Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use 'biti gladan' to express the physical need for food, similar to 'to be hungry' in English.
- Means: To experience the physical sensation of needing to eat.
- Used in: Daily conversations, restaurants, and family settings.
- Don't confuse: Using 'imati' (to have) instead of 'biti' (to be).
Explication à ton niveau :
Signification
Feeling the need for food.
Contexte culturel
It is common to offer food multiple times. Even if you say 'Nisam gladan', a host might still bring out a plate of 'narezaka' (cold cuts). The 'marenda' is a sacred late-morning meal. If someone is 'gladan' at 10:30 AM, they are looking for a marenda, which is often a warm, cooked dish. The term 'gablec' is used similarly to 'marenda' but often refers to a quicker, work-break meal. In the east of Croatia, portions are notoriously large. Being 'gladan' there usually results in a very heavy, meat-based meal.
Gender Matters
Always check the gender of the person you are talking about. It's the most common mistake for beginners.
Don't use 'Imati'
Never say 'Imam glad'. It sounds like you are possessing a physical object named 'Hunger'.
Gender Matters
Always check the gender of the person you are talking about. It's the most common mistake for beginners.
Don't use 'Imati'
Never say 'Imam glad'. It sounds like you are possessing a physical object named 'Hunger'.
The Wolf Idiom
Use 'gladan kao vuk' to sound more like a native speaker when you are really hungry.
Politeness
If you are a guest, it's okay to say you are hungry, but it's even better to wait for the host to offer.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of 'gladan' based on the subject.
Ana je ____.
Ana is a female name, so the adjective must end in -na.
Choose the correct translation for 'We are hungry'.
How do you say 'We are hungry'?
'Mi smo' means 'We are' and 'gladni' is the plural form.
Complete the dialogue.
Marko: 'Jesi li gladan?' Ivan: 'Da, ____ sam.'
'Jako' (very) fits perfectly to emphasize hunger.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You haven't eaten all day and you are talking to a close friend.
This slang expression is perfect for extreme hunger with friends.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Forms of Gladan
Masculine
- • gladan (sing.)
- • gladni (plur.)
Feminine
- • gladna (sing.)
- • gladne (plur.)
Neuter
- • gladno (sing.)
- • gladna (plur.)
Hungry vs Full
Banque d exercices
5 exercicesAna je ____.
Ana is a female name, so the adjective must end in -na.
How do you say 'We are hungry'?
'Mi smo' means 'We are' and 'gladni' is the plural form.
Marko: 'Jesi li gladan?' Ivan: 'Da, ____ sam.'
'Jako' (very) fits perfectly to emphasize hunger.
You haven't eaten all day and you are talking to a close friend.
This slang expression is perfect for extreme hunger with friends.
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsYes, it is perfectly normal. 'Pas je gladan' (The dog is hungry).
You can say 'Umirem od gladi' (I'm dying of hunger) or 'Izgladnio sam'.
No, for thirst you must use 'žedan'.
For a mixed or male group, use 'gladni'. For a female group, use 'gladne'.
Yes, it sounds very professional and motivated.
'Gladan' is the state (I am hungry), 'ogladnio' is the action (I became hungry).
You say 'Tko je gladan?'.
It is neutral. It's fine in any situation.
The opposite is 'sit' (full/satiated).
Sometimes 'gladan novca' can imply greed, but 'pohlepan' is the specific word for greedy.
No, you can just say 'Gladan sam'. The verb ending tells us it's 'I'.
In some dialects, the accent changes, but 'gladan' with a long 'a' is standard.
Expressions liées
žedan
similarthirsty
sit
contrastfull/satiated
ogladnjeti
builds onto become hungry
izgladnio
specialized formstarved
imati apetit
similarto have an appetite
Où l'utiliser
At a Restaurant
Konobar: Izvolite, što želite?
Gost: Jako smo gladni, može odmah meni?
Visiting a Friend
Prijatelj: Hoćeš nešto popiti?
Ti: Može, ali zapravo sam i malo gladna.
After a Workout
Trener: Dobar trening danas!
Vježbač: Hvala, ali sad sam gladan kao vuk.
On a Date
Ona: Kamo idemo?
On: U onaj novi restoran, jer sam već jako gladan.
With Children
Dijete: Mama, gladan sam!
Mama: Ručak je gotov za pet minuta.
Late Night Study
Cimer: Još uvijek učiš?
Ti: Da, ali ogladnio sam. Idemo u McDonald's?
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of 'Gladan' as 'Glad to eat'. When you are glad-an, you are glad to find an apple!
Association visuelle
Imagine a giant wolf (vuk) wearing a bib and holding a fork and knife, looking at a delicious plate of Croatian 'ćevapi'.
Rhyme
Kad si gladan, nisi radan. (When you are hungry, you are not productive.)
Story
A traveler arrives in Zagreb. He is so tired he forgets his words. He sees a bakery and says 'Ja... gladan!'. The baker smiles and gives him a 'burek'. Now he is happy.
In Other Languages
Similar to English 'to be hungry' and Russian 'быть голодным'. Unlike Romance languages (Spanish/French) which use 'to have hunger'.
Word Web
Défi
Go to a Croatian bakery (pekara) and use the phrase to explain why you are buying two slices of pizza.
Review this on day 1, 3, and 7. Focus on the gender endings: -an (m), -na (f), -ni (pl).
Prononciation
The 'a' in the first syllable is long and has a rising accent.
Spectre de formalité
Osjećam potrebu za hranom. (General statement)
Gladan sam. (General statement)
Jede mi se nešto. (General statement)
Crkavam od gladi. (General statement)
Derived from the Proto-Slavic *goldu, which is linked to the Proto-Indo-European root *gheldh- meaning 'to desire' or 'to hunger'.
Le savais-tu ?
The word 'gladan' is a cognate with the English word 'gild' (to pay/yield), though the meanings have diverged significantly over millennia.
Notes culturelles
It is common to offer food multiple times. Even if you say 'Nisam gladan', a host might still bring out a plate of 'narezaka' (cold cuts).
“Hvala, stvarno nisam gladna, ali pršut izgleda odlično.”
The 'marenda' is a sacred late-morning meal. If someone is 'gladan' at 10:30 AM, they are looking for a marenda, which is often a warm, cooked dish.
“Idemo na marendu, gladan sam.”
The term 'gablec' is used similarly to 'marenda' but often refers to a quicker, work-break meal.
“Što je danas za gablec? Jako sam gladan.”
In the east of Croatia, portions are notoriously large. Being 'gladan' there usually results in a very heavy, meat-based meal.
“U Slavoniji nitko ne ostaje gladan.”
Amorces de conversation
Jesi li gladan/gladna sada?
Kada si obično najviše gladan tijekom dana?
Što radiš kada si 'gladan kao vuk'?
Misliš li da su ljudi danas 'gladni' pažnje na društvenim mrežama?
Erreurs courantes
Ja imam glad.
Ja sam gladan.
L1 Interference
Ona je gladan.
Ona je gladna.
L1 Interference
Mi smo gladan.
Mi smo gladni.
L1 Interference
Ja sam gladni.
Ja sam gladan.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Tener hambre
Verb choice: 'to have' vs 'to be'.
Avoir faim
French uses a noun, Croatian uses an adjective.
Hunger haben / Hungrig sein
German has two options; Croatian primarily uses 'to be'.
お腹が空いた (Onaka ga suita)
Subject is the stomach in Japanese, the person in Croatian.
أنا جائع (Ana ja'i)
Very similar structure and logic.
我饿了 (Wǒ è le)
Absence of the auxiliary verb 'to be' in Chinese.
배고파 (Baegopa)
Focus on the body part rather than the whole person.
Estar com fome
Use of a preposition vs a direct adjective.
Spotted in the Real World
“Franjo, jesi li gladan?”
A classic scene where the family is discussing their daily routine and meals.
“Gladan sam tvojih usana.”
A metaphorical use of hunger in a romantic/desire context.
“Gladni ste? Wolt dostavlja!”
A common push notification from a food delivery app.
Facile à confondre
Learners often mix up the words for hungry and thirsty.
Remember 'G' for 'Gladan' and 'G' for 'Goulash'. You want Goulash when you are gladan!
In some languages, 'hungry' and 'angry' sound similar, and 'ljut' can mean 'spicy' or 'angry'.
Ljut is for emotions or spicy peppers; Gladan is for your stomach.
Questions fréquentes (12)
Yes, it is perfectly normal. 'Pas je gladan' (The dog is hungry).
basic understandingYou can say 'Umirem od gladi' (I'm dying of hunger) or 'Izgladnio sam'.
practical tipsNo, for thirst you must use 'žedan'.
comparisonsFor a mixed or male group, use 'gladni'. For a female group, use 'gladne'.
grammar mechanicsYes, it sounds very professional and motivated.
usage contexts'Gladan' is the state (I am hungry), 'ogladnio' is the action (I became hungry).
grammar mechanicsYou say 'Tko je gladan?'.
basic understandingIt is neutral. It's fine in any situation.
cultural usageThe opposite is 'sit' (full/satiated).
basic understandingSometimes 'gladan novca' can imply greed, but 'pohlepan' is the specific word for greedy.
usage contextsNo, you can just say 'Gladan sam'. The verb ending tells us it's 'I'.
grammar mechanicsIn some dialects, the accent changes, but 'gladan' with a long 'a' is standard.
practical tips
