Marija SESAR

When a Greek girlfriend recently came up to Sydney to visit me, my friend Maria and I found ourselves constantly needing to translate words to her. We never realised just how much of the Croatian language had seeped into our everyday banter. It got me thinking....

So, after all that thinking, the end result is that I thought it would be interesting to compile a list of the more common words that have slowly but surely become integrated into the everyday conversations of Australian Croats.

(NB. Many of these words are translated into their intended meaning, rather than the literal translation.)

duso (soul) - term of endearment

adje (C'mon)

dosadan/dosadna (annoying, pedantic)

sta ces (what  can you do)

pizdarije/karafeke (bric-a-brac)

jadan/jadna/jadnik (poor, sorry, moron)

kuc (home-as in where are you going?)

sramota (shame)

Sto radis - (what you up to?)

rikverc (reverse)

zamisli (imagine)

bezveze (pointless, silly)

lud/luda (crazy cool or crazy psycho)

svasta (now I've heard it all)

za nista (good for nothing)

papuce (slippers)

moze (can do)

kuga - a favourite of the Adelaide gals (drunken skank)

steta (what a shame)

Bog zna (God knows)

da nebi (as if)

Ajme meni, Boze sacuvaj (My goodness, God forbid) - often used separately

blesav (idiot)

majmun (as above)

budala (as above above)

Then there are those that could best be described as some of the best Croatian words ever invented. (Pronounce them slowly and out loud for maximum effect):

lazes! (you're lying)

sipak (rosehip)

jarac (goat)

mrs (get away)

bakteria

sminka (makeup)

slank (nice physique)

super

tocno (spot on)

patuljak/patuljci (little people)

katastrofa (catastrophe)

sarafciger (screwdriver)

brkove (moustache)

brada (beard)

tikva (pumpkin)

smokva (fig)

keks (biscuit)

zmigavac (indicator)

komarac (mosquito)

mis (mouse)

kukuruz (corn)

zderat (excessive eating)

Then there are the words which we have 'Croatianised', so to speak, in order to assist in communicating with our parents such as:

ringala

ringao

shoppavati

talkovat

gamblovat

walkat, walkovat

Isli smo za vok (walk)

And then, the words our parents have 'Croatianised', as they have slowly become integrated members of mainstream Australian society or, better said, they have become 'Ozije'.

kaman (come on)

milly bar (milk bar)

isurenc (insurance)

orajt (alright)

majk (mate)

opsajd (Offside)

faken (F*cken)

indiot (Idiot)

nazemera (doesn't matter)

inzekli (Exactly)

lajsnes (license)

P-play (P Plates)

plizzzzzz! (please)

cun gan (chewing gum)

Kresen (Croatian)

nobed (not bad)

Minjura (Mildura)

cikena (chicken)

mikroaven (microwave)

obertaj (overtime)

kouc (couch)

And vice-versa, Croatian words that we have 'Australianised' such as the following:

- 'Did you get Bettina Lianos (batine) when you got home?'

- Putting 'ing' on any verb, e.g. sanjating, voziting, kupating, plesating

- Or putting "'s" on the end of a word to make it plural, e.g. papuce's, sapun's, robe's, cipele's, karafeks etc.

Then, while we are still on the theme, here are some Croatian colloquialisms just for good measure (Unfortunately most of them are the numerous threats we - siblings and cousins - used to receive from our parents and extended family):

Kad se zenis (when are you getting married)

Tko te sisa (who cares)

Bum te klepnio (I'm going to give you a 'shlops' across the head)

I tako dalje (etc)

Batine ces dobit (you're going to cop a hiding)

Ma daj, nemoj!! (come on, you don't say)

Nemoj da te zviznem (don't push me to smack you into oblivion)

Kaj zbum (what you doing?)

Dobces (you're gonna cop it)

Ma nemoj (no kidding)

Sta mozes (what can you do ?)

Nema problema (no problem)

Donesi sibu (bring me a flimsy tree branch so I can whip you with it - one is often forcibly made to pick it off the tree themselves!!!)

Kaj ti klinac (what's with you)

Usi cu ti iscupat (I'll pull your ears out)

Vrag te odnio (the devil will take you away)

Cekaj dok dodemo kuci (just wait until we get home)

Ako se mama/tata digne (if you push me to get up out of my seat... you're gonna cop it!)

Nu, nu, nu or gle, gle, gle budale! (look, look, look at the idiot)

Ispeglat cu te (I'll straighten you out)

To je za nevjerovat (that is unbelievable)

Pamet u glavu! (be smart)

Tko ti je dao lajsens (who gave you a licence to drive)

Sram te bilo (you should be ashamed of yourself)

Poljubi i ostavi (kiss it and leave it)

Jadna nebila (what a silly girl)

Nemas pojma (you've got no idea).

Thanks to the trusty recipients of my group email for some hilarious reply-alls and helping me compile the above list.