You’ve probably noticed the two Croatian letters that look and sound very similar: Č and Ć.

For many beginners, telling these two apart is one of the most confusing parts of the Croatian alphabet.

They both sound like the English “ch” sound, so how are you supposed to know which one to use?

Don’t worry.

As someone who has taught Croatian to many foreigners, I can promise you that mastering these two letters is easier than it seems.

In this guide, I’ll break down the differences in pronunciation, give you easy rules for when to use each letter, and explain why even native speakers mix them up sometimes.

How to pronounce Č and Ć

The easiest way to think about these letters is to call Č the “hard ch” and Ć the “soft ch”.

Pronouncing the hard Č: This letter sounds exactly like the “ch” in the English words chocolate, match, or church. To make this sound, the tip of your tongue should touch the roof of your mouth, slightly behind your front teeth. It is a strong, firm sound.

Pronouncing the soft Ć: This letter is softer and lighter. It sounds a lot like the “tu” in the English word nature, or the British pronunciation of the word tube. To make this sound, place the tip of your tongue behind your bottom front teeth. Then, raise the middle of your tongue to the roof of your mouth.

It takes a little practice, but once you feel where your tongue is placed, the difference becomes clear!

When to use the hard Č

While you will eventually memorize how to spell words just by reading them, there are a few simple grammar patterns that can help you know when to use the hard Č.

• Words ending in -ač: This suffix is used to describe a person’s profession or a tool.
• Words ending in -ičar: This is another suffix for professions or experts.
• When the letter k or c changes into a č (a process called palatalization). For example, vuk (wolf) becomes vuče when you are calling out to the wolf.

Here are a few examples of sentences using the hard Č:

When to use the soft Ć

The soft Ć also has very clear patterns. If you memorize these three rules, you will guess the spelling correctly almost every time!

• Verb infinitives: Almost all Croatian verbs in their dictionary form (the infinitive) end in -ći or -ti. If you hear a “ch” sound at the end of a verb, it is always a soft Ć (e.g., ići, doći, moći).
• Diminutives: When we make a word small or cute in Croatian, we often add -ić. For example, pas (dog) becomes psić (little dog).
• Last names: Most Croatian family names end in -ić. Think of famous athletes like Luka Modrić or Mateo Kovačić!

Here are a few examples of sentences using the soft Ć:

Common vocabulary table

To help you build your vocabulary, here is an HTML table of some very common Croatian words divided by which letter they use.

Regional variations: do natives mix them up?

Here is a big secret that will make you feel a lot better: even native Croatian speakers struggle to hear the difference!

Because language is constantly evolving, the strict difference between Č and Ć is slowly fading in everyday speech, depending on where you live in Croatia.

• In Zagreb and northern Croatia: People tend to pronounce both letters as a hard Č. You will rarely hear a true soft Ć on the streets of the capital.
• In Dalmatia (the southern coast): People have a softer accent and tend to pronounce both letters as a soft Ć.

If you are taking a formal Croatian test, you definitely need to know the correct spelling. But if you are speaking to a local in a café, do not let the fear of mixing up Č and Ć stop you from talking.

If you just use a standard English “ch” sound for both letters, everybody will understand exactly what you mean.

Keep practicing, focus on the context, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

If you found this guide helpful, be sure to check out my other articles on Croatian grammar and pronunciation. Sretno (good luck)!