Croatian Grammar

Grammar Overview

This page is designed to provide a focused summary of the key grammatical elements essential at the beginner level. Here you will find four distinct tabs, each dedicated to a specific grammatical category: nouns, verbs, adjectives, and pronouns. While the textbook covers a broad range of other grammatical categories, this section focuses on four fundamental categories to support your understanding of Croatian. Whether you are a student seeking to reinforce your learning or an instructor aiming to streamline your teaching, this page offers a clear and concise reference to the most important grammar points at the beginner level.

| Gender in Croatian

In English the noun gender is related to animacy, meaning that people are different from things. In English an inanimate noun (an object, place, or idea) is usually referred to as an “it;” a person is always a “he” or “she.” The plural “they” can be either animate or inanimate and can often be used to refer to a single person in English. In Croatian, the gender of nouns functions differently.

Nouns

All nouns in Croatian belong to one of the three genders: masculine, feminine, or neuter, regardless of animacy. For nouns that refer to things, the gender of a noun has nothing to do with the meaning of the word. Gender for inanimate nouns is only a grammatical category; it is related to how the word ends in its basic (or “dictionary”) form. Figuring out the gender of most nouns will not be difficult.

| Masculine Gender

Generally, when the dictionary form of the noun ends in “zero-ending” (i.e., it ends in a consonant) then the noun is masculine. The majority of masculine nouns end in a consonant, and when they are pluralized, they get the ending -i (automobil → automobili). For a more detailed breakdown of masculine nouns, look at the charts below.

(a) The most frequent ending forms for masculine gender nouns ending in a consonant

Inanimate (for things)Animate (for living beings)
singularpluralsingularplural
N.mobitelmobitel-iprofesorprofesor-i
G.mobitel-amobitel-aprofesor-aprofesor-a
D.mobitel-umobitel-imaprofesor-uprofesor-ima
A.mobitelmobitel-eprofesor-aprofesor-e
V.mobitel-emobitel-iprofesor-eprofesor-i
L.mobitel-umobitel-imaprofesor-uprofesor-ima
I.mobitel-ommobitel-imaprofesor-omprofesor-ima

(b) Masculine gender nouns ending in a palatal

singularplural
N.prijateljprijatelj-i
G.prijatelj-aprijatelj-a
D.prijatelj-uprijatelj-ima
A.prijatelj-aprijatelj-e
V.prijatelj-uprijatelj-i
L.prijatelj-uprijatelj-ima
I.prijatelj-emprijatelj-ima

(c) One-syllable masculine nouns (these nouns can be animate or inanimate nouns)

singularpluralsingularplural
N.mostmost-ov-ipužpuž-ev-i
G.most-amost-ov-apuž-apuž-ev-a
D.most-umost-ov-imapuž-upuž-ev-ima
A.mostmost-ov-epuž-apuž-ev-e
V.most-emost-ov-ipuž-upuž-ev-i
L.most-umost-ov-imapuž-upuž-ev-ima
I.most-ommost-ov-imapuž-empuž-ev-ima

(d) Sound changes with different cases for masculine nouns

Pay special attention to singular masculine nouns that end in -k or -h. A certain sound change occurs when a noun is declined (i.e., a different case form).

singularpluralsingularplural
N.otokoto-c-iorahora-s-i
G.otok-aotok-aorah-aorah-a
D.otok-uoto-c-imaorah-uora-s-ima
A.otokotok-eorahorah-e
V.oto-č-eoto-c-iora-š-eora-s-i
L.otok-uoto-c-imaorah-uora-s-ima
I.otok-omoto-c–imaorah-omora-s-ima

This is a general rule that you need to have in mind.

    • K+E = /ČE/

For example N.sing. otok → V.sing. otoče

    • H+E = /ŠE/

For example N.sing. orah → V.sing. oraše

    • K+I = /CI/

For example N.sing. otok → N.pl. otoci

    • H+I = /SI/

For example N.sing. orah → N.pl. orasi

singularpluralsingularplural
N.stricstri-č-ev-ipasps-i
G.stric-astri-č-ev-aps-apas-a
D.stric-ustri-č-ev-imaps -ups-ima
A.stric-astri-č-ev-eps-aps-e
V.stri-č-estri-č-ev-ips-ups-i
L.stric-ustri-č-ev-imaps-ups-ima
I.stric-emstri-č-ev-imaps-omps-ima

This is a general rule you need to have in mind.

    • C+E = /ČE/

For example N.sing. stric → V.sing. striče

    • FLEETING “a”

For example N.sing. pas → N.pl. psi

(e) Suppletion / Different stems for singular and plural forms for some masculine nouns

singularpluralsingularplural
N.bratbrać-ačovjekljud-i
G.brat-abrać-ečovjek-aljud-i
D.brat -ubrać-ičovjek-uljud-ima
A.brat-abrać-učovjek-aljud-e
V.brat-ebrać-očovječ-eljud-i
L.brat-ubrać-ičovjek-uljud-ima
I.brat-ombrać-omčovjek-omljud-ima

An example of a masculine noun that ends in –a.

  • brat (brother) – follows the pattern of masculine animate nouns
  • braća (brothers) – grammatical gender of the noun is feminine and thus will follow the feminine ending pattern. However, everything describing this noun has to be masculine. Example: Ovo su moja braća.

An example of a masculine noun that has a regular singular form and irregular plural form.

  • čovjek (human being/man) – follows the pattern of masculine animate nouns
  • ljudi (people) – completely different stem from the singular

(f) Masculine nouns that do NOT end in a consonant (two examples)

Noun posao (even though it ends in -o) is a masculine noun. It follows the pattern of:

  • masculine inanimate noun
  • one-syllable noun
  • has a sound change with a fleeting “a”
singularplural
N.posa-oposl-ov-i
G.posl-aposl-ov-a
D.posl -uposl-ov-ima
A.posaoposl-ov-e
V.posl-eposl-ov-i
L.posl-uposl-ov-ima
I.posl-omposl-ov-ima

Noun tata. Grammatical gender of the noun is feminine and thus will follow the feminine ending pattern. However, everything describing this noun has to be masculine. Example: Ovo je moj tata.

singularplural
N.tat-atat-e
G.tat-etat-a
D.tat-itat-ama
A.tat-utat-e
V.tat-otat-e
L.tat-itat-ama
I.tat-omtat-ama

| Feminine Gender

Generally, when the dictionary form of a singular noun ends in “-a”, the noun is feminine. Feminine nouns that end in -a in the singular form, when pluralized, will take the ending -e (knjiga → knjige).

(a) The most frequent ending forms for feminine gender nouns ending in –a

singularplural
N.žen-ažen-e
G.žen-ežen-a
D.žen-ižen-ama
A.žen-užen-e
V.žen-ožen-e
L.žen-ižen-ama
I.žen-omžen-ama

(b) Nouns ending in –ad or –ost

singularpluralsingularplural
N.momč-admomč-ad-irad-ostradost-i
G.momč-ad-imomč-ad-iradost-iradost-i
D.momč-ad-imomč-ad-imaradost-iradost-ima
A.momčadmomč-ad-iradostradost-i
V.momč-ad-imomč-ad-iradost-iradost-i
L.momč-ad-imomč-ad-imaradost-iradost-ima
I.momč-ad-imomč-ad-imaradost-iradost-ima

(c) Irregular feminine nouns (two examples)

singularpluralsingularplural
N.kćikćerimisaomisli
G.kćerikćerimislimisli
D.kćerikćerimamislimislima
A.kćerkćerimisaomisli
V.kćerikćerimislimisli
L.kćerikćerimamislimislima
I.kćerikćerimamislimislima

| Neuter Gender

Generally, when the dictionary form of a singular noun ends in “-o” or “-e”, the noun is neuter. Neuter nouns that have the ending -o or -e in their singular form get the ending -a when pluralized (ogledalo → ogledala; polje → polja).

(a) The most frequent ending forms for neuter gender nouns ending in –o or -e

singularpluralsingularplural
N.sel-osel-apolj-epolj-a
G.sel-asel-apolj-apolj-a
D.sel-usel-imapolj-upolj-ima
A.sel-osel-apolj-epolj-a
V.sel-osel-apolj-epolj-a
L.sel-usel-imapolj-upolj-ima
I.sel-omsel-imapolj-empolj-ima

(b) Irregularities/differences between singular and plural forms

singularplural
N.dijet-edjec-a
G.djetet-adjec-e
D.djetet-udjec-i
A.dijet-edjec-u
V.dijet-edjec-o
L.djetet-udjec-i
I.djetet-omdjec-om

Remember:

  • dijete (child) = follows the regular pattern for neuter nouns with spelling differences between the Nominative case and other case forms. Pay close attention to this!
  • djeca (children) = follows the pattern of feminine singular nouns. Be careful with spelling the plural forms of “djeca.”

Verbs

| Auxiliary Verbs

The verb ‘biti’ is the most used verb in Croatian. In the present tense it has two forms, a stressed and unstressed form. The verb ‘htjeti’ is the second auxiliary verb in Croatian. Similarly to ‘biti,’ in the present tense, it has two forms, a stressed and unstressed form.

BITIHTJETI
stressed formunstressed formstressed formunstressed form
jajesamsamhoćuću
tijesisihoćešćeš
on-ona-onojestjehoćeće
mijesmosmohoćemoćemo
vijestestehoćetećete
oni-one-onajesusuhoćeće

| Modal Verbs

Modal verbs are used with other verbs to express ability, obligation, possibility, and so on. All modal verbs (except the verb ‘morati’) can be combined with other verbs in their infinitive form to make sentences. Example: Ja želim posjetiti katedralu. / Što trebam vidjeti? / Što moram posjetiti?

MORATISMJETIMOĆITREBATI
jamoramsmijemmogutrebam
timorašsmiješmožeštrebaš
on-ona-onomorasmijemožetreba
mimoramosmijemomožemotrebamo
vimoratesmijetemožetetrebate
oni-one-onamorajusmijumogutrebaju

| Verbs that end in –ti

The majority of the verbs in their infinitive form end in -ti. Look at the following sections for a more detailed breakdown of these verbs.

(a) Regular verbs ending in –ati

SLUŠ-A-TIGLED-A-TIIGR-A-TISLUŠ-A-TI
jasluš-amgled-amigr-amsluš-am
tisluš-ašgled-ašigr-ašsluš-aš
on-ona-onosluš-agled-aigr-asluš-a
misluš-amogled-amoigr-amosluš-amo
visluš-ategled-ateigr-atesluš-ate
oni-one-onasluš-ajugled-ajuigr-ajusluš-aju

(b) Verbs ending in –sti or –nuti

JE-STIPROVE-STIPA-STI*MAK-NUTI
jaje-d-emprove-d-empa-d-n-emmakn-em
tije-d-ešprove-d-ešpa-d-n-ešmakn-eš
on-ona-onoje-d-eprove-d-epa-d-n-emakn-e
mije-d-emoprove-d-emopa-d-n-emomakn-emo
vije-d-eteprove-d-etepa-d-n-etemakn-ete
oni-one-onaje-d-uprove-d-upa-d-n-umakn-u

*One-syllable infinitive stem, thus -n- has to be added before the ending.

(c) Verbs ending in –iti or –jeti

MISL-ITIŽIV-JETI
jamisl-imživ-im
timisl-išživ-iš
on-ona-onomisl-iživ-i
mimisl-imoživ-imo
vimisl-iteživ-ite
oni-one-onamisl-eživ-e

(d) Verbs ending in –ovati, –evati, or –ivati

PUT-OVATIKRALJ-EVATIIZNAJMLJ-IVATI
japut-u-jemkralj-u-jemiznajmlj-u-jem
tiput-u-ješkralj-u-ješiznajmlj-u-ješ
on-ona-onoput-u-jekralj-u-jeiznajmlj-u-je
miput-u-jemokralj-u-jemoiznajmlj-u-jemo
viput-u-jetekralj-u-jeteiznajmlj-u-jete
oni-one-onaput-u-jukralj-u-juiznajmlj-u-ju

(e) Stem changes among verbs ending in –ati

ZV-ATIPR-ATI
jaz-o-v-emp-e-r-em
tiz-o-v-ešp-e-r-eš
on-ona-onoz-o-v-ep-e-r-e
miz-o-v-emop-e-r-emo
viz-o-v-etep-e-r-ete
oni-one-onaz-o-v-up-e-r-u
PIS-ATIVIK-ATI
japi-š-emvi-č-em
tipi-š-ešvi-č-eš
on-ona-onopi-š-evi-č-e
mipi-š-emovi-č-emo
vipi-š-etevi-č-ete
oni-one-onapi-š-uvi-č-u
TRČ-ATIDRŽ-ATI
jatrč-imdrž-im
titrč-išdrž-iš
on-ona-onotrč-idrž-i
mitrč-imodrž-imo
vitrč-itedrž-ite
oni-one-onatrč-edrž-e

| Verbs that end in –ći

Verbs that end in -ći have irregular forms in Croatian and you will need to learn them as we go through each unit. Look at the following sections for a more detailed breakdown of these verbs.

(a) Present tense of -ći verbs with -d- / -đ-

I-ĆIDO-ĆIPO-ĆI
jai-d-emdo-đ-empo-đ-em
tii-d-ešdo-đ-ešpo -đ-eš
on-ona-onoi-d-edo-đ-epo -đ-e
mii-d-emodo-đ-emopo -đ-emo
vii-d-etedo-đ-etepo -đ-ete
oni-one-onai-d-udo-đ-upo -đ-u

(b) Present tense of -ći verbs with -č- / -k-

RE-ĆIRE-ĆIPE-ĆI
jare-k-n-emre-č-empe-č-em
tire-k-n-ešre-č-ešpe-č-eš
on-ona-onore-k-n-ere-č-epe-č-e
mire-k-n-emore-č-emope-č-emo
vire-k-n-etere-č-etepe-č-ete
oni-one-onare-k-n-ure-k-upe-k-u

(c) Present tense of -ći verbs with -ž- / -g-

LE-ĆILE-ĆISTRI-ĆI
jale-g-n-emle-ž-emstri-ž-em
tile-g-n-ešle-ž-ešstri-ž-eš
on-ona-onole-g-n-ele-ž-estri-ž-e
mile-g-n-emole-ž-emostri-ž-emo
vile-g-n-etele-ž-etestri-ž-ete
oni-one-onale-g-n-ule-g-ustri-g-u

| Reflexive Verbs

Reflexive verbs are verbs that indicate that the subject performs an action on itself. They are characterized by the use of the pronouns “se.” For example, in the verb “umiti se” (to wash one’s face), the “se” shows that the subject is performing the action on themselves. Reflexive verbs are an essential part of Croatian grammar, helping to convey actions that are directed back at the subject.

With personal pronoun, GLEDATI SEWithout personal pronoun, GLEDATI SE
ja se gledamgledam se
ti se gledašgledaš se
on/ona/on se gledagleda se
mi se gledamogledamo se
vi se gledategledate se
oni/one/ona se gledajugledaju se

| Past Tense

Generally, the Past Tense consists of two parts:
1) the unstressed present tense form (the short form) of the auxiliary verb biti (to be)
2) active participle of the verb.

To form the active participle of a verb, start with the infinitive form of the verb, remove the final –TI or ĆI, and add the required ending to make the gender and number agree with the subject of the sentence.

singularplural
masculine gender-o-li
feminine gender-la-le
neuter gender-lo-la

For more detailed information on how to form the active participle, look at the sections below. It will give you the regular and irregular forms of active participles.

(a) Past tense of –ati verbs

SLUŠATIZVATITRČATIPUTOVATI
ja sam sluša-o/-laja sam zva-o/-laja sam trča-o/-laja sam putova-o/-la
ti si sluša-o/-lati si zva-o/-lati si trča-o/-lati si putova-o/-la
on je sluša-oon je zva-oon je trča-oon je putova-o
ona je sluša-laona je zva-laona je trča-laona je putova-la
ono* je sluša-loono je zva-loono je trča-loono je putova-lo
mi smo sluša-li/-lemi smo zva-li/-lemi smo trča-li/-lemi smo putovali/-le
vi ste sluša-li/-levi ste zva-li/-levi ste trča-li/-levi ste putova-li/-le
oni su sluša-lioni su zva-lioni su trča-lioni su putova-li
one su sluša-leone su zva-leone su trča-leone su putova-le
ona* su sluša-laona su zva-laona su trča-laona su putova-la

* In the past tense, for neuter gender, most likely you will not hear a pronoun. Rather, you will hear a noun of neuter gender. Examples are: Dijete je slušalo/zvalo/trčalo/putovalo. Djeca su slušala/zvala/trčala/putovala

(b) Past tense of –iti and –jeti verbs

MISL-ITIŽIV-JETI
ja sam misli-o/-laja sam živi-o/živje-la
ti si misli-o/-lati si živi-o/živje-la
on je misli-oon je živi-o
ona je misli-laona je živje-la
ono je misli-loono je živjel-o
mi smo misli-li/-lemi smo živje-li/-le
vi ste misli-li/-levi ste živje-li/-le
oni su misli-lioni su živje-li
one su misli-leone su živje-le
ona su misli-laona su živje-la

(c) Past tense of –sti or –nuti verbs

JE-STIPROVE-STIMAK-NUTI
ja sam je-o/-laja sam prove-o/-laja sam maknu-o/-la
ti si je-o/-lati si prove-o/-lati si maknu-o/-la
on je je-oon je prove-oon je maknu-o
ona je je-laona je prove-laona je maknu-la
ono je jel-oono je prove-loono je maknu-lo
mi smo je-li/-lemi smo prove-li/-lemi smo maknu-li/-le
vi ste je-li/-levi ste prove-li/-levi ste maknu-li/-le
oni su je-lioni su prove-lioni su maknu-li
one su je-leone su prove-leone su maknu-le
ona su je-laona su prove-laona su maknu-la

(d) Past tense of –ći verbs, related to the verb ići (motion verbs)

Most of the verbs that are related to motion end in -ći, and will behave in this way. In other words, when forming the past tense of ići, for example, the -ć- will change to -š- to which we need to add the appropriate ending (masculine/feminine/neuter) and number (singular/plural).

I-ĆIDO-ĆIPO-ĆI
ja sam iš-ao/-laja sam doš-ao/-laja sam poš-ao/-la
ti si iš-ao/-lati si doš-ao/-lati si poš-ao/-la
on je iš-aoon je doš-aoon je poš-ao
ona je iš-laona je doš-laona je poš-la
ono je iš-loono je doš-loono je poš-lo
mi smo iš-li/-lemi smo doš-li/-lemi smo poš-li/-le
vi ste iš-li/-levi ste doš-li/-levi ste pošli/-le
oni su iš-lioni su doš-lioni su pošli
one su iš-leone su doš-leone su pošle
ona su iš-laona su doš-laona su pošla

(e) Past tense of other –ći verbs

PE-ĆILE-ĆIRE-ĆI
ja sam pek-ao/-laja sam leg-ao/-laja sam rek-ao/-la
ti si pek-ao/-lati si leg-ao/-lati si rek-ao/-la
on je peka-oon je leg-aoon je rek-ao
ona je pek-laona je leg-laona je rek-la
ono je pek-loono je leg-loono je rek-lo
mi smo pek-li/-lemi smo leg-li/-lemi smo rek-li/-le
vi ste pek-li/levi ste leg-li/levi ste rek-li/-le
oni su pek-lioni su leg-lioni su rek-li
one su pek-leone su leg-leone su rek-le
ona su pek-laona su leg-laona su rek-la

(f) Past tense of reflexive verbs

The cluster verb biti + reflexive pronoun se will always stay in that order. The cluster verb biti + reflexive pronoun se will change its place, depending on whether or not we use a personal name or a pronoun as the subject. The reflexive pronoun se will always be in the second place.

With personal pronoun, GLEDATI SEWithout personal pronoun, GLEDATI SE
ja sam se gleda-o/-lagleda-o/-la sam se
ti se se gleda-o/-lagleda-o/-la si se
on se gleda-ogleda-o se
ona se gleda-lagleda-la se
ono se gleda-logleda-lo se
mi smo se gleda-li/-legleda-li/-le smo se
vi ste se gleda-li/-legleda-li/-le su se
oni su se glada-liglada-li su se
one su se gleda-leglada-le su se
ona su se glada-laglada-la su se

| Future Tense

(a) Future tense of -ti verbs

The most common structure of creating the future tense is: Subject (pronoun or noun) + unstressed form of htjeti + infinitive form of a verb. However, when we know who the subject of the sentence is, in everyday conversation, speakers will often omit the subject. This results in differences in writing. See examples below.

With personal pronounWithout personal pronounPronunciation
ja ću gledatigladat ću/gledaću/
ti ćeš gledatigledat ćeš/gledaćeš/
on-ona-ono će gladatigledat će/gledaće/
mi ćemo gledatigledat ćemo/gledaćemo/
vi ćete gledatigledat ćete/gledaćete/
oni-one-ona će gledatigledat će/gledaće/

(b) Future tense of -ći verbs

With personal pronounWithout personal pronoun
ja ću ićiići ću
ti ćeš ićiići ćeš
on-ona-ono će ićiići će
mi ćemo ićiići ćemo
vi ćete ićiići ćete
oni-one-ona će ićiići će

Adjectives

An adjective is a word that gives additional, descriptive information about a noun (big table, smart girl). Adjective endings change according to the gender (masculine, feminine, neuter) and the number (singular or plural) of the noun they modify, or describe. In order to form adjectives correctly, start with the dictionary form of the adjective, which is always given in the masculine singular form. The masculine form is the base form, or stem, to which other gendered endings are added. Be careful, sometimes when forming feminine and neuter adjectives, the spelling of the stem may change a little bit. For example, dob-ar and pamet-an are both masculine adjective forms, but dobra/pametna and dobro/pametno are the feminine and neuter forms. Note how the vowel in the masculine forms disappear for feminine and neuter.

| Definite Adjectives

(a) General endings for adjectives in SINGULAR forms

masculinefeminineneuter
N.visok-ivisok-avisok-o
G.visok-ogvisok-evisok-og
D.visok-omvisok-ojvisok-om
A.visok-i / visok-og*visok-uvisok-o
V.visok-ivisok-avisok-o
L.visok-omvisok-ojvisok-om
I.visok-imvisok-omvisok-im

* inanimate vs. animate

(b) General endings for adjectives in PLURAL forms

masculinefeminineneuter
N.visok-ivisok-evisok-a
G.visok-ihvisok-ihvisok-ih
D.visok-imvisok-imvisok-im
A.visok-evisok-evisok-a
V.visok-ivisok-evisok-a
L.visok-imvisok-imvisok-im
I.visok-imvisok-imvisok-im

(c) Adjectives in masculine and neuter singular forms when the stem of an adjective ends in one of the palatals

masculineneuter
N.vruć-ivruć-e
G.vruć-egvruć-eg
D.vruć-emvruć-em
A.vruć-i / vruć-eg*vruć-e
V.vruć-ivruć-e
L.vruć-emvruć-em
I.vruć-imvruć-im

* inanimate vs. animate (vrući for inanimate, vrućeg for animate)

(d) Adjectives in masculine and neuter plural forms when the stem of an adjective ends in one of the palatals

masculineneuter
N.vruć-ivruć-a
G.vruć-ihvruć-ih
D.vruć-imvruć-im
A.vruć-evruć-a
V.vruć-ivruć-a
L.vruć-imvruć-im
I.vruć-imvruć-im

(e) Irregular adjective forms in SINGULAR. Example of topao (warm)

masculinefeminineneuter
N.topa-otopl-atopa-o
G.topl-ogtopl-etopl-og
D.topl-omtopl-ojtopl-om
A.topl-i / topl-og*topl-utopl-o
V.topl-itopl-atopl-o
L.topl-omtopl-ojtopl-om
I.topl-imtopl-omtopl-im

(f) Irregular adjective forms in PLURAL. Example of topao

masculinefeminineneuter
N.topl-itopl-etopl-a
G.topl-ihtopl-ihtopl-ih
D.topl-imtopl-imtopl-im
A.topl-etopl-etopl-a
V.topl-itopl-etopl-a
L.topl-imtopl-imtopl-im
I.topl-imtopl -imtopl-im

(g) Irregular adjective forms in SINGULAR. Example of vreo (boiling hot)

masculinefeminineneuter
N.vre-ovrel-avrel-o
G.vrel-ogvrel-evrel-og
D.vrel-omvrel-ojvrel-om
A.vrel-i / vrel-og*vrel-uvrel-o
V.vrel-ivrel-avrel-o
L.vrel-omvrel-ojvrel-om
I.vrel-imvrel-omvrel-im

(h) Irregular adjective forms in PLURAL. Example of vreo 

masculinefeminineneuter
N.vrel-ivrel-evrel-a
G.vrel-ihvrel-ihvrel-ih
D.vrel-imvrel-imvrel-im
A.vrel-evrel-evrel-a
V.vrel-ivrel-evrel-a
L.vrel-imvrel-imvrel-im
I.vrel-imvrel-imvrel-im

Pronouns

Pronouns are words that replace nouns to avoid repetition and make sentences clearer and more concise. Pronouns can refer to people, animals, things, or ideas, and they agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they replace. There are several types of pronouns in B/C/M/S, such as personal pronouns, possessive pronouns, reflexive pronouns, demonstrative pronouns, interrogative pronouns, etc. Here you will find only those that you encounter within the ten units of the textbook. You will learn more about different types of pronouns as you continue studying the language.

| Personal Pronouns

Just like in English, Croatian has personal pronouns indicating a specific person or a group of people.

Singular forms

First personSecond personThird person masc.Third person fem.Third person neut.
N.jationonaono
G.mene / metebe / tenjega / ganje / jenjega / ga
D.meni / mitebi / tinjemu / munjoj / jojnjemu / mu
A.mene / metebe / tenjega / ganju / je / junjega / ga
V.ti
L.menitebinjemunjojnjemu
I.mnomtobomnjimnjomnjim

Plural forms

First personSecond personThird person masc.Third person fem.Third person neut.
N.mivionioneona
G.nasvasnjih / ih
D.nama / namvama / vamnjima / im
A.nasvasnjih / ih
V.vi
L.namavamanjima
I.namavamanjima

The difference between the stressed and unstressed forms of personal pronouns

Personal pronouns have stressed and unstressed forms. The unstressed form will always be placed between the verb and direct object. For example: Pripremam joj juhu. (I am preparing a soup for her.) The stressed form will be placed at the beginning or at the end of the sentence. It serves to emphasize the information. For example: Njoj ću pokloniti knjigu. (I will give her a book.)

Few more examples:

  • Tebi govorim.
  • Govorim ti istinu.
  • Vidio sam je. / Vidio sam ju.
  • Vidio ju je.
  • Nju je vidio. / Vidio je nju.

| Possessive Pronouns

Most likely, when you want to answer a question such as – Whose is this? – you will use a possessive pronoun (my, your, his, her, etc.) or someone’s name in your answer. Remember that each possessive pronoun has to be the same gender of the thing it refers to. Regardless of the gender of the speaker, or the person to whom something belongs, the possessive pronoun has to have the same grammatical gender of the thing it describes or refers to. 

SINGULARPLURAL
masculinefeminineneutermasculinefeminineneuter
N.mojmojamojemojimojemoja
G.mojeg/mogmojemojeg/mogmojihmojihmojih
D.mojem/mommojojmojem/mommojimmojimmojim
A.mojeg/ mog
moj*
mojumojemojemojemoja
V.mojmojamojemojimojemoja
L.mojem.mommojojmojem/mommojimmojimmojim
I.mojimmojommojimmojimmojimmojim

* mojeg/mog (animate noun) / moj (inanimate)

The same pattern is used for tvoj – tvoja – tvoje – tvoji – tvoje – tvoja 

SINGULARPLURAL
masculinefeminineneutermasculinefeminineneuter
N.njegovnjegovanjegovonjegovinjegovenjegova
G.njegovognjegovenjegovog / njegovanjegovihnjegovihnjegovih
D.njegovomnjegovojnjegovomnjegovimnjegovimnjegovim
A.njegovog / njegov*njegovunjegovonjegovenjegovenjegova
V.njegovnjegovanjegovonjegovinjegovenjegova
L.njegovom / njegovunjegovojnjegovomnjegovimnjegovimnjegovim
I.njegovimnjegovomnjegovimnjegovimnjegovimnjegovim

* njegovog (animate noun) / njegov (inanimate)

SINGULARPLURAL
masculinefeminineneutermasculinefeminineneuter
N.njennjenanjenonjeninjenenjena
G.njenognjenenjenognjenihnjenihnjenih
D.njenomnjenojnjenom / njenunjenimnjenimnjenim
A.njenog / njennjenunjenonjenenjenenjena
V.njennjenanjenonjeninjenenjena
L.njenomnjenojnjenomnjenimnjenimnjenim
I.njenimnjenomnjenimnjenimnjenimnjenim

To express that something belongs to her, you can use njezin or njen (in a correct gender form)

* njenog (animate noun) / njen (inanimate)

SINGULARPLURAL
masculinefeminineneutermasculinefeminineneuter
N.našnašanašenašinašenaša
G.našegnašenašegnašihnašihnaših
D.našemnašojnašemnašimnašimnašim
A.nešeg / našnašunašenašenašenaša
V.našnašanašenašinašenaša
L.našemnašojnašemnašimnašimnašim
I.našimnašomnašimnašimnašimnašim

* našeg (animate noun) / naš (inanimate)

The same pattern is used for vaš – vaša – vaše – vaši – vaše – vaša 

| Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns are used when we want to specify something or someone, and they are very often used with the question tko (Tko je ovo?) or što (Što je ovo?).

The usage of the demonstrative pronoun depends on where the thing that we are referring to is located. In other words, if the thing that we are referring to is closer to a speaker (a person asking a question) we need to use ovo. If the thing we are referring to is closer to a listener (a person answering the question), we need to use to. If the thing we are referring to is equally far away from both speaker and a listener, we need to use ono

This = ovo

That = to

That over there = ono

Below you will find demonstrative pronouns only in their Nominative form. 

SINGULARPLURAL
masculinefeminineneutermasculinefeminineneuter
N.ovajovaovoovioveova
tajtatotiteta
onajonaonoonioneona

Note: there are other demonstrative pronouns, but you will encounter them at later stages of your studies. 

| Interrogative and Relative Pronouns

Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions. They help in gathering information about people, things, places, and other aspects, and like other pronouns, they can decline for case. Relative pronouns are used to introduce relative clauses, which provide additional information about a noun mentioned previously. They connect the main clause to the subordinate clause.

Below you will find these pronouns only in their Nominative form. 

SINGULARPLURAL
masculinefeminineneutermasculinefeminineneuter
N.kojikojakojekojikojekoja
čijičijačiječijičiječija
kakavkakvakakvokakvikakvekakva

Two other pronouns in this category that you encountered throughout all ten units are tko (ko) and što (šta).

Nominativetkošto
Genitivekogačega
Dativekomučemu
Accusativekogašto
Vocative
Locativekom(e)čemu
Instrumentalkim(e)čim(e)