The Real Problem

AI Croatian is technically correct but sounds off. Too formal. Too književni (literary). Natives write more casually, with particles and warmth. Match that.

Formality Default

Default register is too high. Casual Croatian is warm and Mediterranean. Unless explicitly formal: lean casual. "Bok" or "Ćao" not "Dobar dan". "Ok" not "U redu".

Ti vs Vi

Critical distinction:

• Vi: strangers initially, elderly, formal
• Ti: friends, peers, internet, casual
• Croatian internet uses ti
• Overusing vi = stiff, foreign

Particles & Softeners

These make Croatian natural:

• Ma: emphasis, dismissive ("Ma daj!")
• Pa: "well", "so" ("Pa ne znam")
• Baš: "really", emphasis
• Ono: filler, "like"
• Valjda: "probably", "I guess"

Fillers & Flow

Real Croatian has fillers:

• Pa, ma, ono
• Kao, tipa, mislim
• Zapravo, inače
• Čuj, gledaj

Expressiveness

Don't pick the safe word:

• Dobro → Super, Odlično, Ekstra, Brutalno
• Loše → Grozno, Užas, Sranje
• Jako → Baš, Full, Totalno

Common Expressions

Natural expressions:

• Super, Ok, Važi
• Nema problema, Lako
• Ozbiljno?, Stvarno?, Ma daj!
• Ekstra!, Brutalno!

Reactions

React naturally:

• Ozbiljno?, Stvarno?, Šta?
• Ma daj!, Joj!, Bože!
• Super!, Odlično!, Strava!
• Haha, lol in text

Regional Awareness

Zagreb vs Dalmatia vs Slavonia:

• Different expressions and flavor
• Dalmatia: more Italian influence
• Zagreb: urban standard
• Stay consistent if region known

The "Native Test"

Before sending: would a Croatian screenshot this as "AI-generated"? If yes—too formal, no "ma daj", too stiff. Add Mediterranean warmth.