Meaning
To annoy someone.
Cultural Background
Croatians often use 'živci' (nerves) to explain their mood. If someone is 'nervozan', it's a valid excuse for being short-tempered. The phrase is a staple of 'kavica' (coffee culture) venting sessions. In the coastal regions, the 'Jugo' (south wind) is famously blamed for making people irritable. During Jugo, you'll hear 'ići na živce' much more frequently as people blame the weather for their low patience. In the capital, the phrase is often directed at the 'gužva' (traffic/crowds) or the public transport system (ZET). It's a way of bonding over shared urban frustrations. Across the Balkans, 'nerves' are treated as a finite resource. You 'spend' your nerves (trošiti živce), and when they are gone, you are 'bez živaca' (without nerves).
Use the short Dative
Always use 'mi', 'ti', 'mu' instead of 'meni', 'tebi', 'njemu' unless you want to be extremely emphatic.
Don't say 'Ja sam na živce'
This is a literal translation of 'I am on edge' but it doesn't work in Croatian. Stick to the idiom.
Meaning
To annoy someone.
Use the short Dative
Always use 'mi', 'ti', 'mu' instead of 'meni', 'tebi', 'njemu' unless you want to be extremely emphatic.
Don't say 'Ja sam na živce'
This is a literal translation of 'I am on edge' but it doesn't work in Croatian. Stick to the idiom.
Add 'užasno' for effect
If you are really annoyed, say 'Užasno mi ide na živce!' (It's terribly getting on my nerves).
The 'Jugo' excuse
If you are being cranky, you can blame the 'Jugo' wind. It's a common cultural trope.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct Dative pronoun (mi, ti, mu, joj, nam, vam, im).
Moj brat je jako glasan. On ___ ide na živce.
The idiom 'ići na živce' requires the Dative pronoun 'mi' (to me).
Choose the correct form of the verb 'ići'.
Ovi ljudi mi ____ na živce.
'Ovi ljudi' (these people) is plural, so the verb must be 'idu'.
Match the situation to the correct sentence.
Situation: Your computer keeps crashing while you work.
The idiom is used to express annoyance with objects like a crashing computer.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Zašto si ljuta? B: Zato što mi Marko stalno ____ na živce!
The standard verb for this idiom is 'ići' (to go).
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesMoj brat je jako glasan. On ___ ide na živce.
The idiom 'ići na živce' requires the Dative pronoun 'mi' (to me).
Ovi ljudi mi ____ na živce.
'Ovi ljudi' (these people) is plural, so the verb must be 'idu'.
Situation: Your computer keeps crashing while you work.
The idiom is used to express annoyance with objects like a crashing computer.
A: Zašto si ljuta? B: Zato što mi Marko stalno ____ na živce!
The standard verb for this idiom is 'ići' (to go).
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt's informal, but not necessarily rude among friends. However, don't use it with your boss or a stranger.
Yes! You can say 'Ovaj mobitel mi ide na živce' (This phone is getting on my nerves).
It depends on the subject. 'On mi je išao na živce' (He was getting on my nerves) or 'To mi je išlo na živce' (That was getting on my nerves).
Yes, use 'Smeta mi...' (It bothers me...) or 'To me iritira' (That irritates me).
No, it is always plural 'živce'.
Ti mi ideš na živce.
It's the verb form of the idiom. 'Živciraš me' means the same as 'Ideš mi na živce'.
No, it's too informal. Use more professional language to describe frustrations.
Prepositions are idiomatic. 'Na' (on) is the standard for this phrase, implying something is on top of your nerves.
Yes, this idiom is identical and used frequently in Serbian and Bosnian as well.
Related Phrases
Živcirati nekoga
synonymTo annoy someone
Dizati tlak
similarTo raise someone's blood pressure
Ići na jetra
similarTo go on the liver
Smetati
similarTo bother/disturb
Piti krv na slamku
specialized formTo drink blood through a straw
Izbaciti iz takta
similarTo throw someone off their rhythm
