dobar dan
Latin
dobar dan is the Croatian way to say good afternoon.
dobar dan is a standard formal way to greet someone in the afternoon.
Meaning: greeting said in the afternoon (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase dobar dan literally means 'good day'.
Which one should you use?
While dobar dan is used for 'good afternoon', it is also the standard greeting for the entire period from midday until evening.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
dobar dan is a formal greeting. For a much more informal alternative to use with friends and peers, you can say bok.
Did you know?
- If you are entering a shop or a small cafe, it is customary to say dobar dan to everyone present, not just the person you are interacting with, as a way of acknowledging the communal space.
- The word dobar shares a common ancestor with the English word 'good', as both descend from the same Proto-Indo-European roots through their respective linguistic paths.
- In formal Croatian settings, it is customary to accompany dobar dan with a firm handshake and direct eye contact.
Examples in context
- Dobar dan! Kako mogu pomoći?Good afternoon! How can I help you?
- Dobar dan! Kako ide?Good afternoon! How's it going?
- Dobar dan, kako ste?Good afternoon, how are you?
- Dobar dan, učiteljice.Good afternoon, teacher.
- Dobar dan svima vama.Good afternoon to you all.
Example conversation
Ana enters a small shop where Marko is working.
- AnaDobar dan, Marko!Good afternoon, Marko!
- MarkoDobar dan, Ana. Što trebate?Good afternoon, Ana. What do you need?
- AnaTrebam samo jednu kavu, molim vas.I just need one coffee, please.
- MarkoNaravno, dolazi odmah.Of course, it is coming right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good afternoon” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dan, dobar, dobar dan, CC BY-SA 4.0.
