If you're a musician fumbling through Croatia with nothing but 'molto vivace' and 'da capo', you're doing it wrong. Croatian has its own rich musical vocabulary, and no, Google Translate won't save you when a conductor yells 'Još jedanput, ali ovaj put ne kao svinja!' (Once more, but this time not like a pig!). Here's what you actually need to know.
The Basics: What You Should Already Know
Glazba
/ɡlǎzba/“Music”
The general term for music. If you can't remember this, maybe reconsider your career.
Pjevati
/pjêʋati/“To sing”
What vocalists do, assuming they've remembered the lyrics.
Svirati
/sʋǐːrati/“To play (an instrument)”
Not to be confused with 'srati' (to shit), though some might argue the distinction is subtle after hearing a beginner's recital.
Classical Music Terms That Aren't Italian
- Brzina (Speed) – Tempo. Not to be confused with 'brzina' in the context of driving, unless you're playing like you're fleeing the police.
- Tiho (Quiet) – The thing brass players never are. Equivalent to 'piano'.
- Glasno (Loud) – The thing brass players always are. Equivalent to 'forte', which, by the way, is pronounced 'for-tay', not 'fort'. Fight me.
Instruments (And How to Insult Them)
| Instrument | Croatian | IPA | Common Musician Insult |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | Violina | /ʋiɔˈlǐna/ | "Sviraš ko da držiš mačku za rep!" (You play like you're holding a cat by the tail!) |
| Trumpet | Truba | /trûba/ | "Manje trube, više muzike!" (Less trumpet, more music!) |
| Accordion | Harmonika | /xarmǒnika/ | "Jel to harmonika ili pas koji umire?" (Is that an accordion or a dying dog?) |
Phrases for Gigs and Rehearsals
Pro tip: If you're playing in a traditional 'klapa' (Dalmatian vocal group), never admit you don't know the lyrics. Just mouth 'mare' (sea) repeatedly and hope for the best.
- "Gdje je nastup?" – "Where's the gig?" (Literally: Where is the performance?)
- "Koliko još imamo do pauze?" – "How long until the break?" (The universal musician's cry.)
- "Tko je donio pivo?" – "Who brought the beer?" (Priorities.)
For the Jazz and Rock Crowd
Croatian has its own slang for modern musicians, often borrowed from English but mangled beyond recognition:
Džemati
/dʒěmati/“To jam”
What you do when you're too lazy to rehearse properly. "Idemo malo džemati!" (Let's jam a bit!)
Rif
/rîf/“Riff”
The four notes you'll repeat for 10 minutes while the guitarist "finds his tone."
For more on Croatian slang, check out our guide to Festive Croatian Greetings – because nothing says 'rock and roll' like knowing how to say 'Happy Christmas' in a mosh pit.
Final note: If someone shouts 'Bravo!' after your solo, it doesn't mean they're sarcastic. Croatians actually say it sincerely. Shocking, I know.
