Learn with Nonna: 60 Everyday Phrases in Italian and Croatian

Growing up with Nonna Do meant growing up surrounded by three languages. She speaks English, Italian and Croatian, a gift from her childhood in Belej on the island of Cres, where Italian and Croatian have lived side by side for generations. In her kitchen you might hear “Buon appetito!” and “Dobar tek!” in the same breath, both meaning “enjoy your meal.” This post gathers 60 of the everyday words and phrases we hear most from her, grouped by theme, with simple pronunciation hints. Whether you have Italian or Croatian roots, are planning a trip to the Adriatic, or just love learning, let’s begin. Ajmo! Andiamo! Let’s go!

Quick Pronunciation Guide

Italian: - c before e or i sounds like “ch” (cena = CHEH-nah); ch sounds like “k” (che = keh) - g before e or i sounds like “j”; gh sounds like hard “g” - gn sounds like “ny” in canyon; gli sounds roughly like “lly” in million - Double consonants are held a little longer: nonna = NOHN-nah

Croatian: - Words are spelled as they sound, one letter for one sound - c = “ts” · č = “ch” (hard) · ć = “ch” (softer) · š = “sh” · ž = “zh” as in measure - đ = soft “j” · dž = “j” as in jam · j = “y” as in yes

1. Greetings and Courtesies

English	Italian	Croatian	Croatian sounds like
Hello / Bye (casual)	Ciao	Bok	bohk
Good morning	Buongiorno	Dobro jutro	DOH-broh YOO-troh
Good evening	Buonasera	Dobra večer	DOH-brah VEH-cher
Good night	Buonanotte	Laku noć	LAH-koo nohch
Goodbye	Arrivederci	Doviđenja	doh-vee-JEH-nyah
Please	Per favore	Molim	MOH-leem
Thank you	Grazie	Hvala	HVAH-lah
You’re welcome	Prego	Nema na čemu	NEH-mah nah CHEH-moo
How are you?	Come stai?	Kako si?	KAH-koh see
I’m well	Sto bene	Dobro sam	DOH-broh sahm

2. Family Words

English	Italian	Croatian
Grandmother	nonna	baka
Grandfather	nonno	djed
Mom	mamma	mama
Dad	papà	tata
Son	figlio	sin
Daughter	figlia	kći
Grandson / Granddaughter	nipote	unuk / unuka
Brother	fratello	brat
Sister	sorella	sestra
Family	famiglia	obitelj

In the dialects of the Kvarner islands and Istria you will often hear nono for grandfather, with a single “n.” Standard Italian spells it nonno.

Nonna’s Tip: Label things around the house with sticky notes in both languages: il frigorifero / hladnjak (the refrigerator), la porta / vrata (the door). You will learn them without trying.

3. Kitchen and Food

English	Italian	Croatian
Enjoy your meal	Buon appetito	Dobar tek
Delicious!	Buonissimo!	Jako ukusno!
Bread	pane	kruh
Water	acqua	voda
Olive oil	olio d’oliva	maslinovo ulje
Cheese	formaggio	sir
Tomato	pomodoro	rajčica
Salt	sale	sol
Kitchen	cucina	kuhinja
More, please	Ancora, per favore	Još, molim

Nonna’s cooking is the best classroom there is. Visit Nonna’s Kitchen and try naming every ingredient in both languages as you cook.

4. Garden and Flowers

English	Italian	Croatian
Flower	fiore	cvijet
Orchid	orchidea	orhideja
Garden	giardino	vrt
Rose	rosa	ruža
Olive tree	olivo	maslina
Sun	sole	sunce
Lavender	lavanda	lavanda
Seashell	conchiglia	školjka

Nonna’s orchids get compliments in three languages. Meet them in our orchid corner.

5. Compliments and Love

English	Italian	Croatian
I love you (to family)	Ti voglio bene	Volim te
You are beautiful (to a woman)	Sei bellissima	Prekrasna si
Well done!	Bravo! / Brava!	Bravo!
Thank you from the heart	Grazie di cuore	Hvala od srca
My dear / my treasure	Tesoro mio	Dušo moja
A kiss	Un bacio	Pusa

In Italian, Ti voglio bene is the warm “I love you” said to family and friends, while Ti amo is usually saved for romantic love. Croatian uses Volim te for both.

6. Faith and Blessings

English	Italian	Croatian
God bless you	Dio ti benedica	Bog te blagoslovio
Thank God	Grazie a Dio	Hvala Bogu
Merry Christmas	Buon Natale	Sretan Božić
Happy Easter	Buona Pasqua	Sretan Uskrs
Peace be with you	La pace sia con te	Mir s tobom
Go with God	Vai con Dio	Idi s Bogom

7. Numbers 1–10

#	Italian	Croatian	Croatian sounds like
1	uno	jedan	YEH-dahn
2	due	dva	dvah
3	tre	tri	tree
4	quattro	četiri	CHEH-tee-ree
5	cinque	pet	pet
6	sei	šest	shest
7	sette	sedam	SEH-dahm
8	otto	osam	OH-sahm
9	nove	devet	DEH-vet
10	dieci	deset	DEH-set

That makes 60 words and phrases. Brava, you made it!

Nonna’s Learning Tips

1. Make flashcards. Put English on one side and Italian and Croatian on the other. Better yet, play the language flashcard game on our games page.
2. Cook in the language. Read a recipe aloud in Italian or Croatian, name each ingredient, and count the spoonfuls: uno, due, tre or jedan, dva, tri.
3. Sing along. Songs are how Nonna learned so much as a child. Melodies make words stick, so try folk songs, Christmas carols or a favorite pop song.
4. Practice a little every day. Five minutes daily beats an hour once a week. Free apps like Duolingo offer both Italian and Croatian courses.
5. Talk with family. If you have a nonna, baka or relative who speaks the language, call them and try out your new phrases. They will be thrilled.
6. Don’t fear mistakes. Every speaker was once a beginner.

“The recipe is the guide—the flavor is your voice.” — Nonna Do. Learning a language works the same way: the lists are your guide, but your conversations make it your own.

Nonna’s Takeaway

Languages are family heirlooms. Every word Nonna taught us, from nonna and baka to grazie and hvala, carries a little of the island where she was born and the love she brought across the ocean. Start with ten words this week. Say buongiorno at breakfast and laku noć at bedtime. Before long, you will be saying ti voglio bene without thinking twice.

Keep learning: Language games · Mali Lošinj: The Island of Vitality · About Nonna Do