Language/Croatian/Vocabulary/Introducing-Yourself
As a Croatian language teacher for the past 20 years, I have come to realize that one of the most important things my students need to know is how to introduce themselves. Being able to properly introduce yourself in a foreign language is not only a great icebreaker, but it also shows respect for the local culture and people. In this lesson, we will learn how to introduce ourselves in Croatian, including sharing our name, age, and where we are from. We will also practice forming complete sentences and proper pronunciation.
Basic Phrases
Before we dive into introducing ourselves, let's go over a few basic phrases that you should know in order to have a successful conversation with someone you just met.
- Bok! - Hello!
- Dobar dan! - Good day!
- Laku noć! - Goodnight!
- Hvala! - Thank you!
- Molim! - Please!
Introducing Yourself
Now that we know a few basic phrases, let's start with the most important part of the lesson – introducing ourselves. When introducing yourself in Croatian, the first thing you need to say is "Ja sam" which translates to "I am" in English. After that, you should say your name, age, and where you are from.
Let's take a look at some examples:
| Croatian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ja sam Marko. | Ya sahm Marko. | I am Marko. |
| Ja se zovem Ana. | Ya seh zoh-vem Ana. | My name is Ana. |
| Imam 25 godina. | Ee-mahm dvadesetpet godina. | I am 25 years old. |
| Dolazim iz New Yorka. | Doh-lah-zeem eez New Yorka. | I am from New York. |
It's important to note that in Croatian, it's common to use the phrase "Ja se zovem" to mean "My name is." This literally translates to "I call myself." So if you want to say "My name is John," you would say "Ja se zovem John."
Practice Sentences
In order to get comfortable with introducing yourself, let's practice forming some complete sentences.
- Ja sam Marija. Imam 30 godina. Dolazim iz Zagreba.
* (Ya sahm Mari-ya. Ee-mahm trideset godina. Doh-lah-zeem eez Zah-gre-ba.) * I am Marija. I am 30 years old. I am from Zagreb.
- Ja se zovem Ivan. Imam 22 godine. Dolazim iz Dubrovnika.
* (Ya seh zoh-vem Ee-van. Ee-mahm dvadeset i dva godi-neh. Doh-lah-zeem eez Doo-brov-ni-ka.) * My name is Ivan. I am 22 years old. I am from Dubrovnik.
- Ja sam Petra. Imam 27 godina. Dolazim iz Splita.
* (Ya sahm Pe-tra. Ee-mahm dvadeset i sedam godina. Doh-lah-zeem eez Splita.) * I am Petra. I am 27 years old. I am from Split.
Pronunciation Tips
Croatian pronunciation can be tricky, but with practice, you can master it in no time. Here are a few tips to help you improve your pronunciation when introducing yourself:
- The letter "j" is pronounced similar to the "y" in "yes".
- The letter "r" is rolled like in Spanish or Italian.
- The letter "č" is pronounced like the "ch" in "cheese".
- The letter "ć" is pronounced as a soft "ch" sound, closer to the "ch" in "church".
- The letter "ž" is pronounced like the "s" in "pleasure".
Try practicing these sounds by saying the phrases we learned earlier.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You've now learned how to introduce yourself in Croatian. Remember to practice forming complete sentences and proper pronunciation, and don't be afraid to introduce yourself to a native Croatian speaker. It's a great way to practice your language skills and make new friends. In the next lesson, we will learn about Croatian nouns and their genders. Stay tuned!