hvala
Latin
The English phrase 'thanks' is translated into Croatian as hvala.
The word hvala is the most common and versatile way to express appreciation or gratitude in Croatian.
Meaning: used to express appreciation or gratitude (intj)
Which one should you use?
While hvala is the standard form, you can use different variations to change the intensity or level of politeness. For instance, Hvala puno and Hvala ti puno both mean 'Thanks a lot', while Hvala bezbroj puta is a more enthusiastic informal expression meaning 'Thanks a million'.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can specify who you are thanking by adding a pronoun after hvala. To say 'thank you' to a single person informally, use hvala ti. To say 'thank you' to a group of people or to someone in a formal context, use hvala vam.
When do people say it?
When someone says hvala to you, the most common way to respond is nema na čemu, which literally translates to 'there is nothing for it'.
Did you know?
- The word hvala shares an unexpected linguistic ancestor with the English word 'exalt', stemming from the same Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to praise'.
- In Croatian, hvala is not only used for gratitude but can also mean 'praise' or 'glory' in certain religious or formal contexts.
- Unlike English where 'thanks' is often a quick reflex, omitting hvala in social interactions in Croatia can be perceived as significantly more rude than in some Anglophone cultures.
Examples in context
- Hvala!Thanks!This sentence is useful for practicing the basic form hvala.Tatoeba #2213774 by akvo, translation #448645 by CK
- Hvala, gospodine Markoviću, što ste mi pomogli.Thank you, Mr. Marković, for helping me.
- Zahvaljujem vam na vašoj velikoj pomoći.I am grateful for your great help.
- Hvala lijepa na ovom prekrasnom poklonu.Thank you very much for this wonderful gift.
- Hvala puno, Petra, na vožnji kući.Thanks a lot, Petra, for the ride home.
- Hvala ti puno što si mi pomogao/la pripremiti ovu večeru.Thank you so much for helping me prepare this dinner.
- Hvala ti lijepo na vrijednom savjetu.Thank you very much for the valuable advice.
- Hvala na pomoći.Thanks for the help.
- Mnogo ti hvala.Thanks a lot.
Example conversation
Ivan gives Mia a coffee at the office.
- MiaIvan, je li ovo kava za mene?Ivan, is this coffee for me?
- IvanDa, izvoli.Yes, here you go.
- MiaHvala ti puno.Thanks a lot.
- IvanNema na čemu.You're welcome.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thanks” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hvala, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
