Additional Latin characters
Č, ć, đ, š and ž distinguish words and names and must be preserved in full.
South Slavic language
Have Croatian translated
hrvatski
Croatian documents are often needed for civil-status matters, education, employment and European administrative procedures.
Croatian is spoken by approximately five to six million people in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and diaspora communities.
Geographical distribution of Croatian
- Main areas of use
- Other regional use
- Selected diaspora communities
Croatia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Serbia
Germany
Austria
Schematic selection of key areas where the language is used. Language use does not always follow national borders; the map is not a comprehensive population statistic.
Language profile
Croatian at a glance
- Native name
- hrvatski
- Language family
- South Slavic language
- Script
- Latin alphabet
- Language code
- hr
Documents and uses
Common uses for this language combination
The language alone is not decisive. ABBA-Sprachendienste also considers the document type, recipient, subject area, certification requirements and requested language direction.
Request a document review- Birth, marriage and death certificates
- Certificates and diplomas
- Employment and pension records
- Contracts and powers of attorney
- Court and official documents
Origin and development
How the language developed
Croatian is a South Slavic language. The modern standard language is based largely on Shtokavian dialects and is written in the Latin script.
Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian and Montenegrin are closely related, but each has its own standard-language tradition and official designation. The specific language used in a document must be respected.
Good to know
What makes this language distinctive
Related, but distinct
Closely related South Slavic standard languages must not be treated as interchangeable in official documents without confirmation.
Historical names of states
Older documents may refer to Yugoslav authorities, registers and document types that must be placed in their historical context.
A brief introduction to the language
Three introductory expressions
The transliteration is intended only as an initial guide. Pronunciation and regional forms may vary.
| Original | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Dobar dan | — | Good day |
| Hvala | — | Thank you |
| Molim | — | Please |
Sources and classification
Further information
Speaker numbers are rounded estimates and may vary depending on the definition, survey year and whether second-language speakers are included.
- Croatian language
Wikipedia · language-specific overview
- Codes for the Representation of Names of Languages
Library of Congress / ISO 639-2 Registration Authority · Language codes and standardised language names
- Language and Locale Names
Unicode Common Locale Data Repository · Language, script and territory names and variants
- Glottolog 5.3
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology · Language families, classification and linguistic literature
Editorial sources current as at 14 July 2026. The information will undergo a specialist review before the production launch.
Other related service languages
Croatian FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Croatian
Can I have Croatian translated into German and German into Croatian?
Both directions can be requested. Binding confirmation is provided after the document type, subject area, certification requirements, appointment and intended use have been assessed.
Which documents are commonly relevant for Croatian?
Birth, marriage and death certificates, certificates and diplomas, employment and pension records, and contracts and powers of attorney are typical examples. Other types of document can also be assessed from a clear photograph or PDF.
What does ABBA-Sprachendienste check in Croatian documents?
The review covers the language direction, document type, use of the Latin alphabet, names, stamps, subject area, intended use and any potential need for certification.
Do I need a certified translation of my Croatian document?
The receiving authority, court, notary or other requesting body decides this. Tell ABBA-Sprachendienste where the document will be submitted so that the requirements can be assessed appropriately.
Is a photo sufficient for the initial review?
Yes. A complete, sharp and clearly legible photo or PDF is usually sufficient for an initial quotation review. Depending on the assignment, the original may also be required later.
Have your specific Croatian ↔ German requirements assessed
Send a clear photo or PDF. ABBA-Sprachendienste will personally assess the language direction, document, intended use and certification requirements.
