Bedeutung
Character matters more than appearance.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Croatia, there is a strong social pressure to look 'uredno' (neat). However, this proverb is used to ground people and remind them of traditional peasant values of hard work and honesty. Across the Balkans, there is a shared skepticism of authority figures in expensive suits, often associated with corruption. This proverb is a way for the 'common man' to assert moral superiority. In coastal regions, life is more relaxed. You might see a fisherman who is very wealthy but wears simple clothes. This proverb validates his lifestyle. With the rise of IT hubs in Zagreb, the 'hoodie culture' has made this proverb more relevant than ever in professional settings.
Use it to be humble
If someone compliments your expensive watch, say 'Hvala, ali odijelo ne čini čovjeka' to show you are down-to-earth.
Don't use it at a fashion show
It might be seen as an insult to the designers' hard work!
Bedeutung
Character matters more than appearance.
Use it to be humble
If someone compliments your expensive watch, say 'Hvala, ali odijelo ne čini čovjeka' to show you are down-to-earth.
Don't use it at a fashion show
It might be seen as an insult to the designers' hard work!
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing word in the proverb.
Odijelo ne čini ______.
The object must be in the accusative case, which is 'čovjeka'.
Which situation best fits the proverb 'Odijelo ne čini čovjeka'?
Select the correct scenario:
The proverb is about character and ability being more important than appearance.
Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.
A: 'Vidi ga, nosi staru majicu i poderane hlače.' B: 'Pa što? ______.'
This is the standard response to someone judging another person's clothes.
🎉 Ergebnis: /3
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
3 AufgabenOdijelo ne čini ______.
The object must be in the accusative case, which is 'čovjeka'.
Select the correct scenario:
The proverb is about character and ability being more important than appearance.
A: 'Vidi ga, nosi staru majicu i poderane hlače.' B: 'Pa što? ______.'
This is the standard response to someone judging another person's clothes.
🎉 Ergebnis: /3
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, 'čovjek' in this context means 'human' or 'person'. It applies to everyone.
It's a bit informal for a standard email, but fine in a motivational speech or a blog post about company values.
Because it is the object of the sentence (Accusative case).
The opposite is 'Odijelo čini čovjeka' (Clothes make the man).
Not at all. It is used daily in modern Croatia, especially on social media and in news commentary.
Yes, 'roba' is a common synonym for clothes in Croatia, but 'odijelo' is the traditional form.
No, it just means your value isn't *defined* by your clothes.
It's a hard 'ch' sound, like in 'chocolate'.
Not specifically, but 'odijelo' covers the whole outfit.
Yes, the phrase is identical and equally common in Serbian and Bosnian.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Nije zlato sve što sja
synonymNot all that glitters is gold.
Izvana gladac, iznutra jadac
similarPolished outside, misery inside.
Odijelo čini čovjeka
contrastClothes make the man.
