zmaj
/zmâj/Latin, masculine
The English word dragon is translated into Croatian as zmaj. Wiktionary also lists aždaja and aždaha.
Meaning: mythical creature (noun)
Ways to say it
| Croatian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| zmaj | /zmâj/ | Latin, masculine |
| aždaja | /aʒdǎja/ | Latin, feminine |
| aždaha | /aʒdǎxa/ | Latin, masculine |
| ala | /ǎːla/ /ǎla/ |
Latin, feminine |
| zmajica | Latin, feminine | |
| zmajevi | Latin, plural |
The term refers to the mythical creature. zmaj is the standard word for a dragon.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ both in gender and in the type of creature they imply. zmaj is a masculine noun and the standard word for a dragon. In contrast, aždaja is a feminine noun often used to refer to a more monstrous, malevolent or giant serpent-like dragon in folklore. Other forms include the masculine aždaha, the feminine ala and the feminine zmajica.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun zmaj has the plural form zmajevi to indicate multiple dragons.
How do you pronounce it?
/zmâj/
Did you know?
- In some regional Croatian beliefs, a zmaj was thought to be born to human parents, though they were recognized by a physical mark on their skin.
- In Slavic mythology, a zmaj was not always a monster, but could be a protective spirit or a hero who could transform into a dragon to fight storms.
- The word ala may have been used as a euphemism for a snake, as calling a serpent by its real name was once thought to attract its attention.
Examples in context
- Iznenadio sam se kad sam vidio zmaja na grbu.I was surprised when I saw a dragon on the coat of arms.
- Pogledaj, taj zmajček izgleda tako slatko!Look, that little dragon looks so cute!
- Zmaj je u priči bio strašan.The dragon in the story was fearsome.
- Djeca vole crtati malog zmaja.Children love to draw a little dragon.
- Legenda kaže da je tu živio zmaj.The legend says a dragon lived there.
Example conversation
Mateo and Ana are looking at a fantasy book.
- MateoAna, vidi koliko je ovaj zmaj strašan!Ana, look how scary this dragon is!
- AnaDa, ali ima jako lijepe krila.Yes, but it has very beautiful wings.
- MateoMislim da je zmaj najcool stvorenje.I think the dragon is the coolest creature.
- AnaSlažem se s tobom, Mateo.I agree with you, Mateo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dragon” translations and entries zmaj, aždaja, aždaha, ala, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ala, aždaja, zmaj, CC BY-SA 4.0.
