Croatian language gets more new words

The Croatian language has got more new words after the annual Croatian linguistics awards to find the best new Croatian words took place once again. 

Organised by Croatian magazine “Jezik” and the “Dr. Ivan Šreter” Foundation, the competition for the best new Croatian word and the “Dr. Ivan Šreter” Award for 2024 attracted a large number of submissions. 

113 individuals participated in the competition, proposing 303 words, but none received enough votes from the committee to be awarded. However, some words have drawn praise, reports HRT.

The committee consisting of Sanda Ham (president), Igor Čatić, Hrvoje Hitrec, Marko Kovačić, Nataša Bašić, Dubravka Smajić, Mile Mamić, and Ljubica Josić highlighted several words that they deemed good, especially since several words have been repeated for years.

“Firstly, there is the word ‘utjecajnik,’ ‘utjecatelj,’ ‘utjecajac’ as a substitute for the foreign word ‘influencer.’ The word was first used in public by committee member Professor Čatić, so for that reason alone, it was not eligible for the award,” the committee said. 

The Committee also singled out the word ‘trogodak’ for ‘hat trick/hattrick.’ 

“It came to us in 2008, 2010, 2018, and 2023. There are four proposers – Mislav Kovačić, Josip Ledinšćak, Dominik Tomić, and Anđelko Priher. The word vividly conveys the meaning of three goals (by the same player in the same match), and it is well-formed.  Alongside ‘trogodak,’ the word ‘trogol’ was noted in 2008. The second part of the compound ‘trogol,’ the word ‘gol,’ originates from the English word ‘goal,’ making ‘trogodak’ formationally better,” members of the Committee point out.

‘Rabljaonica’ and ‘rabljenarnica’ are suggested to replace ‘second hand shop.’

“Both words are good substitutes, and they have come to us in previous years. ‘Rabljaonica’ was sent to us in 2019 by Dražen Valentin, while ‘rabljenarnica’ and ‘rabljaonica’ were sent by Božidar Špilek in 2022 and 2023, with a note that ‘rabljaonica’ could colloquially be called ‘rabljak.’ The same concept was noted in 2015 with the word ‘robonošnjak,’ which is semantically transparent – carried goods,” the statement notes.

Promopisac is another proposal from Božidar Špilek, for the English word ‘copywriter.’

“Since derivatives are also used, such as the noun ‘copywriting’ (the power of copywriting) and the adjective ‘copywriterski’ (copywriters’ world), a formationally nested word should be devised,” the statement adds.

The opposite of ‘zimogrozno’ could be the new word ‘ljetogrozan,’ suggested by Ante Šimac. “Considering the summer heat of recent years, the word is apt. The adjective ‘ljetogrozan’ is a good counterpart to the German word proclaimed the best a few years ago, ‘Heißzeit’ (hot period), as opposed to ‘Eiszeit’ (ice age),” the Committee believes.

Dora Borić Radić sent the new word ‘ubrusnik,’ which refers to a holder for napkins or tissue holder. The word ‘vodomet’ as a proposal for the Croatian version of water polo was also submitted. “The word has reached us about ten times so far, and the first proposers were Zoran Kunica and Nedjeljko Nedić in 2006. In 2023, along with ‘vodomet,’ ‘vodometaš’ (water polo player) was proposed by Boris Deverić,” the statement highlights.

The Committee believes that there is no shortage of good new words, considering them interesting and encouraging. 

“Unfortunately, the awards of the Dr. Ivan Šreter Foundation will not be granted (600 euros for the first prize, 400 for the second, and 200 for the third), and the ceremonial public award ceremony in Lipik (or Pakrac) is also absent. However, this does not mean that there won’t be any next year,” the Committee for the selection of the best new Croatian word concluded.