Pronouns in Croatian
Croatian ⋙
Croatian A1
Welcome to our Croatian course for beginners! Today we`re going to talk about the Pronouns.
Croatian pronouns are very important for communication. They are used to replace nouns and refer to people, things, or ideas. Let`s talk about the most important types of pronouns in more detail.
Personal Pronouns
Personal pronouns in Croatian are fundamental to expressing who is doing the action, for whom it is being done, and who or what is being talked about. The personal pronouns change based on singular or plural but also based on gender (masculine, feminine, and neuter) and case.
First Person Singular:
I (Ja):
Example:
Ja volim pizzu. (I love pizza.)
Second Person Singular (informal):
You (Ti - informal singular)
Example:
Ti si moj prijatelj. (You are my friend.)
Third Person Singular:
He (On - masculine)
She (Ona - feminine)
It (Ono - neuter)
Examples:
On čita knjigu. (He is reading a book.)
Ona ide u školu. (She goes to school.)
Ono je malo. (It is small.)
First Person Plural:
We (Mi)
Example:
Mi idemo u kino. (We are going to the cinema.)
Second Person Plural and Second Person Singular (formal):
You (Vi - both formal singular and informal plural)
Examples:
Vi ste moji prijatelji. (You are my friends, plural)
Vi ste moj šef. (You are my boss, singural formal)
Third Person Plural:
They (Oni - masculine)
They (One - feminine)
They (Ona - neuter)
Examples:
Oni čitaju knjige. (They are reading books.)
One dolaze sutra. (They are coming tomorrow.)
Ona su mala. (They are small.)
Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns in Croatian are used to indicate possession or ownership of something.
First Person Singular:
Moj (masculine)
Moja (feminine)
Moje (neuter)
Examples:
To je moj auto. (This is my car, masculine)
To je moja knjiga. (This is my book, feminine)
To je moje računalo. (This is my computer, neuter)
Second Person Singular (informal):
Tvoj (masculine)
Tvoja (feminine)
Tvoje (neuter)
Examples:
To je tvoj bicikl. (This is your bike, masculine)
To je tvoja haljina. (This is your dress, feminine)
To je tvoje olovke. (These are your pencils, neuter)
Third Person Singular:
Njegov (masculine)
Njezina (feminine)
Njegovo (neuter)
Examples:
To je njegov pas. (This is his dog, masculine)
To je njezina torba. (This is her bag, feminine)
To je njegovo vozilo. (This is its vehicle, neuter)
First Person Plural:
Naš (masculine)
Naša (feminine)
Naše (neuter)
Examples:
To su naši prijatelji. (These are our friends, masculine)
To su naše igračke. (These are our toys, feminine)
To su naše knjige. (These are our books, neuter)
Second Person Plural and Second Person Singular (formal):
Vaš (masculine)
Vaša (feminine)
Vaše (neuter)
Examples:
To su vaši studenti. (These are your students, masculine)
To su vaše torbe. (These are your bags, feminine)
To su vaše stvari. (These are your things, neuter)
Third Person Plural:
Njihov (masculine)
Njihova (feminine)
Njihovo (neuter)
Examples:
To su njihovi automobili. (These are their cars, masculine)
To su njihove knjige. (These are their books, feminine)
To su njihove igračke. (These are their toys, neuter)
Demonstrative Pronouns
Demonstrative pronouns are used to point out or indicate specific objects, people, or concepts.
This:
Ovaj (masculine)
Ova (feminine)
Ovo (neuter)
Examples:
Ovaj pas je velik. (This dog is big, masculine)
Ova knjiga je zanimljiva. (This book is interesting, feminine)
Ovo vozilo je brzo. (This vehicle is fast, neuter)
That:
Taj (masculine)
Ta (feminine)
To (neuter)
Examples:
Taj čovjek ide prema gradu. (That man is going towards the city, masculine)
Ta kuća je stara. (That house is old, feminine)
To dijete je pametno. (That child is smart, neuter)
These:
Ovi (masculine)
Ove (feminine)
Ova (neuter)
Examples:
Ovi ljudi su veseli. (These people are happy, masculine)
Ove knjige su nove. (These books are new, feminine)
Ova vozila su skupa. (These vehicles are expensive, neuter)
Those:
Ti (masculine)
Te (feminine)
Ta (neuter)
Examples:
Ti psi su bijeli. (Those dogs are white, masculine)
Te ptice su glasne. (Those birds are loud, feminine)
Ta voća su zrela. (Those fruits are ripe, neuter)
Interrogative Pronouns
Interrogative pronouns in Croatian are used to ask questions and seek information. They are very important for understanding and obtaining details in conversations.
Who (Tko):
Tko is used for all masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns and does not change its form.
Examples:
Tko je taj čovjek? (Who is that man?, singular masculine)
Tko je ta žena? (Who is that woman?, singular feminine)
Tko je to dijete? (Who is that child?, singular neuter)
Tko su ti ljudi? (Who are those people?, plural masculine)
Tko su te žene? (Who are those women?, plural feminine)
Tko su ta djeca? (Who are those children?, plural neuter)
What (Što):
Što is used for all masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns and does not change its form.
Examples:
Što je to? (What is that?, singular neuter)
Što je to knjiga? (What is that book?, singular feminine)
Što su to? (What are those?, plural neuter)
Što su to knjige? (What are those books?, plural feminine)
Which / Which one:
These pronouns are used to ask questions involving choice or selection. They agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they refer to.
Singular
Koji (masculine)
Koja (feminine)
Koje (neuter)
Examples:
Koji automobil voliš? (Which car do you like?, masculine)
Koja knjiga je tvoja? (Which book is yours?, feminine)
Koje voće je najzdravije? (Which fruit is the healthiest?, neuter)
Plural
Koji (masculine)
Koje (feminine/neuter)
Examples:
Koji automobili su najbrži? (Which cars are the fastest?, masculine)
Koje pjesme volite? (Which songs do you love?, feminine)
How much/How many (Koliko):
Koliko is used to ask questions about quantity or amount.
Examples:
Koliko košta ovo vino? (How much does this wine cost?, singular)
Koliko imaš braće i sestara? (How many siblings do you have?, plural)
Why (Zašto):
Zašto is used to inquire about the reason or cause behind something.
Examples:
Zašto si došao kasno? (Why did you come late?)
Zašto ne voliš pizzu? (Why don`t you like pizza?)
Where (Gdje):
Gdje is used to ask questions about location or place.
Examples:
Gdje živiš? (Where do you live?)
Gdje si vidio tu knjigu? (Where did you see that book?)
When (Kada):
Kada is used to inquire about time or the timing of an event.
Examples:
Kada ćeš doći na sastanak? (When will you come to the meeting?)
Kada si rođen? (When were you born?)
How (Kako):
Kako is used to ask questions about manner, method, or condition.
Examples:
Kako si prošao ispit? (How did you do on the exam?)
Kako se osjećaš danas? (How do you feel today?)
Relative Pronouns
These pronouns connect sentences or clauses and relate them to a noun.
Who / Which (Koji):
Examples:
Čovjek koji je došao (The man who came)
What (Što):
Example:
Vidio sam automobil što si kupio. (I saw the car that you bought.)
Reflexive Pronouns
They are used when the subject of a sentence performs an action on itself. They indicate that the action is directed back to the subject.
Myself (Sebe):
Examples:
Pomažem sebi. (I am helping myself.)
Kupujem sebi novu knjigu. (I am buying myself a new book.)
Ourselves (Sebe):
Example:
Čistimo sebe. (We are cleaning ourselves.)
Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns are used to refer to unspecified or unknown people, things, or quantities. They are versatile pronouns that help convey imprecise or indefinite information in a sentence.
Singular
Someone/Somebody (Netko):
Example:
Netko je kucao na vrata. (Someone knocked on the door.)
Something (Nešto):
Example:
Imam nešto za tebe. (I have something for you.)
Plural
Some (Neki):
Example:
Neki ljudi su već otišli. (Some people have already left.)
Several (Nekoliko):
Example:
Imam nekoliko knjiga. (I have several books.)
Everything (Sve):
Example:
Sve je spremno. (Everything is ready.)
As you can see, there are many pronouns in the Croatian language. They differ significantly from English pronouns, so it`s important to pay attention when studying them. In a single article, we cannot cover all the nuances and features of pronouns. In future articles, we will periodically revisit them and provide details related to their usage. Happy learning!