How to Say Merry Christmas in Croatian

Wishing someone a Merry Christmas in Croatian is more than just a simple greeting – it’s a way to share warmth, joy, and the festive spirit.

If you’re visiting Croatia for the winter, knowing these phrases can be even more useful to connect with locals and join in the holiday celebrations.

Celebrations with family, friends, or coworkers are also special moments, and using the right phrase can help you connect with Croatian culture and make your stay in Croatia even more meaningful during the holiday season.

Why Learn to Say Merry Christmas in Croatian?

In Croatia, Christmas is a time for traditions, gatherings, and joyful celebrations. The most common greeting Sretan Božić (Merry Christmas) is used everywhere, but there are many other ways to express your holiday wishes. Knowing these phrases lets you add a personal touch or keep things formal depending on who you’re speaking to.

To help you celebrate like a local, we’ve created this simple guide with 12 popular ways to say "Merry Christmas" in Croatian.

12 Ways to Say “Merry Christmas” in Croatian

Below is a list of 12 Croatian phrases you can use to wish someone a Merry Chrsitmas, along with their English translations and an indication for when to use them:

How to Use Different Ways to Say “Merry Christmas” in Croatian

Below are the translations of the phrases from the list above, along with tips on when to use them and how to pronounce each one correctly.

Sretan Božić (Merry Christmas)

“Sretan Božić” is the most common and classic way to say “Merry Christmas” in Croatian. It’s simple, clear, and works well in almost any situation—whether you’re with family, friends, or coworkers.

You’ll hear this phrase everywhere during the holiday season—in cards, conversations, and festive gatherings. It’s the "go-to" expression to share Christmas wishes in Croatia.

To pronounce it correctly, say “sreh-tan boh-zheech.”

Sretni blagdani (Happy Holidays)

“Sretni blagdani” means literally “Happy Holidays” and is a more general festive greeting that covers the whole holiday season, not just Christmas day. It’s great if you want to include New Year’s or other celebrations in your wishes.

This phrase is perfect for cards, emails, or when speaking to groups, especially if you’re not sure if someone celebrates Christmas specifically.

To pronounce it correctly, say “sret-nee blahg-dah-nee.”

Čestit Božić (Congratulations on Christmas)

“Čestit Božić” is a bit more formal and polite than the usual greeting. The word “čestit” means “congratulations,” so it adds a respectful tone.

This phrase works well in professional settings or when you want to sound a little more official. For example, you might use it in a Christmas card to a colleague or your boss.

To pronounce it correctly, say “cheh-steet boh-zheech.”

Želim ti sretan Božić (I wish you a Merry Christmas)

This phrase is more personal and warm. It literally means “I wish you a Merry Christmas” and is used mostly with people you know well, like friends or family.

It’s a nice way to make your greeting feel super genuine 👍

To pronounce it, say “zheh-leem tee sreh-tan boh-zheech.”

Želim vam sretan Božić (I wish you a Merry Christmas - formal or plural)

This is the formal or plural version of the previous phrase. Use “vam” when speaking politely to someone you don’t know well, or when addressing a group.

Great for work emails or when talking to several people at once.

Pronounce it like this: “zheh-leem vahm sreh-tan boh-zheech.”

Blagoslovljen Božić (Blessed Christmas)

“Blagoslovljen Božić” means “Blessed Christmas” and has a more religious or spiritual tone. It’s often used in church settings, cards, or when offering a special blessing 😊

(This word “blagoslovljen” is the past participle of “blagosloviti” which means “to bless.”)

Pronounce it: “blah-goh-slov-lyen boh-zheech.”

Veseli Božić (Joyful Christmas)

“Veseli Božić” means “Joyful Christmas” and is a cheerful, friendly way to greet someone during the holidays.

It’s definitely a bit less common than “Sretan Božić” but perfect if you want to add some extra happiness to your wishes.

(To say “veseli” is like saying “happy” or “cheerful” and you’ll hear it used in other festive greetings too.)

Pronounce it: “veh-seh-lee boh-zheech.”

Sretan Božić i Nova godina (Merry Christmas and Happy New Year)

This phrase combines Christmas and New Year wishes in one. It’s very popular since many people celebrate the whole season, not just Christmas day.

You’ll often hear this in cards, emails, or casual conversations in December and early January.

Pronounce it: “sreh-tan boh-zheech ee noh-vah go-dee-nah.”

Neka ti Božić bude radostan (May your Christmas be joyful)

This is a warm and heartfelt wish, expressing hope that someone’s Christmas will be full of joy and happiness.

It’s a bit longer than the usual greetings but works well in cards or when you want to say something special.

(This structure “Neka ti…” is common in Croatian for sending good wishes or hopes.)

Pronounce it: “neh-kah tee boh-zheech boo-deh rah-doh-stahn.”

Sretne i vesele blagdane (Happy and Merry Holidays)

“Sretne i vesele blagdane” means “Happy and Merry Holidays” and is a friendly, general greeting for the whole festive season.

It’s perfect if you want to cover Christmas and the New Year in one phrase.

Pronounce it: “sret-neh ee veh-seh-leh blahg-dah-neh.”

Sretan Božić svima (Merry Christmas to everyone)

“Sretan Božić svima” means “Merry Christmas to everyone.” It’s a warm greeting you can use when speaking to a group or sending a message to multiple people for example.

Pronounce it: “sreh-tan boh-zheech svee-mah.”

Radostan Božić (Joyful Christmas)

“Radostan Božić” means “Joyful Christmas” and is a simple, cheerful way to share Christmas wishes.

(To say “radostan” means “joyful” or “full of joy” and you’ll find this word in other happy expressions too.)

Pronounce it: “rah-doh-stahn boh-zheech.”

10 Examples of Phrases with “Merry Christmas” in Croatian

So you can better understand how to use “Merry Christmas” and related greetings in Croatian, please find below 10 simple and useful examples you can use in everyday situations:

• Sretan Božić! — Merry Christmas!
• Želim ti sretan Božić! — I wish you a Merry Christmas!
• Sretan Božić i sretna Nova godina! — Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
• Neka ti Božić bude radostan. — May your Christmas be joyful.
• Blagoslovljen Božić tebi i tvojoj obitelji. — Blessed Christmas to you and your family.
• Sretan Božić svima! — Merry Christmas to everyone!
• Uživaj u Božiću i praznicima! — Enjoy Christmas and the holidays!
• Veseli Božić! — Joyful Christmas!
• Neka ti Božić donese mir i sreću. — May Christmas bring you peace and happiness.
• Sretan Božić, nadam se da ćeš imati divan dan. — Merry Christmas, I hope you have a wonderful day.

These examples will help you use the right expression at the right moment to share your holiday wishes naturally in Croatian.

More Resources to Learn Croatian

If you want to improve your Croatian skills, here are some useful articles to check out:

👉 How to Say Good Luck in Croatian — Learn the best ways to wish someone luck in Croatian.

👉 Learn Croatian with Music — Discover how songs can boost your language learning.

👉 How Long Does It Take to Learn Croatian? — Get realistic expectations about your learning journey.

👉 How to Learn Croatian Step-by-Step — A clear guide to build your skills effectively.

These resources will support your learning and help you improve your Croatian every day.

Conclusion

In summary, saying Merry Christmas in Croatian is more than just a direct translation. Phrases like Sretan Božić, Blagoslovljen Božić, or Veseli Božić each carry their own tone and usage, so knowing these different ways will help you connect better with Croatian speakers.

If you’re just starting out or want to polish your Croatian, using the right expressions at the right time will definitely make your messages stand out.

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