vjenčanje
Latin, neuter
The English word 'wedding' can be translated into Croatian as vjenčanje. Wiktionary also lists svadba and venčanje.
Meaning: marriage ceremony (noun)
Ways to say it
| Croatian | Note |
|---|---|
| vjenčanje | Latin, neuter |
| svadba | Latin, feminine |
| venčanje | Latin, neuter |
The terms refer to the marriage ceremony itself.
Which one should you use?
While vjenčanje is the standard term for the wedding ceremony, the word svadba is also used to refer to a wedding. The forms vjenčanje and venčanje are both neuter-gender versions of the word.
How does it change in a sentence?
The neuter noun vjenčanje changes to vjenčanja when used in the genitive case. This case is required after words like od (of) or when indicating a specific quantity.
When do people say it?
When greeting newlyweds, it is polite to say Sretan brak! (Happy marriage!). If you wish to ask someone if they are married, you can use the phrase Jesi li u braku? (Are you married?).
Did you know?
- In traditional Croatian weddings, it is common for the groom's party to 'kidnap' the bride during the svadba. The groom must then negotiate her return or complete a task to get her back.
- The term vjenčanje is etymologically tied to the concept of a 'wreath' or 'garland', a nod to the ancient Slavic practice of crowning the newlyweds.
- In some rural Croatian traditions, the svadba feast is preceded by a ritual where the groom's family 'buys' the bride with a symbolic gift, a custom known as otkup mlade.
Examples in context
- Želim vam svadbu iz snova!I wish you a dream wedding!
- Vjenčanje je bilo jako lijepo.The wedding was very beautiful.
- Gdje se održava vjenčanje?Where is the wedding being held?
Example conversation
Mateo and Petra are talking about a friend's upcoming event.
- MateoJesi li primila poziv za vjenčanje?Did you receive the wedding invitation?
- PetraDa, vjenčanje je sljedeće subote.Yes, the wedding is next Saturday.
- MateoHoćemo li ići zajedno?Shall we go together?
- PetraNaravno, idemo zajedno.Of course, let's go together.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wedding” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries svadba, venčanje, CC BY-SA 4.0.
