Keyboard shortcuts
| Letter | Windows (Alt code) | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| č Č | — | Option + V, then C (ABC – Extended) |
| ć Ć | — | Press and hold C, or use the Croatian input source |
| đ Đ | — | Use the Croatian input source |
| š Š | Alt + 0154 / 0138 | Option + V, then S (ABC – Extended) |
| ž Ž | Alt + 0158 / 0142 | Option + V, then Z (ABC – Extended) |
Mac: On a Mac, the easiest option is the Croatian input source (System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources), which has its own keys for č, ć, đ, š and ž. With the “ABC – Extended” input source, Option + V, then the letter, gives č, š and ž.
Windows: On Windows, only š (Alt + 0154) and ž (Alt + 0158) have Alt codes. For č, ć and đ, add the Croatian keyboard in Settings > Time & language > Language & region; on it, all five letters have their own keys. In Microsoft Word you can also type a Unicode code and press Alt + X: 010D gives č, 0107 gives ć and 0111 gives đ.
iPhone and Android: On iPhone and Android, add the Croatian keyboard, then press and hold c, d, s or z to get č, ć, đ, š and ž.
How the Croatian letters sound
Croatian spelling is phonetic: one letter, one sound. That makes the five extra letters important, because each is its own sound.
- č is a hard “ch”, as in “church”: čaj (tea), često (often), čovjek (man).
- ć is a softer “ch”, with the tongue further forward: kuća (house), noć (night), and the end of many surnames, like Ivić and Petrović.
- đ is a soft “j”, as in “jeans” said gently: anđeo (angel), mlađi (younger), Đakovo.
- š is “sh” (šuma, forest) and ž is the “s” in “pleasure” (žena, woman).
dž, lj and nj: one letter written with two
The Croatian alphabet has 30 letters, and three of them are written as pairs. They count as single letters in alphabetical order and in crosswords.
- dž is the hard partner of đ, like the “j” in “jam”: džep (pocket), džem (jam).
- lj is like the “lli” in “million”: ljubav (love), ljeto (summer).
- nj is like the Spanish ñ: konj (horse), njegov (his).
- At the start of a capitalized word, only the first letter is capital: Ljubljana, Njemačka (Germany). In all-caps text, both are capital: LJUBAV.
Writing Croatian without the letters
When the letters are missing, Croats often write c, s, z and dj (for đ): Đakovo becomes Djakovo. It is readable, but č and ć both become c, and some words change: kuca (knocks) is not kuća (house). In normal writing, use the real letters.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between č and ć?
Both are “ch” sounds. č is harder, like “church” (čaj, tea), and ć is softer, with the tongue closer to the teeth (kuća, house). Speakers in some regions pronounce them almost the same, but the spelling always distinguishes them.
How do I type đ?
đ has no Windows Alt code. Add the Croatian keyboard in Windows settings, or type 0111 and press Alt+X in Microsoft Word. On a Mac, use the Croatian input source. On a phone, press and hold d on the Croatian keyboard. You can also click đ on this page and copy it.
How do I type č, š and ž?
On Windows, š and ž have Alt codes (Alt+0154 and Alt+0158), but č needs the Croatian layout. On a Mac with the ABC – Extended input source, press Option+V, then C, S or Z.
Are dž, lj and nj separate letters?
Yes. They are written with two characters but count as single letters of the 30-letter Croatian alphabet. Type them as two normal letters: d + ž, l + j, n + j.