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.