Fluent Fiction - Croatian: A Heartfelt Valentine's Day at the Orphanage
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/hr/episode/2025-02-13-23-34-01-hr

Story Transcript:

Hr: Zima je stigla u malo sirotište na rubu grada.
En: Winter arrived at the small orphanage on the outskirts of grad.

Hr: Zgrada je bila stara, s blijedo žutim zidovima i škripavim drvenim podovima.
En: The building was old, with pale yellow walls and creaky wooden floors.

Hr: Djeca su trčala hodnicima, njihovi glasovi ispunjavali su prostoriju srećom i smijehom, unatoč hladnim zimskim danima.
En: The children ran through the corridors, their voices filling the rooms with joy and laughter, despite the cold winter days.

Hr: Bilo je Valentinovo i Ivana, volonterka vedrog osmijeha, bila je zauzeta ukrašavanjem dvorane srcima i papirnatim lancima.
En: It was Valentine's Day, and Ivana, a volunteer with a cheerful smile, was busy decorating the hall with hearts and paper chains.

Hr: Mateo je sjedio u kutu, promatrao uzbuđenje.
En: Mateo sat in the corner, observing the excitement.

Hr: Mateo je bio dječak velikog srca.
En: Mateo was a boy with a big heart.

Hr: Uvijek je sanjao o obitelji i osjećaju pripadnosti.
En: He always dreamed of a family and a sense of belonging.

Hr: Valentinovo je bio poseban dan, želio je pokazati Ivani koliko puno za njega znači.
En: Valentine's Day was a special day; he wanted to show Ivana how much she meant to him.

Hr: Ivana je uvijek bila tu za njih, donoseći toplinu i ljubav.
En: Ivana was always there for them, bringing warmth and love.

Hr: Ali Mateo nije imao novac za poklon.
En: But Mateo didn't have any money for a gift.

Hr: Bio je frustriran, želio je pravu stvar, nešto što bi pokazalo njegovu zahvalnost.
En: He was frustrated, wanting something real, something that would show his gratitude.

Hr: Dok je gledao djecu kako trče i igraju se, Mateo je smislio ideju.
En: As he watched the children run and play, Mateo came up with an idea.

Hr: Odlučio je napraviti ručni poklon.
En: He decided to make a handmade gift.

Hr: Počeo je tražiti po sirotištu materijale koje bi mogao koristiti.
En: He started searching around the orphanage for materials he could use.

Hr: Pronašao je papire, ljepilo i stare boje.
En: He found paper, glue, and old paints.

Hr: Mateo je marljivo radio.
En: Mateo worked diligently.

Hr: Svakog dana nakon škole, sjeo bi u malu sobu pokraj kuhinje i stvarao.
En: Every day after school, he would sit in the small room next to the kitchen and create.

Hr: Napravio je čestitku, ukrašenu crvenim i ružičastim tonovima, s jednostavnim natpisom: "Hvala ti, Ivana.
En: He made a card, decorated with red and pink hues, with a simple inscription: "Thank you, Ivana."

Hr: " Na unutrašnjoj strani, napisao je: "Ti si naša obitelj.
En: On the inside, he wrote: "You are our family."

Hr: "Došao je Valentinovo jutro.
En: Valentine's morning arrived.

Hr: Mateo je sa čestitkom u ruci čekao pravi trenutak.
En: Mateo, with the card in hand, waited for the right moment.

Hr: Ivana je bila zauzeta, ali Mateo je skupio hrabrost.
En: Ivana was busy, but Mateo gathered his courage.

Hr: Prišao joj je, srce mu je ubrzano kucalo.
En: He approached her, his heart beating fast.

Hr: "Ivana," rekao je tiho, "imam nešto za tebe.
En: "Ivana," he said quietly, "I have something for you."

Hr: "Ivana se okrenula, iznenađena.
En: Ivana turned around, surprised.

Hr: Mateo joj je pružio čestitku i njegovu nesigurnost zamijenio je osmijeh.
En: Mateo handed her the card, and his uncertainty was replaced by a smile.

Hr: Ivana je pažljivo otvorila čestitku i pročitala poruku.
En: Ivana carefully opened the card and read the message.

Hr: Suze su joj se zasvjetlucale u očima.
En: Tears glistened in her eyes.

Hr: "Oh, Mateo," rekla je nježno.
En: "Oh, Mateo," she said gently.

Hr: "Ovo je predivno.
En: "This is wonderful.

Hr: Ti si pravi dar.
En: You are a true gift."

Hr: "Pomilovala je Matea po glavi i zagrlila ga.
En: She patted Mateo on the head and hugged him.

Hr: Mateo je u tom trenutku osjetio toplinu, onu pravu, koja dolazi od osjećaja pripadnosti.
En: In that moment, Mateo felt warmth, the real kind, which comes from the feeling of belonging.

Hr: Srce mu je bilo ispunjeno ljubavlju.
En: His heart was filled with love.

Hr: "Nisi sam, Mateo.
En: "You are not alone, Mateo.

Hr: Mi smo obitelj," rekla je Ivana.
En: We are family," Ivana said.

Hr: Te riječi za Matea su značile sve.
En: Those words meant everything to Mateo.

Hr: Nije se više osjećao izgubljeno.
En: He no longer felt lost.

Hr: Znao je da je voljen, da ima svoje mjesto, svoju malu obitelj unutar sirotišta.
En: He knew he was loved, that he had his place, his small family within the orphanage.

Hr: Snijeg je polako padao vani, ali u Mateovom srcu, bilo je toplo.
En: Snow was gently falling outside, but in Mateo's heart, it was warm.

Hr: Valentinovo je postalo više od praznika - postalo je simbol ljubavi i zajedništva za dječaka s velikim srcem.
En: Valentine's Day had become more than just a holiday—it had become a symbol of love and togetherness for a boy with a big heart.


Vocabulary Words:

• orphanage: sirotište
• outskirts: rubu
• creaky: škripavim
• corridors: hodnicima
• laughter: smijehom
• volunteer: volonterka
• cheerful: vedrog
• decorating: ukrašavanjem
• gratitude: zahvalnost
• diligently: marljivo
• inscription: natpisom
• gathered: skupio
• courage: hrabrost
• uncertainty: nesigurnost
• glistened: zasvjetlucale
• surprise: iznenađena
• gift: dar
• real: pravu
• belonging: pripadnost
• expressing: izražavajući
• observing: promatrao
• pat: pomilovala
• hugged: zagrlila
• moment: trenutak
• meaning: značilo
• lost: izgubljeno
• symbol: simbol
• togetherness: zajedništva
• warmth: toplinu
• believed: vjerovao