piti
/pîti/Latin, imperfective
To drink in Croatian is expressed by the verb piti. Wiktionary also lists popiti and ispiti.
Meaning: consume liquid through the mouth (verb)
Ways to say it
| Croatian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| piti | /pîti/ | Latin, imperfective |
| popiti | Latin, perfective | |
| ispiti | Latin, perfective |
The verb refers to the action of consuming liquid through the mouth.
Which one should you use?
The choice of verb depends on whether you are describing an ongoing action or a completed one. Use the imperfective piti to describe the ongoing process of drinking or a habitual action. Use the perfective popiti to imply drinking a specific amount or finishing a whole drink. Use the perfective ispiti when you want to emphasize the completion of the act, specifically implying the emptying of a glass or a vessel.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the perfective form popiti in the past tense, the form changes based on gender: popio is used for the masculine singular and popila is used for the feminine singular.
How do you pronounce it?
/pîti/
Did you know?
- When offering a toast, Croatians say Živjeli!, which literally means 'May you live!', rather than focusing on the act of drinking itself.
- The word popiti can be used colloquially to mean 'taking medicine', even if the medication is a pill and not a liquid.
- In some dialects, the word for 'drinking' is used in the phrase piti kave ('drinking coffee'), which often refers to a social gathering that lasts hours regardless of how much is actually consumed.
Examples in context
- Želim popiti nešto hladno.I want to drink something cold.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire to drink something cold using the form popiti.Tatoeba #8227019 by marsovka, translation #25015 by CK
- Mogu li dobiti nešto za piti?May I have something to drink?
- Trebam vodu za piće.I need water to drink.
- Idemo na piće večeras.Let's go for a drink tonight.
- Hoćeš li popiti kavu?Do you want to have a coffee?
- Pola litre pive mi dobro dođe da se osvježim.Half a liter of beer would be good for me to refresh.
- Što voliš piti ujutro?What do you like to drink in the morning?
Example conversation
Ivan and Mia are at a cafe.
- IvanŠto želiš piti, Mia?What do you want to drink, Mia?
- MiaŽelim piti čaj.I want to drink tea.
- IvanHoćemo li naručiti sada?Shall we order now?
- MiaDa, naručimo odmah.Yes, let's order right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “drink” translations and entries piti, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
