president of the Russian Language and Culture Association, who has described School No691 as "one of the most beautiful and technically most equipped I have seen in my life."

The school is new and has a big library, a swimming pool, a toy museum, and computerized classrooms.

It has a Croatian library with some 300 books and multimedia content donated to the Croatian Club by the Zagreb Russian Language and Culture Association.

Other Russianists and Croatists from Zagreb have also guested in the school, including Russian language teachers at Zagreb's Trnjanska Primary School, which cooperates with School No691, as well as in Zagreb's Tin Ujević Primary School, which cooperates with School No351 in Saint Petersburg's Moskovsky District.

Besides the language, the students in the two Zagreb schools are also taught about Russia and its culture, and the students in the two Saint Petersburg schools about "Croatia as a friendly Slavic country," Špekuljak said.

The schools sometimes hold video conferences. "In Petersburg, that proved to be especially interesting to Russian students who spent summers in Croatia with their parents and those who are interested in football and admire the Croatian national football team and its successes," he added.

The Croatian-Russian school cooperation has been disrupted by COVID-19, but both sides hope it will resume and expand once the pandemic is over.

Headmistress Karpicka said one of the post-pandemic plans was to bring together the Croats living in Saint Petersburg and their families. Speaking to Hina, she invited all Russianists and Croatists from Croatia interested in volunteering in her school and making guest appearances in the Croatian Club to write at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Russian Language and Culture Association hopes the cooperation will expand between schools in Zagreb's Donji Grad and Trešnjevka districts and Saint Petersburg's Moskovsky and Novsky districts.

For more, check out our dedicated lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, 10 Jan 2022 - President of Matica Hrvatska, Miro Gavran, on Monday presented the program for marking the 180th anniversary of that cultural institution and announced the drafting of a Croatian Language Act.

"We have formed a task force to draw up the Croatian Language Act," Gavran said at the press conference, adding that the group included Fellows of the Croatian Academy: August Kovačec, Stjepan Damjanović, Mislav Ježić, and linguists Tomislav Stojanov and Mario Grčević.

He underscored that in addition to the five renowned linguists, the draft bill would be prepared by three lawyers, and it would be co-signed by Croatian writers, after which it would be sent to the Croatian parliament.

He announced that in the future the editions of Matica Hrvatska would be sent to embassies and Croatian language departments all over the world.

We insist on good atmosphere and mutual respect, increasing the number of members, establishing new branches and restoring old ones, as well as on the increased activity of the departments of Matica Hrvatska, said the institution's president, adding that over 500 different cultural, science and professional events were planned at branches of Matica Hrvatska in Croatia,  Bosnia and Herzegovina and around the world.

Today, Matica Hrvatska has around 4,000 members and 123 branches, 100 of which are in Croatia, 14 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in other parts of the world. Matica Hrvatska has 20 departments in Zagreb, and its head office has 31 employees.

December 12, 2021 - TCN contributor Patrick Galeski reviews the Rough Guide Croatian Phrasebook, which he notes can be as dangerous as a hand grenade if used improperly. 

I have lived in Croatia since 2006, and Varaždin is my home. I have learned a lot over the past 15 years, and luckily my Croatian has improved since my first days in the country. As time passes by, I collect more and more memories. Recently, I came across a Croatian phrasebook that I thought I had lost: the Rough Guide Croatian Phrasebook. Since it helped me so much, and at the same time got me into some potentially sticky situations, I think it is time to review this handy little grenade thoroughly. 

First of all, what’s Rough Guide anyway? 

Rough Guide, well-known for its travel guidebooks for backpackers and tourists on a tight budget, also publishes language guides and phrasebooks. This phrasebook targets the typical English-speaking tourist without any previous exposure to the dynamics of the Croatian language.

In this particular phrasebook, a Croatian novice will be schooled quickly in the art of being Croatian. Numerous daily situations are covered, including visiting the bank, ordering food at a restaurant, asking for directions, booking a hotel room, etc. The common questions that an English-speaking tourist will have at certain places and sites are translated into Croatian. The authors use phonetics to ensure that the proper tone and pronunciation are used by the brave tourist visiting Croatia. Overall, the translations are presented in an easy-to-understand way that is useful to any tourist. There is also an English-Croatian/Croatian-English dictionary in the phrasebook. Although it is short, it provides most of the keywords that tourists need to use while visiting the country. The last section of the book provides the reader with a crash course in Croatian grammar. This section does not cover everything, but it does provide the reader with the basics. The size of the handbook should also be noted.  It is just right. It can fit in your pocket, making it convenient for any tourist visiting Croatia.

Although the phrasebook provides a Croatian language learner with the basics, Rough Guide ought to review the content of this phrasebook before publishing it further. It seems that they watched the classic sketch “The Dirty Hungarian Phrasebook” from Monty Python and decided it would be funny in real life. I have used this guide in Croatia, and my Croatian friends and colleagues have pointed out that some material is dangerously inaccurate.  I point your attention to page 122 - Colloquialisms.  

Not realizing that the translations on this page were completely wrong, I used them in public with my new friends back in 2006. To my dismay, the phrase “dobit ćeš kurac (doe-bit chesh koo-rats)” did not mean “you’ll get lucky” as presented in the phrasebook. Instead, that phrase meant something very rude and insulting. I will allow you, the reader, to put it into Google Translate and figure it out for yourself. I said this to my friend after he told me how horrible his day was. In my case, I got lucky. I could have been beaten up if I were with the wrong crowd. Not taking offense, my friend pointed out the exact meaning of each phrase on page 122. I should note that the majority of the words on that page are mistranslated. In fact, they are very rude, sometimes sexist, and absolutely insulting statements. This page should be used with absolute care. If any of those phrases are used in public with people you don’t know, don’t be surprised if you get into a fight. It should be noted that the phrasebook has been in circulation since 2006, and only minor changes have been made to the book since. Page 122 remains unchanged. It is odd to me that there have not been any lawsuits or incidents reported relating to the phrases listed on that page.

Despite the dangers of using page 122 in public, this phrasebook is a useful tool for any novice Croatian language learner. It provides many useful phrases that can be used in everyday situations. The dictionary and grammar rules are also presented well. Due to the potential disaster that page 122 poses to an unsuspecting tourist in Croatia, I give this phrasebook a 3/5 rating. 

Buyer beware!  This phrasebook can be as dangerous as a hand grenade if used improperly. 

Picture 1.1. The cover of my personal copy of the phrasebook                                      

Picture 1.2. The notorious page 122 with my notes included. Thanks to my Croatian friends,  I was able to get the right translations. The stars on the left side mean that the words are dangerous!

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.