EasyCroatian_r47.an

Easy Croaan (rev. 47b) / 72 Addressing and Vocave Case 417 / 600
These three words are formal. They are basically used only when you directly
address someone, either in writing, or in a formal situation; therefore, they are
much less often used than English counterparts. For instance, you will often read in
English language newspapers and books sentences like we talked to Mr. Smith... and
so on. You will never see such use of such formal words in Croatian; people will be
referred to using only their last name or full name; however, if someone holds an
office or position (president, minister...) it will be used.
Since words like gospodin are formal, children never use them. While English
language picture books can be about Mr. Bear, Mr. Tiger and so on, you will never
see it in Croatian: such books will be adapted as Big Bear, My Dear Tiger, etc. Even
when adults talk to children about other adults, they won't usually use words like
gospodin.
Children do use specific words addressing grown-ups outside of their family:
Titles used by children
teta
striček (NW, including Zagreb)
barba (coast, except Dubrovnik)
dundo (Dubrovnik)
čiko (A -u) (elsewhere)
striko (A -u) (elsewhere)
'madam'
'mister'
The words are the same as words for relatives in family, and words vary by region.
Children will usually use the title + first name, e.g. they will call their kindergarten
teacher teta Ana; adults will refer to her in the same way, when talking to their
children.
Most familiar terms of relatives nowadays don't have special vocative forms and
use nominatives:
mama Mom
tata Dad
teta aunt
baka grandmother
The following terms have vocative forms:
otac (oc-) father → oče majka mother → majko
Finally, it's custom to end a letter or mail message with one of:
S poštovanjem,
Pozdrav,
Lijep pozdrav,
Followed by the full name (and function) of the sender. The line Lijep pozdrav is
getting increasingly common, and colloquially abbreviated as lp or LP.