Signification
Asking for updates
Contexte culturel
The 'Nema ništa' (Nothing) response is a cultural script. Even if someone just won the lottery, they might start with 'Nema ništa' before telling you. In the coastal regions, 'Šta ima?' is often accompanied by a chin flick upwards. It's very laid back. In the capital, you might hear 'Kaj ima?' (using the Kajkavian 'Kaj' instead of 'Što'). It's a strong marker of Zagreb identity. Even in business, starting with a quick 'Što je novo?' before diving into the agenda is seen as building 'ljudskost' (humanity/rapport).
The 'Kod' Rule
Always use 'kod' + Genitive to ask about a person. 'Što je novo kod Ivana?'
Don't translate 'Up'
Never say 'Što je gore?' for 'What's up?'. It makes no sense in Croatian.
Signification
Asking for updates
The 'Kod' Rule
Always use 'kod' + Genitive to ask about a person. 'Što je novo kod Ivana?'
Don't translate 'Up'
Never say 'Što je gore?' for 'What's up?'. It makes no sense in Croatian.
Sound Native
Use 'Što ima novoga?' with the extra 'ga' to sound like a fluent speaker.
Expect a Story
Be prepared to listen for a few minutes after asking this!
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing word to ask 'What is new?'.
Što ___ novo?
The verb 'biti' must be in the 3rd person singular 'je' to match 'što'.
Which of these is the most common informal way to say 'What's up?' in Croatia?
Choose the informal variation:
'Šta ima?' is the ubiquitous informal version of 'Što je novo?'.
Complete the dialogue between two friends.
Ana: Bok Marko! Marko: Hej Ana! Ana: ___________? Marko: Nema ništa, radim puno.
The response 'Nema ništa' (Nothing's new) indicates the question was 'Što je novo?'.
Match the phrase to the correct context.
Context: You are asking your brother about his new job.
'Na poslu' means 'at work'.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Formal vs Informal Updates
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesŠto ___ novo?
The verb 'biti' must be in the 3rd person singular 'je' to match 'što'.
Choose the informal variation:
'Šta ima?' is the ubiquitous informal version of 'Što je novo?'.
Ana: Bok Marko! Marko: Hej Ana! Ana: ___________? Marko: Nema ništa, radim puno.
The response 'Nema ništa' (Nothing's new) indicates the question was 'Što je novo?'.
Context: You are asking your brother about his new job.
'Na poslu' means 'at work'.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsIt is neutral. You can use it with almost anyone you know.
No, you need the verb 'je' (is).
'Što' is standard/formal, 'Šta' is colloquial/informal.
The most common answer is 'Nema ništa' (Nothing) or 'Sve po starom' (Everything as usual).
It's better to use 'Kako ste?' or 'Dobar dan' with strangers.
It is always 'novo' because 'što' is neuter.
It literally means 'What has [there]?', similar to 'What's there?'.
Yes, though 'Šta ima?' is even more common in Bosnia.
Yes, in a friendly or semi-formal email, it's a great opening.
In this specific phrase, it stays in the nominative neuter.
That is the partitive genitive, meaning 'anything of the new'. It's very idiomatic.
Yes, it's very common during breaks or before meetings.
Expressions liées
Šta ima?
synonymWhat's up?
Kako si?
similarHow are you?
Ima li novosti?
specialized formIs there any news?
Što se radi?
similarWhat's being done?
Ništa novo.
contrastNothing new.
