FluentFiction - Croatian podcast

A Christmas Contest: Friendship Found in a Shared Ornament

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Fluent Fiction - Croatian: A Christmas Contest: Friendship Found in a Shared Ornament
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/hr/episode/2025-12-28-23-34-01-hr

Story Transcript:

Hr: U gradskom središtu Splita, mramorna ploča trg je pokrivena slojem snijega, a noć je osvijetljena tisućama blještavih lampica.
En: In the city center of Split, the marble square was covered with a layer of snow, and the night was lit by thousands of sparkling lights.

Hr: Božićni sajam bio je prepun ljudi, mirisi cimeta i kuhanog vina ispunjavali su zrak, a smijeh se rasprostirao po trgu.
En: The Christmas market was full of people, the scent of cinnamon and mulled wine filled the air, and laughter spread throughout the square.

Hr: Ivana je bila među mnoštvom, vedra i nasmijana, držeći popis stvari koje još mora nabaviti.
En: Ivana was among the crowd, cheerful and smiling, holding a list of things she still had to procure.

Hr: Toni, s druge strane, šetao je među štandovima s blago nervoznim osmijehom.
En: Toni, on the other hand, was walking among the booths with a slightly nervous smile.

Hr: Želio je pronaći savršen poklon za obitelj svoje nove djevojke.
En: He wanted to find the perfect gift for the family of his new girlfriend.

Hr: Na malom štandu prekrivenom raznobojnim svjetlima, pažnju im je oboma privukao prekrasan božićni ukras u obliku mandale.
En: At a small booth covered in colorful lights, their attention was both drawn to a beautiful Christmas ornament in the shape of a mandala.

Hr: Bio je izrađen od stakla, sjajnog, bogato ukrašenog detaljima u zelenoj i zlatnoj boji.
En: It was made of glass, shiny, richly decorated with details in green and gold.

Hr: "Savršen poklon za mamu," pomislila je Ivana.
En: "The perfect gift for mom," thought Ivana.

Hr: "Ovo će impresionirati njezinu obitelj," mislio je Toni.
En: "This will impress her family," thought Toni.

Hr: Do štanda su stigli u istom trenutku.
En: They reached the booth at the same moment.

Hr: Oboje su posegnuli za ukrasom u isto vrijeme.
En: Both reached for the ornament simultaneously.

Hr: Smijeh se začuo iz njihovih grla, ali oči su im bile odlučne.
En: Laughter erupted from their throats, but their eyes were determined.

Hr: "Trebam ga za svoju kolekciju," rekla je Ivana sa smiješkom.
En: "I need it for my collection," said Ivana with a smile.

Hr: "Ovo bi bio savršen poklon za moju djevojčinu obitelj," dodao je Toni, jednako uporni.
En: "This would be the perfect gift for my girlfriend's family," added Toni, equally persistent.

Hr: Nakon kratke rasprave, Ivana se nasmijala i predložila: "Što kažeš na 'Kamen, škare, papir'?
En: After a brief discussion, Ivana laughed and suggested, "How about 'Rock, paper, scissors'?

Hr: Na taj način možemo odlučiti tko ga dobiva.
En: That way we can decide who gets it."

Hr: " Toni je, videći priliku za zabavu, pristao.
En: Toni, seeing an opportunity for fun, agreed.

Hr: "Dogovoreno.
En: "Deal."

Hr: "Osim što su igrali, brzo su postali rivali.
En: Besides just playing, they quickly became rivals.

Hr: Ivana je znalačno gledala Tonija, a on je pokušavao naslutiti njen sljedeći potez.
En: Ivana glanced knowingly at Toni, and he tried to guess her next move.

Hr: Prvih nekoliko rundi završilo je izjednačeno.
En: The first few rounds ended in a tie.

Hr: Svaki put kad bi jedan od njih pomislio da će pobijediti, drugi bi izvukao istu kombinaciju.
En: Every time one thought they would win, the other would produce the same combination.

Hr: Njihov smijeh obuzimao je promatrače oko njih.
En: Their laughter engulfed the surrounding onlookers.

Hr: Napetost je rasla, ali i zabava.
En: The tension was rising, but so was the fun.

Hr: Na kraju, oboje su shvatili koliko je bilo zabavno pokušavati nadmudriti drugog, više nego biti pobjednik.
En: In the end, they both realized how much fun it was to try to outsmart the other, more than actually winning.

Hr: Toni se nasmijao: "Nogama smo i rukama došli do nikakvog rješenja, što kažeš da ga damo na dobrotvornu aukciju?
En: Toni laughed, "We’re getting nowhere with this, what do you say we donate it for a charity auction?"

Hr: " Ivana se nasmijala, klimnula glavom u znak slaganja: "Divna ideja.
En: Ivana laughed, nodding in agreement: "Wonderful idea.

Hr: Tako će možda uljepšati Božić nekome drugome.
En: Maybe it will brighten someone else's Christmas."

Hr: "Prodavač sa štanda također se smijao.
En: The vendor at the booth was laughing too.

Hr: "Ovo je najljepša prodaja koju sam danas vidio.
En: "This is the most beautiful sale I've seen today."

Hr: "Ivana i Toni podijelili su trošak, zadovoljni što su pronašli rješenje koje će donijeti toplinu i radost.
En: Ivana and Toni shared the cost, satisfied with finding a solution that would bring warmth and joy.

Hr: "Još uvijek se možemo naći na kuhanom vinu i slavlju kod Zvončaca?
En: "We can still meet up for mulled wine and celebration at Zvončac?"

Hr: " predložila je Ivana.
En: suggested Ivana.

Hr: "Naravno," odgovorio je Toni, uljuljan idejom novog prijateljstva.
En: "Of course," replied Toni, warmed by the idea of a new friendship.

Hr: Dok su šetali dalje kroz trg, grad je svjetlucao oko njih, a zrak je mirisao na čuda i mogućnosti.
En: As they walked further through the square, the city sparkled around them, and the air smelled of wonders and possibilities.

Hr: Naučili su da nije uvijek važno pobijediti, nego što dijeliš s drugima.
En: They learned that it's not always important to win, but what you share with others.

Hr: Možda nije imala luksuzan ukras za svoju kolekciju ili onaj koji će odmah očarati njegovu buduću obitelj, ali oboje su imali nešto mnogo vrednije — novog prijatelja i duh Božića u srcu.
En: She might not have had a luxurious ornament for her collection or one that would immediately charm his future family, but both had something far more valuable—a new friend and the spirit of Christmas in their hearts.


Vocabulary Words:
  • marble: mramorna ploča
  • sparkling: blještavih
  • mulled: kuhanog
  • procure: nabaviti
  • booths: štandovima
  • ornament: ukras
  • mandala: mandale
  • decorated: ukrašenog
  • determinant: odlučne
  • rival: rivali
  • opportunity: priliku
  • onlookers: promatrače
  • tension: napetost
  • charity: dobrotvornu
  • auction: aukciju
  • vendor: prodavač
  • engulfed: obuzimao
  • outsmart: nadmudriti
  • persistent: uporni
  • glanced: znalačno
  • luxurious: luksuzan
  • warmed: uljuljan
  • resolved: riješeno
  • miracles: čuda
  • possibilities: mogućnosti
  • engulf: obuzimao
  • determinant: odlučne
  • smelled: mirisao
  • layer: sloj
  • laughter: smijeh

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