dobar tek
/dôbar têk/word by wordLatin
The English phrase "bon appétit" can be translated into Croatian as dobar tek. Wiktionary also lists prijatno.
Meaning: used to wish someone enjoyment of the meal they are about to eat (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Croatian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| dobar tek | /dôbar têk/ (word by word) | Latin |
| prijatno | Latin |
These phrases are used to wish someone enjoyment of the meal they are about to eat.
Which one should you use?
The phrase dobar tek is a standard way to say "bon appétit", while prijatno is another option to wish someone enjoyment of their food.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Istrian region, the phrase Neka vam tekne is commonly used to wish someone a good meal.
How do you pronounce it?
/dôbar têk/
Did you know?
- In Croatian culture, prijatno is often said by the waiter or the host, but it is also common for a stranger walking past a table of diners to say it as a polite gesture.
- Unlike the English 'bon appétit' which focuses on the appetite, the Croatian dobar tek focuses on the ease of the 'flow' of the meal.
- Croatian uses prijatno in contexts where English would use 'enjoy', such as when giving someone a gift or a treat, even if it is not a full meal.
Examples in context
- Dobar tek svima!Bon appétit to everyone!
- Hvala, dobar tek!Thank you, bon appétit!
- Dobar tek, uživaj u ručku.Bon appétit, enjoy your lunch.
Example conversation
Mia and Marko are sitting down to eat a homemade meal.
- MiaSamo polako, dobar tek, Marko.Take your time, bon appétit, Marko.
- MarkoHvala, Mia. Izgleda jako ukusno.Thank you, Mia. It looks very delicious.
- MiaDrago mi je da ti se sviđa.I am glad you like it.
- MarkoBaš je odlično.It is really great.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bon appétit” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (dobar, tek) and can differ in connected speech.
