ručak
/rǔːt͡ʃak/Latin, masculine
The English word 'lunch' is translated into Croatian as ručak. Wiktionary also lists obed.
Meaning: meal around midday (noun)
Ways to say it
| Croatian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ručak | /rǔːt͡ʃak/ | Latin, masculine |
| obed | Latin, masculine |
ručak is the most common and widely used term for the midday meal in Croatian.
Which one should you use?
ručak is the standard, everyday word used throughout the language. In contrast, obed is a more formal or archaic term for a midday meal.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the eastern part of Croatia, specifically in Slavonia, people use the word obed to mean 'lunch'.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because ručak is a masculine inanimate noun, it remains ručak in the accusative case (for example, when saying 'I am eating lunch').
How do you pronounce it?
/rǔːtʃak/
Did you know?
- In many Croatian households, ručak is considered the main meal of the day and is often more substantial than dinner.
- The linguistic connection between 'hand' and 'lunch' through ručak reflects a deep cultural history of how food was handled.
- The term obed descends from the Proto-Slavic word *obědъ, which originally meant 'a meal eaten together'.
Examples in context
- Molim vas, gdje mogu pronaći restoran za ručak?Excuse me, where can I find a restaurant for lunch?
- Danas je ručak uključen u cijenu.Today, lunch is included in the price.
- Ajmo na klopu!Let's go for lunch!
- Ručak je spreman.Lunch is ready.
- Gdje ideš na ručak?Where are you going for lunch?
- Želim brz ručak danas.I want a quick lunch today.
Example conversation
In a kitchen at midday.
- IvanaJe li ručak gotov?Is lunch finished?
- MarkoDa, upravo je gotov.Yes, it is just finished.
- IvanaSuper, idemo jesti.Great, let's eat.
- MarkoIdem odmah, Ivana.I'm coming right now, Ivana.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lunch” translations and entries ručak, obed, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries obed, ručak, CC BY-SA 4.0.
