How to Pronounce Kolinda Grabar Kitarović

Meaning and Context

Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, a prominent Croatian politician and diplomat, made history when she was elected President of Croatia in February 2015, becoming the nation's first female head of state. Her tenure, which concluded in February 2020, was marked by a focus on Croatian national interests, economic development, and active engagement in European Union and NATO affairs, reflecting her extensive background in international diplomacy. Prior to the presidency, her career included serving as Croatia's Minister of European Affairs from 2003 to 2005, Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2008, and as an Assistant Secretary General of NATO from 2011 to 2014, a role that underscored her expertise in transatlantic security. Grabar-Kitarović's presidency is often remembered for her energetic public presence and her notable attendance at the 2018 FIFA World Cup final, where she warmly congratulated the victorious French team, an image that garnered significant international media attention and symbolized a modern, outward-looking Croatia.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The correct and official spelling of the name is Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović. The most common error involves the hyphen and the diacritical marks. It is frequently misspelled as "Grabar Kitarovic" (omitting the hyphen and the caron), "Grabar-Kitarovic" (missing the caron on the 'c'), or "Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic" (using a space instead of a hyphen). The surname is a combination of her birth surname (Grabar) and her husband's surname (Kitarović), joined by a hyphen, which is a common practice in Croatia. Additionally, the letter 'ć' (c with caron) is crucial and should not be replaced with a standard 'c' or 'č' (c with háček), as they represent different sounds in the Croatian language. In non-accented text, it is sometimes written as "Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic," though preserving the diacritics is preferred for accuracy.

Example Sentences

Following her term as President of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović returned to international diplomacy, taking on roles as a visiting fellow at various global policy institutes.

Many political analysts credit Grabar-Kitarović with using her platform to advocate strongly for the strategic importance of the Adriatic region within NATO.

Her approachable demeanor during public events, famously captured at the 2018 World Cup, contrasted with her rigorous stance on economic reform during her presidential campaigns.

When discussing gender parity in Balkan politics, Grabar-Kitarović's election is invariably cited as a groundbreaking milestone.

In her speeches, she often emphasized that her experience as Croatia's Minister of Foreign Affairs was foundational to her worldview.

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