If you’re watching Croatia at the World Cup, European Championship or any other international tournament, sooner or later you’ll want to join the cheering. And if you’ve ever wondered how to say “Let’s go, Croatia!” in Croatian, you’re not alone.
The good news is that you don’t need to speak Croatian fluently. A few simple phrases are enough to sound like a local fan.
How Do You Say “Let’s go Croatia” in Croatian?
The most common phrases are:
Idemo Hrvatska!
Pronunciation: EE-deh-mo HR-vat-ska
It literally means “Let’s go, Croatia!” and is one of the most popular chants you’ll hear before and during matches.
Ajmo Hrvatska!
Pronunciation: AY-mo HR-vat-ska
“Ajmo” and “Idemo” can both be translated as “Let’s go” or “Come on”. In everyday speech, many Croatians use them interchangeably.
What Does “Ajmo Vatreni” Mean?
You will often hear fans shouting:
Ajmo Vatreni!
Pronunciation: AY-mo VAH-treh-nee
The phrase means: “Come on, Vatreni!”
“Vatreni” is the famous nickname of the Croatian national football team. The word literally means “The Fiery Ones” and has become one of the most recognisable symbols of Croatian football.
The nickname has been used for decades and today is known far beyond Croatia’s borders. You can read more about its origins in our article Why Is Croatia’s Football Team Called the Vatreni?
Other Croatian Football Phrases You Might Hear
Naprijed Hrvatska!
Pronunciation: NAH-pri-yed HR-vat-ska
Meaning: “Go Croatia!”
Hrvatska! Hrvatska!
Pronunciation: HR-vat-ska! HR-vat-ska!
The Croatian name for Croatia repeated over and over throughout the stadium.
U boj, u boj, za narod svoj!
Pronunciation: Oo boy, oo boy, za NAH-rod svoy
Meaning “To battle, to battle, for your people!”
This famous line comes from a well-known Croatian patriotic song and occasionally appears among football supporters.
While it is part of Croatian sporting culture, visitors are more likely to hear “Idemo Hrvatska” or “Ajmo Vatreni” during a football match.
How to Pronounce Famous Croatian Footballers’ Names
If you’re watching Croatia play, you’ll probably hear commentators mention some of the country’s biggest football stars. Here is a simple guide to pronouncing a few of the most famous Croatian players.
Luka Modrić
Pronunciation: LOO-kah MOH-drich
Ivan Perišić
Pronunciation: EE-vahn PEH-ree-shich
Joško Gvardiol
Pronunciation: YOSH-koh GVAR-dee-ol
Mateo Kovačić
Pronunciation: Mah-TEH-oh KOH-vah-chich
Andrej Kramarić
Pronunciation: AHN-dray KRAH-mah-rich
Dominik Livaković
Pronunciation: DOH-mee-neek Lee-VAH-koh-vich
Why Are Croatia’s Fans So Passionate?
Football occupies a unique place in Croatian culture.
Despite having a population of fewer than four million people, Croatia has reached the World Cup semi-finals in 1998 and 2022 and finished as runners-up in 2018. These achievements helped turn the national team into a source of pride far beyond sport.
When Croatia plays in a major tournament, city squares, cafés and waterfront promenades often fill with supporters wearing the country’s famous red-and-white chequered pattern.
If you’re curious why such a small country continues to achieve extraordinary football success, see our article: Why Does Croatia Keep Producing World-Class Footballers?
The Three Phrases You Really Need
If you only remember three things, make them these:
Idemo Hrvatska! (EE-deh-mo HR-vat-ska)
Let’s go, Croatia!
Ajmo Hrvatska! (AY-mo HR-vat-ska)
Come on, Croatia!
Ajmo Vatreni! (AY-mo VAH-treh-nee)
Come on, Vatreni!
And if you find yourself surrounded by Croatian fans during a big match, simply shout one of them loudly enough and you’ll fit right in.
Where You’ll Hear These Phrases
If you’re visiting Croatia during a major tournament, you’ll hear these phrases almost everywhere. Supporters gather in city squares, cafés, bars and waterfront promenades to watch matches together, often creating an atmosphere that feels more like a festival than a football game. Football is one of the few occasions when complete strangers will celebrate, sing and suffer through every moment of a match together.
