Croatian Business Etiquette: Essential Language for Professionals

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Croatian business culture blends Mediterranean warmth with Central European formality. A few key phrases go a long way.

The Basics: Greetings & Introductions

Dobar dan

/dôbar dâːn/

Good day

Standard formal greeting. Use until early evening.

Kako ste?

/ˈkako ste/

How are you? (formal)

The polite version. Expect a detailed answer – Croatians don’t do fake “fine, thanks”.
Handshake tip: Firm grip, direct eye contact. Don’t rush it.

Meeting Essentials

  • Punctuality: Be on time, but don’t expect meetings to start sharply.
  • Small talk: Football, family, or Croatian coast are safe topics. Politics? Not so much.

Molim vas

/ˈmɔlim vas/

Please (formal)

Essential for requests. Skipping it = rude.

Email & Phone Phrases

CroatianEnglishWhen to Use
Poštovani,Dear [Sir/Madam],Email opener
Hvala na suradnjiThanks for collaboratingClosing line
Oprostite, loša vezaSorry, bad connectionPhone calls

Negotiation & Hierarchy

Croatian companies are hierarchical. Key phrases:

  1. Što mislite o...? (What do you think about...?)
  2. Da li možemo pronaći kompromis? (Can we find a compromise?)
Decision-making is top-down. Don’t bypass senior staff.

After Hours

Business dinners = relationship building. Key phrases:

Živjeli!

/ˈʒiʋjɛli/

Cheers!

Toasting etiquette: Maintain eye contact.

Prijatno!

/priˈjatno/

Bon appétit!

Say before eating. Not optional.

Need humour tips? See our guide to Croatian jokes.

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