If you want to be able to read and write in Croatian then the first step is learning the alphabet.
This can be daunting at first but with the right resources you’ll master it in no time.
This guide will give you the resources you need and tell you how to learn the Croatian alphabet.
So, how much do you actually need to learn?
Table of Contents
What Alphabet Does Croatian Use?
Croatian uses Gaj’s Latin alphabet which is a version of the Latin script that is used to write Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian and Montenegrin.
This alphabet was initially created by Ljudevit Gaj, a Croatian linguist, in 1835. This alphabet was largely based upon the Czech alphabet.
How Many Letters Are There In The Croatian Alphabet?
The Croatian alphabet consists of 30 letters.
It is very similar to the standard Latin alphabet however Croatian doesn’t contain the letters q, w, x or y. It does also have some additional letters, these are č, ć, dž, đ, lj, nj, š and ž.
There are plenty of resources out there to help you learn the Croatian alphabet. There’s lots of variety and different resources that meet different peoples needs.
Let’s have a look at some.
Learn The Croatian Alphabet Online
There’s plenty of great online resources that will help you learn the Croatian alphabet, many of which are completely free.
Quizlet
Quizlet is an online learning tool that uses flashcards and games to help you learn!
They have a free flashcard deck featuring the Croatian alphabet. Please note this course is labelled as Serbian however Croatian and Serbian are actually the same language, so they use the same alphabet. It also includes the Cyrillic alphabet (which is used in Serbia but not Croatia) so focus on the Latin letters and ignore the Cyrillic ones.
There’s loads of different ways to study the flashcards with Quizlet.
I’d recommend using the ‘Learn’ feature which creates a personalised study plan just for you and uses spaced repetition to help you master the alphabet. You can also learn with games such as ‘Match’ where you match the corresponding letters.
The only issue is that it doesn’t have sound so I’d suggest using another resource alongside it to ensure you have the correct pronunciation. The next resource is perfect for this.
Learn Croatian
This website is a great reference point for the Croatian alphabet. It shows all the letters in a handy table.
The best part is that you can click on any letter and hear the pronunciation. It also gives lots of helpful explanations on the alphabet.
Click here to visit their website.
Quiz
Co Language has a fun Croatian alphabet quiz that you can access for free on their website. Once you’re feeling confident why not give it a go to test your understanding?
The quiz is right at the bottom of the page under the heading ‘Exercises’, you will need to scroll to the bottom past the alphabet explanations.
Learn The Croatian Alphabet With YouTube Videos
YouTube is a fantastic resource for learning any language as there are so many videos uploaded everyday from all around the world.
Videos are really useful resources as they will help you to improve your pronunciation. It’s important to know how to say the letters of the alphabet correctly.
I’ve selected a few handy videos that you can use to help you learn the Croatian alphabet.
Video Resource 1
This video is a great resource for learning the Croatian alphabet. It goes over each letter of the alphabet providing you with the pronunciation and example words. It also gives a comparison of the English & Croatian alphabet and spends time focusing on some of the trickier letters.
Check it out below:
Video Resource 2
This video is a great reference point for the Croatian alphabet. The speaker goes through every letter of the alphabet giving the pronunciation and also clarifies some key points to help you understand it fully.
Check it out below:
Video Resource 3
This is another handy video that goes over the alphabet in detail showing you how to pronounce each letter of the Croatian alphabet and providing you with example Croatian words so you can hear how the letters sound in words.
Check it out below:
Learn The Croatian Alphabet With Books
Books are especially good for learning how to read and write Croatian letters. If you want to be able to read and write in Croatian then try out some of this resource.
Reference Book
If you’re looking for a book that goes into lots of detail then try ‘Complete Croatian’. It’s a great reference point that covers the alphabet in lots of detail and gives lots of examples so you can truly master the Croatian alphabet.
This book is designed to teach you Croatian to an intermediate level so it’s a useful reference book to have and will teach you so much more than just the alphabet.
You can also access this book in audio form for free on the Teach Yourself website. You do need to create an account, but it is completely free. The audio course goes over the alphabet and teaches you the sounds of the letters.
Thanks for reading this guide on how to learn the Croatian alphabet. I’ve covered a range of different resources for all different types of learners, hopefully you found something useful that suits your learning style.
If you want to learn some beginner phrases, try learning how to say ‘how are you’ in Croatian.
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