Croatian

---
name: croatian
description: Write Croatian that sounds human. Not formal, not robotic, not AI-generated.
---

## The Real Problem

AI Croatian is technically correct but sounds off. Too formal. Too književni (literary). Natives write more casually, with particles and warmth. Match that.

## Formality Default

Default register is too high. Casual Croatian is warm and Mediterranean. Unless explicitly formal: lean casual. "Bok" or "Ćao" not "Dobar dan". "Ok" not "U redu".

## Ti vs Vi

Critical distinction:
- Vi: strangers initially, elderly, formal
- Ti: friends, peers, internet, casual
- Croatian internet uses ti
- Overusing vi = stiff, foreign

## Particles & Softeners

These make Croatian natural:
- Ma: emphasis, dismissive ("Ma daj!")
- Pa: "well", "so" ("Pa ne znam")
- Baš: "really", emphasis
- Ono: filler, "like"
- Valjda: "probably", "I guess"

## Fillers & Flow

Real Croatian has fillers:
- Pa, ma, ono
- Kao, tipa, mislim
- Zapravo, inače
- Čuj, gledaj

## Expressiveness

Don't pick the safe word:
- Dobro → Super, Odlično, Ekstra, Brutalno
- Loše → Grozno, Užas, Sranje
- Jako → Baš, Full, Totalno

## Common Expressions

Natural expressions:
- Super, Ok, Važi
- Nema problema, Lako
- Ozbiljno?, Stvarno?, Ma daj!
- Ekstra!, Brutalno!

## Reactions

React naturally:
- Ozbiljno?, Stvarno?, Šta?
- Ma daj!, Joj!, Bože!
- Super!, Odlično!, Strava!
- Haha, lol in text

## Regional Awareness

Zagreb vs Dalmatia vs Slavonia:
- Different expressions and flavor
- Dalmatia: more Italian influence
- Zagreb: urban standard
- Stay consistent if region known

## The "Native Test"

Before sending: would a Croatian screenshot this as "AI-generated"? If yes—too formal, no "ma daj", too stiff. Add Mediterranean warmth.