On the phone (javiti se, uključiti)

Answering

javiti se is to get in touch, and on the phone it means to pick up: Zovem mamu, ali se ne javlja. You answer with halo (which you know) or, in an office, with Izvolite?

The conversation

Asking for a person: Mogu li razgovarati s gospođom Perić? A bad line: Halo? Ne čujem vas dobro, veza je loša. Croatian says veza (connection) both for the phone line and for a relationship — one word, two worlds.

Devices

uključiti is to turn on — the opposite of isključiti, which you will meet again with appliances: Uključi mobitel i nazovi tatu. Turn the sound off in the cinema: isključi zvuk.

Saying goodbye

Čujemo se! (talk soon) closes a friendly call — literally we hear each other.