HSC Croatian Continuers key terms

Polite word meaning 'please' when making a request, and 'you're welcome' or 'here you are' when handing something over or responding to thanks.

Standard expression of thanks. Often followed by 'lijepo' or 'puno' for emphasis, and answered with 'nema na čemu' or 'molim'.

Polite invitation used when offering or handing something to someone, or when inviting a person to speak, act, or go ahead. Common in service encounters.

Formal apology or attention-getter meaning 'excuse me' or 'sorry'. Used to interrupt, ask for repetition, or apologise to a stranger or elder.

Expression of regret or sympathy meaning 'I'm sorry'. Used for genuine apology or condolence, distinct from the casual 'sorry' used to attract attention.

Fixed reply to thanks, literally 'there is nothing for which', equivalent to 'don't mention it' or 'you're welcome'. Signals the favour was small.

General daytime greeting used from morning until evening in formal and neutral situations. Answered with the same phrase; not used among close friends.

Formal farewell meaning 'goodbye', used when leaving shops, offices, or polite company. Casual equivalents include 'bok' and 'vidimo se'.

Informal farewell literally meaning 'we'll see each other', often followed by a time expression such as 'sutra' or 'kasnije'. Common among friends and peers.

Formal or plural way to ask 'how are you'. Typical reply is 'dobro sam, hvala' or 'nisam dobro'. The informal singular form is 'kako si'.

Reflexive verb meaning to introduce oneself, giving name, origin, occupation, or reason for calling. Frequently tested in listening tasks involving first meetings.

Polite question asking someone's name, using the formal plural form. The informal version is 'kako se zoveš'. Answer with 'zovem se' plus the name.

Question asking where someone comes from, answered with 'iz' plus a country or city in the genitive, or with 'dolazim iz'. Distinct from asking where they live.

Verb meaning to live or reside. Used to state a current address or city, as in 'živim u Sydneyu'. Different from 'stanovati', which stresses permanent residence.

Phrase meaning opening hours or working hours. Appears in announcements and notices, often with days of the week and times, and is a common listening detail.

Adjective or sign meaning closed. Typically appears on shop doors or in recorded messages alongside the reason, such as a public holiday or renovation.

Noun meaning public holiday or feast day. Notices often state that a business is closed because of a holiday, or that transport runs on a holiday timetable.

Noun meaning discount or reduction in price. Advertisements mention a percentage, a time limit, and which products are included, all of which may be tested.

In commercial contexts, a sale or special promotion. Headlines such as 'velika akcija' signal reduced prices, often with dates and a list of discounted items.

Noun meaning price. Listening and reading texts often require matching an item to its cost, or noting whether a price includes tax or a discount.

Noun meaning booking or reservation, used for hotels, restaurants, and travel. Details to catch include the name, date, time, and number of people.

Noun meaning appointment slot or scheduled time, used for doctors, hairdressers, and meetings. Often appears in phrases about changing or cancelling a booked time.

Verb meaning to cancel. Frequent in phone messages where someone cancels an appointment, a reservation, or a lesson and gives a reason or proposes a new time.

Verb meaning to confirm. Used when accepting a booking, verifying attendance, or acknowledging receipt of a request, often in the perfective form 'potvrdio sam'.

Noun meaning notice or announcement, such as a short public message about a change, closure, or event. Common text type in reading and listening sections.

Noun meaning advertisement or classified notice, including job adverts and items for sale. Readers must extract contact details, conditions, and required qualifications.

Noun meaning competition, tender, or call for applications, often for jobs, scholarships, or grants. Key details are eligibility, deadline, and required documents.

Noun meaning deadline or time limit. Frequently tested in reading tasks where candidates must identify the last date for applying, paying, or submitting documents.

Noun meaning application or registration, also used for a formal report. Texts mention application forms, fees, and where to submit them before the deadline.

Noun meaning condition or requirement, often plural 'uvjeti'. Used in adverts and rules to state what is required, such as experience, age, or a document.

Noun meaning summary. In reading and listening tasks, candidates may be asked to choose the statement that best summarises the main idea of a text.

Phrase meaning main idea or central point of a text. Distinguishing it from supporting details is a standard requirement in reading comprehension questions.

Noun meaning title or headline. Titles often hint at the topic and tone of a text, helping candidates predict content before detailed reading.

Noun meaning conclusion. Used for the final part of a text or a reasoned judgement, and often the focus of questions asking what the writer finally decides.

Noun meaning attitude, stance, or opinion. Questions may ask what the writer's attitude is towards an issue, requiring attention to evaluative wording.

Noun meaning opinion. Common in tasks asking candidates to identify a speaker's view, or to write a text giving and justifying their own view.

Reflexive verb meaning to agree, used with 's' plus an instrumental noun or a clause. Its negative 'ne slažem se' introduces disagreement in discussion tasks.

Noun meaning advantage or benefit. In writing tasks candidates list advantages and disadvantages of a proposal, linking each to a reason or example.

Noun meaning disadvantage or drawback, also 'shortage'. Paired with 'prednost' in balanced discussion texts that weigh both sides before concluding.

Noun meaning reason. Writing tasks expect reasons to be introduced with expressions such as 'zbog toga', 'jer', or 'na primjer' and supported by evidence.

Noun meaning example. Candidates are expected to illustrate claims with concrete examples, introduced by phrases like 'na primjer' or 'kao što je'.

Noun meaning experience. Appears in job applications and personal writing, where candidates describe past work, travel, or study and what they learned from it.

Noun meaning skill. Used when describing abilities such as languages, computing, or communication, often in applications or texts about education and work.

Noun meaning curriculum vitae or résumé. A formal text type listing personal details, education, work history, and skills in a set order.

Noun meaning request or formal application letter. A standard text type with an address, salutation, stated purpose, supporting reasons, and a polite closing.

Noun meaning complaint or objection. A common writing task is a formal letter of complaint about a product or service, requiring a clear demand for action.

Noun meaning thank-you letter or note. A short formal or semi-formal text type expressing gratitude for help, hospitality, or a gift, with specific details.

Phrase meaning linking words or connectives, such as 'međutim', 'osim toga', and 'zato'. Their accurate use supports coherence and is rewarded in writing.