This is the third part of a list of the most useful Croatian verbs, containing 159 verbs. They are either listed individually, in verb pairs, and occasionally in triplets; this part contains 89 such entries.
I've listed the 10 most important forms for each verb. For a great majority of verbs, all those forms follow regularly from the infinitive (inf) or 3rd pers. present (pres-3).
Abbreviations and stress marks follow the rest of Easy Croatian, i.e. only the place of stress is marked.
With each verb (or pair) various ways to use it are listed, and each way has at least one example.
Click on any item to show detailed information:
↓ računati ~ iz- calculate, rely on
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* There’s also rare regular forms of passive adjectives, but the forms with -t are at least 10 times more common.
The verb pair can be used with an object in A:
Ana je izračunala troškove. Ana has calculated the expenses.
With a mediopassive se², the impf. verb has a frequent meaning: something counts, i.e. something matters (or not, if negative):
I ovo se računa. This too counts.
To se ne računa. It doesn’t count.
(The last example is a quite frequent phrase.)
The impf. verb, when used with na¨ + A, has a similar meaning: count on, rely on:
Ana računa na Ivanu. Ana counts on Ivana.
The meanings count and rely apply only to the impf. verb.
↓ raditi ~ napraviti work, do, make
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* There’s no regular verbal noun, rad work is used when needed.
This verb is used with optional locations:
Ivan radi u bolnici. Ivan works in a hospital.
Ana radi do četiri. Ana works until 4 o’clock.
The perf. verb napraviti doesn’t cover the meaning work.
In questions, the verb is used as a generic verb, like English do:
Što radiš? What are you doing?
The perf. verb can be used in the generic sense, asking about the outcome:
Što si napravio? What have you done? {to a male}
The verb pair also means make; it’s used with objects in A. Such use of raditi is a bit colloquial:
Ivan radi salatu. Ivan is making a salad. (a bit colloquial)
Ivan je napravio salatu. Ivan has made a salad.
Impersonal mediopassive of the imperfective verb, with o¨ + DL, means it is/was about:
Radi se o kvaru na motoru. It’s about an engine fault.
The agent nouns are unexpectedly radnik m / radnica f worker.
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The impf. verb is used only for ongoing births or general statements.
The perf. verb is used with an object in A:
Ana je rodila Gorana. Ana gave birth to Goran.
Both verbs can be used with a se², the meaning is mediopassive, that is, something happens or has happened to the subject, but we don’t know or won’t say who is causing it:
Goran se rodio prije 10 godina. Goran was born 10 years ago.
(Note that the sentence above is in the past tense in Croatian.)
Instead of mediopassive, passive adjectives can be used:
Goran je rođen prije 10 godina. Goran was born 10 years ago.
(Note that the sentence above is in the present tense in Croatian.)
The agent noun is a very common noun roditelj parent, used for men and women, i.e. covering fathers too.
↓ rasti (raste, rastao, rasla) ~* na- (»), po- (») grow
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* There’s no regular impf. verbal noun, rast growth is used when needed.
These verbs are used with a subject in N only:
Drvo raste. A tree grows.
Metaphorically, other things – prices, sea levels and so on – can grow in Croatian:
Temperature rastu. Temperatures are rising. (lit. ‘growing’)
The perf. verb means something has grown to some degree (but it doesn’t imply it cannot grow more), while the impf. verb doesn’t imply any outcome:
Goran je narastao. Goran has grown.
Goran je rastao. Goran was growing.
↓ rastavljati ~ rastaviti take apart
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This verb pair is used with objects in A:
Goran je rastavio igračku. Goran took apart the toy.
The opposite meaning is expressed by sastavljati ~ sastaviti assemble (put parts together).
↓ razbijati («) ~ razbiti (razbije) break, smash, shatter, crash
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The main meaning of this verb is break in a way that something shatters or falls apart.
It’s used with objects in A:
Goran je razbio prozor. Goran has broken the window.
If something happens to the subject, and we don’t know who caused it (or we don’t want to say it), mediopassive se² is used:
Prozor se razbio. The window broke.
This verb pair is also used for body parts when they are injured with a lot of blood etc, like head, chin, elbows and knees. It can include broken bones, but the focus is on the visible damage.
This is also used when someone wrecks a car, or destroys something by external force, causing a lot of visible damage. It then contrasts with kvariti ~ po- («) break, spoil which implies an internal, invisible damage:
Auto je razbijen. The car is wrecked.
Auto je pokvaren. The car is broken. (engine or electrics don’t work)
Therefore, this pair is used only with certain objects; other uses of English break are covered by other verbs:
- for things that usually break in two (bone, tooth, stick...), use lomiti ~ s- break
- for damaging a mechanism (car engine, computer...) so it doesn’t work anymore, use kvariti ~ po- («) break, spoil
↓ razgovarati («) talk with someone, converse
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* There’s no regular verbal noun, razgovor conversation is used when needed.
This verb is used when more than one people talk, i.e. when they converse. For one-sided talk, govoriti («) is used.
Other sides of conversation are expressed with s¨ / sa¨ + I:
Razgovarao sam s Anom. I talked to Ana. {m}
Razgovarat ću s njima. I’ll talk to them.
The topic of conversation is expressed with o¨ + DL:
Razgovarali smo o Ivanu. We talked about Ivan.
Colloquially, the verb pričati ~* is- («) is used often instead.
↓ razmišljati («) ~ razmisliti think (about something)
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This verb pair is used in two ways. First, you can think about some thing or person, expressed with o¨ + DL:
Ana razmišlja o odmoru. Ana is thinking about vacation.
Then, you can think about doing something; this is usually expressed with an atemporal clause (i.e. da + a verb in present, either impf. or perf. + object etc.):
Ana razmišlja [da ode kući]. Ana is thinking [about going home].
↓ razumjeti (razumije,...) understand
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* In speech, the imperative is often shortened to razumi.
This verb can be used with an object (a person or something you understand or not) in A:
Ana nije razumjela problem. Ana didn’t understand the problem.
Ivana razumije Anu. Ivana understands Ana.
This verb is essentially perfective, i.e. duration cannot be normally expressed with it.
The verb is often used with content clauses, and using any tense:
Ana razumije [što je Ivana rekla]. Ana understands [what Ivana has said].
In comparison with a very similar verb pair shvaćati ~~ shvatiti, this verb is also used for physical understanding, e.g. over a noisy phone line.
There’s a potential adjective razumljiv understandable.
| The verb also appears as (non-standard in Croatian) |
Ikavian: razumiti Ekavian: razumeti |
↓ rezati (reže) ~* od-, pre- cut
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This pair has two perfective verbs: one with od- expresses cutting of a smaller piece from a larger piece (e.g. a slice of bread), while one with pre- means just cutting something in two (e.g. a rope).
Both perf. verbs have exactly the same form, just the prefix is different, so only one is listed.
What is cut or cut off is expressed in A:
Ana reže kruh. Ana is cutting bread.
Ana je odrezala komad kolača. Ana has cut off a piece of cake.
These verbs are using for cutting with knives, scissors and many other things.
The agent nouns are rezač m / rezačica f cutter. The masc. noun also covers various devices (cutters).
In Serbia and eastern parts of Bosnia, these verbs are not used for cutting things with scissors (e.g. fingernails, hair) – other verbs are used instead.
| The veb pair also appears as (non-standard in Croatian) | Ikavian: rizati (riže) |
↓
rješavati («) ~ riješiti solve (problem); se² get rid of
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* The perf. verbal noun rješenje is also used as a common noun, meaning solution (to some problem). It’s not used for chemical solutions and such things.
This verb pair is used with an object in A, with a bit wider use than the English verb:
Ana je riješila problem. Ana has solved the problem.
Goran mora riješiti zadaću. Goran has to complete the homework. (lit. ‘solve’)
With a se² and an object in G, the verb pair means get rid of:
Ana se riješila starog auta. Ana got rid of the old car.
There’s a potential adjective rješiv solvable.
| The verb pair also appears as (non-standard in Croatian) |
Ikavian: rišavati («) ~ rišiti Ekavian: rešavati («) ~ rešiti |
↓ rušiti ~*/~ s- demolish, tear down
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This verb pair is used with an object in A:
Vjetar je srušio stablo. The wind has knocked down the tree.
With a se² the meaning is mediopassive, something falls down, collapses:
Kuća se srušila. The house collapsed.
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This verb can be used in three ways. First, you can dream of some thing (expressed in A):
Sanjao sam tebe. I dreamed of you. {m}
You can also dream about something, expressed as o¨ + DL in Croatian (but this is less common):
Sanjao sam o ovome. I dreamed about this. {m}
Finally, you can dream of anything, expressed by a content clause in Croatian, matching an English clause:
Ana sanja [da je na odmoru]. Ana is dreaming [she’s on vacation].
↓ sastajati (sastaje) se² ~¹ sastati (sastane) se² meet (longer meeting, planned)
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* There’s no regular smlf. verbal noun, the noun sastanak (sastank-) meeting is used when needed.
This verb pair is always used with se². The subjects meet:
Ana i Ivana su se sastale. Ana and Ivana met.
Another way to express another party is with s¨/sa¨ + I:
Ana se sastala s Ivanom. Ana met Ivana.
The verb sastati (sastane) se² is ‘semelfactive’, i.e. it stands for a single meeting, while the impf. verb implies ongoing or repeating events in past and future.
This pair is today mostly used for business and official meetings. Other meetings are usually expressed in speech with the verb pair nalaziti ~¹/~ naći (nađe,...) find.
The pair implies a planned meeting; for accidental or brief meetings, the pair sretati (sreće) ~ sresti (sretne, sreo) is used.
↓ sastavljati ~ sastaviti assemble (put parts together)
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This verb pair is used with objects in A:
Ana je sastavila igračku. Ana assembled the toy.
The perf. passive adjective sastavljen can be used to express what (or how many) parts something has, using od¨ + G:
Igračka je sastavljena od tri dijela. The toy consists of three parts.
Colloquially, same meaning is sometimes expressed with the multi-purpose slagati (slaže) ~ složiti arrange, put together; se² agree.
The opposite meaning is expressed by rastavljati ~ rastaviti take apart.
↓ shvaćati ~~ shvatiti understand
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This verb pair can be used with an object (a person or something you understand or not) in A:
Ana nije shvatila problem. Ana didn’t understand the problem.
Ivana shvaća Anu. Ivana understands Ana.
The verbs are often used with content clauses, starting with da, and using any tense:
Ana shvaća
[da nema dovoljno novca].
Ana understands [she doesn’t have enough money].
In imperative, the inchoative verb is almost always used:
Shvati to! Understand that!
This verb pair is very similar to razumjeti (razumije,...) understand; however, this pair doesn’t cover understanding a language, a less familiar word, or understanding what was said over a noisy phone line, while razumjeti (razumije,...) understand covers all these meanings as well. Interestingly, this verb pair is more common in speech.
There’s a potential adjective shvatljiv understandable.
↓ sjećati se² ~~ sjetiti se² remember (recall, come to mind)
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This verb pair is virtually always used with se².
Unlike English, Croatian distinguishes storing into memory from retrieving something from memory; this verb pair expresses only retrieving. If you can get a fact from your memory, it’s expressed with the impf. verb and a content clause (using any tense):
Sjećam se [gdje je auto]. I recall [where the car is]. (I can get it from my memory)
The ‘inchoative’ verb sjetiti se² in past tense is often used to express that you have recalled something just now (and previously you couldn’t):
Sjetila sam se [gdje je auto]. I remember now [where the car is]. {f}
This verb has ‘inchoative’ meaning, since from the moment you recall something, you are aware of it. Therefore, it corresponds to English come to mind.
It’s also very common to use this verb when you remembered (or didn’t) to do something (expressed in infinitive, with possible objects, etc.) If you failed to do something, it’s not necessarily permanent loss of memory:
Jesi li se sjetio zatvoriti prozor? Did you remember to close the window? {to a male}
Nisam se sjetio zatvoriti prozor. I didn’t remember to close the window. {m}
A similar meaning is expressed with zaboraviti perf. forget as well:
Zaboravio sam zatvoriti prozor. I forgot to close the window. {m}
If you just recall somebody or something, it’s expressed as an object in G:
Ana se sjetila Ivane. Ivana came to Ana’s mind.
Storing into memory, i.e. memorizing, is expressed by pamtiti ~~ za- memorize, bear in mind.
↓ sjedati ~ sjesti (sjedne, sjeo) sit down
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This verb pair is dynamic sit down, in contrast to sjediti, which is static sit.
This pair is used with optional destinations. The perf. verb is mostly used (its relation with sjediti sit is start-of-state, i.e. ‘inchoative’):
Ana je sjela. Ana has sat down.
Ana je sjela na kauč. Ana has sat down on the couch.
In Zagreb and the surrounding regions, this pair can be used with a se²; this is regarded as colloquial today, but you’ll see it sometimes in writing:
Ana se sjela. (colloquial, regional) Ana has sat down.
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This verb is static, imperfective, i.e. it expresses continuous sitting somewhere (expressed as an optional location):
Ana sjedi. Ana is sitting.
Ana sjedi na kauču. Ana is sitting on the couch.
The verb is quite similar to sjesti (sjedne, sjeo) perf. sit down; however, the perf. verb doesn’t have the -i-, and has -n- in the present tense.
Sometimes, in older literature, this verbs appears as sjedjeti (sjedi,...).
↓ skretati (skreće) ~ skrenuti (skrene) turn (change direction)
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* The verbal noun means also turn (in traffic).
This verb pair is mostly used when turning while driving:
Ana je skrenula lijevo. Ana has turned left.
↓ skidati ~ skinuti (skine) take off, take down, remove
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With things placed in places that use the preposition na¨, this pair is the opposite of stavljati ~ staviti put (things somewhere). It uses objects in A and origins:
Ana je skinula sliku sa zida. Ana has removed the picture from the wall.
This verb pair is very often used as the opposite of oblačiti («) ~ obući (obuče,...) put on (clothes). Clothes taken off are expressed in A:
Goran je skinuo majicu. Goran has taken his T-shirt off.
In this use, you can express that somebody is taking clothes off from someone else. The person taking the clothes off is the subject (in N), and the person undressed is in DL:
Ana je skinula Goranu majicu. Ana has taken Goran’s T-shirt off.
Conversely, with a se², the meaning is simply undress, take off clothes:
Goran se skida. Goran is undressing.
When you are taking clothes from yourself, sometimes sa sebe from himself/herself/themselves will be added, with no change in meaning:
Goran je skinuo majicu sa sebe. Goran has taken his T-shirt off.
↓ skupljati ~ skupiti collect, gather; se² shrink
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This verb pair is used with an object in A when you collect something, gather people, etc.:
Goran skuplja grančice. Goran is collecting little twigs.
Ana je skupila susjede. Ana has gathered her neighbors.
With a se², there’s mediopassive meaning, something or somebody gathers:
Prijatelji su se skupili. Friends have gathered.
When the subject is cloth, clothes, with a se², the meaning is shrink:
Majica se skupila. The T-shirt has shrunk.
The perf. verb has an alternative form sakupiti, which is more common in Bosnia and Serbia.
The agent nouns are skupljač m / skupljačica f collector. The masc. noun also covers some devices (collectors).
↓ slagati (slaže) ~ složiti arrange, put together; se² agree
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This multi-purpose verb pair has the basic meaning arrange. It can be used to arrange anything, either for storage, or for use, expressed as objects in A:
Ana je složila knjige. Ana has arranged books.
It can be used both with locations (if something is already there, just not arranged) and destinations (if something is put there):
Složila je knjige na policu. She’s arranged the books on the shelf. (put them there)
Složila je knjige na polici. (the same, but the books were already there)
With a se², when the subject is people, this pair means go along well, agree:
Oni se slažu. They agree. (or: go along)
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This pair is used with an object in A, and an optional recipient in DL:
Ana je poslala Ivani poruku. Ana has sent a message to Ivana.
The matching verbs on the receiving side are primati ~ primiti receive or more colloquial, dobivati («) ~ dobiti (dobije) get (a thing, a message, an idea).
↓ slikati ~* na- paint (picture), take (photo)
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This verb pair has a simple meaning – make a painting or a photo.
This verb pair is used with an optional object in A (mandatory for the perf. verb) expressing who or what is going to be on a painting of a photo:
Ana je slikala Gorana. Ana took a picture of Goran.
Slikaj nas! Take a picture of us!
When someone takes a picture of themselves, se² is used:
Slikali smo se. We took a photo of us.
The perfective verb is used only when making a painting is completed, never for taking a photo!
The verb uzeti (uzme) perf. take (something) is not used in Croatian for "taking photos".
The agent nouns are slikar m / slikarica f painter, used only for people who make paintings.
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This verb is used with objects in A:
Goran sluša radio. Goran is listening to the radio.
The agent nouns are slušatelj m / slušateljica f listener. Another noun is used too: slušalac (slušaoc-).
↓ smanjivati (smanjuje) ~ smanjiti decrease, diminish
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This verb pair is usually used with a se², when something decreases:
Buka se smanjila. The noise decreased.
↓ smetati ~¹ za- («) disturb, bother, be a nuisance
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* There’s no regular smlf. verbal noun, the noun smetnja is used when needed.
This pair is similar to sviđati se² ~~ svidjeti (svidi,...) se² like: what causes disturbance is the subject, and who is disturbed is an object in DL:
Buka mi smeta. The noise is disturbing me.
What is disturbing can be expressed with a clause starting with što (all tenses are allowed, but no perf. verbs in present) – the clause is the subject then:
Ani smeta [što mora čekati]. lit. Ana is bothered [by having to wait].
Colloquially, the person affected can be in A (some consider this a ‘mistake’):
Buka me smeta. (colloq., controversial) The noise is disturbing me.
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This verb is always used with se²; to laugh at somebody/something, use DL:
Goran se smije. Goran is laughing.
Goran se smije Ani. Goran is laughing at Ana.
↓ smjeti (smije,...) may, be allowed to
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This verb is usually used in negative, when somebody is not allowed to do something, with another verb in infinitive, which can have its objects and so on:
Ne smiješ skakati po krevetu. You must not jump on the bed.
In everyday language, as in English, to express non-negated meaning is allowed, the verb moći (može +,...) can is used.
In some Croatian regions and neigboring countries (Bosnia, Serbia) this verb also means dare; this meaning is archaic in most of Croatia, the verb pair usuđivati (usuđuje) se² ~ usuditi («) se² dare is used to express that meaning.
↓ snimati ~ snimiti record (video, sound)
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This verb pair has the basic meaning of recording sound and/or video on some device.
The verb pair is used for recording videos and movies; what is taken is in A:
Ana je snimila Gorana kako pliva. Ana took a video of Goran swimming.
It's also used with any kind of sound recording:
Gibonni je snimio novi album. Gibonni recorded a new album.
It can be also used for photos:
Ana je snimila dvije fotografije. Ana took two photos.
To take pictures of people, use slikati ~* na- paint (picture), take (photo).
The verb uzeti (uzme) perf. take (something) is not used in Croatian for "taking photos".
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This verb pair is used with objects in A, and destinations – where the object is connected to:
Ana je spojila radio u struju.
Ana has connected the radio to power. (lit. ‘into current’)
There’s a potential adjective spojiv connectable.
↓ spavati ~~ zaspati (zaspi) sleep
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* The perf. verb zaspati has alternative, non-standard present forms (e.g. pres-3 zaspe, etc.) that are quite common in more eastern regions of Croatia (and in Serbia, but they aren’t accepted as standard anywhere).
This verb is used without objects:
Goran spava. Goran is sleeping.
The perf. verb is ‘inchoative’; it usually corresponds to English fall asleep:
Goran je brzo zaspao. Goran quickly fell asleep.
There’s a secondary present adjective spavaći, used almost exclusively in the phrase spavaća soba, lit. ‘sleeping room’, i.e. bedroom.
The agent nouns are spavač m / spavačica f sleeper.
↓ spremati ~ spremiti tidy; put to its place, store; prepare
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This versatile verb pair has the basic meaning: bring something/someone to the optimal/requested state. It’s basically used for three things.
First, to put things (expressed in A) back to their places, e.g. if a book is out of its usual place (shelf), a toy is out of the box, etc.:
Spremio sam knjige. I’ve put the books back in place. {m}
If the place is expressed, it’s a destination:
Spremio sam knjige na policu. I’ve put the books back to the shelf. {m}
Then, this pair covers the meanings prepare. It’s used with an object in A:
Spremio sam ručak. I’ve prepared lunch. {m}
With a se², it means get ready, prepare oneself:
Spremio sam se. I’ve prepared (myself). {m}
The same meaning is expressed also by pripremati («) ~ pripremiti («) prepare.
Finally, the third meaning is tidy, again used with an object in A:
Spremio sam sobu. I’ve tidied the room. {m}
The agent nouns are spremač m / spremačica f cleaning person.
There’s a related adjective spreman (spremn-) ready.
↓ sretati (sreće) ~ sresti (sretne, sreo) meet (briefly, accidentally)
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* There’s no regular perfective verbal noun, susret encounter, meeting is used when needed.
This verb pair is used when someone accidentally meets someone (expressed as an object in A):
Ana je jučer srela Mariju. Ana came across Marija yesterday.
With a se², it implies either an accidental, or a planned, but brief meeting, where the subjects meet:
Ana i Marija su se jučer srele. Ana and Marija met briefly yesterday.
Another option is that the subject meets someone expressed by s¨ / sa¨ + I (a se² is still required):
Ana se jučer srela s Marijom. Ana met Marija briefly yesterday.
This pair is used for accidental or brief meetings.
- for planned meetings, the verb pair nalaziti ~¹/~ naći (nađe,...) find is often used in speech
- for official or business meetings, the verb pair sastajati (sastaje) se² ~¹ sastati (sastane) se² meet (longer meeting, planned) is preferred
↓ stajati (staje) ~ stati (stane) stop, come to halt
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This verb is used for dynamic standing, i.e. going to stand somewhere; it’s used without objects and with optional destinations (unlike in English):
Goran je stao. Goran stopped.
Goran je stao na krevet. Goran has stood on the bed. (Croatian: a destination!)
It can be also used when a noun, standing for some process or activity, stops. It can mean a temporary halt, it can start again at any time. (Stopping permanently is expressed by prestajati (prestaje) ~ prestati (prestane) stop, cease.)
Kiša je stala. The rain stopped.
The perfective verb has a derived meaning: fit, again used with destinations. In this meaning, the perfective verb is normally used in the present tense, including the true present, i.e. the moment of speaking:
Goran ne stane u hlače. Goran doesn’t fit into the pants. (Croatian: a destination!)
Knjiga ne stane na policu. The book doesn’t fit on the shelf.
Knjiga nije stala na policu. The book didn’t fit on the shelf.
Kofer nije stao u ormar. The suitcase didn’t fit in the closet.
The affected person can be added in DL (note that knjiga book is the subject):
Ani knjiga ne stane na policu. Ana can’t fit the book on the shelf.
The meaning fit of the perf. verb is very restricted: only be not too big.
- to express these pants fit you perfectly, use stajati (stoji)
- to express be suitable, fit the job, use odgovarati («) ~ odgovoriti («)
- to express fit in with the crowd etc., other verbs are used
Sometimes, in older literature and in speech in Dalmatia and maybe some other parts, this pair used with another impf. verb in inf, meaning start:
Stala je pričat. She started talking. (literature, Dalmatia)
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This verb is used for static standing; there are optional locations, but no objects:
Goran stoji. Goran is standing.
Goran stoji na krevetu. Goran is standing on the bed.
Ana stoji pred kućom. Ana is standing in front of the house.
The verb also expresses where something is, where something is kept:
Noževi stoje u ladici. Knives ‘stand’ in the drawer. (i.e. are kept)
This verb is also – maybe a bit colloquially – used to express how some clothes fit someone; the clothing item is the subject, the affected person is in DL, and there’s an adverb:
Cipele mu odlično stoje. The shoes fit him great.
Ovo mi loše stoji. This fits me badly. (speaking about a piece of clothes/outfit)
Sometimes, in writing, this verb is used to express cost. That’s very rare in speech and casual writing:
Knjiga stoji 100 kuna. (formal, rare in speech) The book costs 100 kuna.
A much more common way to express this meaning is koštati cost.
† The present adverb stojeći is also used as a true adjective, meaning standing, stationary.
There’s a secondary present adjective stajaći standing, mostly used for stajaća vojska standing army and stajaća voda standing water. Note that these meanings are unlike other secondary present adjectives, which have ‘used for’ meanings. Compare:
| kupaći kostim | = costume used for bathing |
| pisaći stol | = desk used for writing |
| spavaća soba | = room used for sleeping |
In comparison, stajaća voda is not ‘water for standing’, but ‘water which is standing’.
↓ stavljati ~ staviti put (things somewhere)
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This pair is used with objects in A, and destinations (unlike in English!) for where you put something:
Stavio sam pivo u frižider. I’ve put the beer in the fridge. {m} (Croatian: a destination!)
This verb is used for putting things anywhere, temporary or permanently; to stress that something is put to a more permanent place, where something is kept, use spremati ~ spremiti tidy; put to its place, store; prepare.
For example, you could use either pair to put the beer in the fridge, while you would use only stavljati ~ staviti to put the beer on the table!
This pair is used only for literally putting things in some place, while English put has many other uses. Common metaphorical uses of put are expressed in the following way in Croatian:
- to put something in order, use spremati ~ spremiti tidy; put to its place, store; prepare
- to put someone at risk, use dovoditi («) ~ dovesti (dovede, doveo) bring (someone)
- to put effort into something, use ulagati (ulaže) ~ uložiti («) invest, put in (effort, time)
The opposite action is represented by:
- for places using u¨: vaditi ~ iz- take out, pull out
- for places using na¨: skidati ~ skinuti (skine) take off, take down, remove
Another option is uzimati ~ uzeti (uzme) take (something), with no restrictions.
↓ stizati (stiže) ~ stići (stigne,...) get, arrive, make on time
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This verb pair means reaching a point in space, time or both; what is reached is expressed as a destination:
Ana je stigla na posao. Ana has arrived to work.
Using this pair with negation usually implies reaching something too late, or not reaching at all (depending on the context):
Ana nije stigla na sastanak. Ana didn't get to the meeting (on time).
It can also be used with another verb in infinitive, which can have its objects, and so on, to express that somebody had time to do something; it’s usually used in negative:
Ana nije stigla kupiti kruh. Ana had no time to buy bread.
Finally, it can be used with objects in A, meaning someone catches up with someone else:
Goran je stigao Anu. Goran has caught up with Ana.
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These verbs are often used with a se², mediopassively, i.e. something dries ‘on its own’:
Majica se suši. The T-shirt is drying.
Sometimes the verbs can be used with an object in A, when someone actively dries something, which is also used for blowing hair:
Ana suši kosu fenom. Ana is ‘drying’ her hair with a blow-dryer.
↓ sviđati se² ~~ svidjeti (svidi,...) se² like
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This verb pair is always used with a se². Cases are in the ‘reverse’ mode: what is liked is the subject (in N), and who likes is expressed in DL:
Ani se sviđa Ivan. Ana likes Ivan.
The perf. verb is ‘inchoative’, i.e. it means start to like, but it’s also used for an instant impression you like something:
Ani se svidio film. Ana liked the movie.
This is often used to like something on social media.
The subject (i.e. what someone likes) can be a verb in inf, possibly with its objects and so on:
Ani se svidjelo piti čaj ujutro. Ana liked drinking tea in the morning.
The subject can be also an adverb:
Ani se svidjelo tamo. Ana liked it there. / Ana liked being there.
Pay attention that in both constructions (inf and an adverb as the subject), the verb must be in neuter singular.
This verb has a bit different meaning than English like – it sometimes corresponds to English love.
For more information, see voljeti (voli,...) ~~ za- («) love.
↓ svirati ~* od- («) ~~ za- («) play (music)
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The impf verb used with an optional object in A, which can be a song or an instrument:
Ana svira. Ana is playing.
Ana svira gitaru. Ana is playing a guitar.
Like in English, the verbs have ‘middle’ use without a se²:
Svirala je neka dosadna glazba. Some boring music was playing.
(This is exceptional, as only a few verbs in Croatian show that behavior.)
In the last example, the subject was placed after the verb, to emphasize indefiniteness.
Two perfective verbs are a perfective completion verb, for playing something to the end, and an ‘inchoative’ verb, meaning start playing. The completion verb, as usual, requires an object in A:
Ana je zasvirala. Ana started playing (music).
Goran je odsvirao pjesmu. Goran has played a song. (from start to end)
The agent nouns are svirač m / sviračica f musician.
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This verb pair is always used with a se². It can be used without any object:
Ivan se našalio. Ivan joked.
It can be also used with a content clause, i.e. a da-clause in any tense (but no perf. verbs in present):
Goran se šali [da je dinosaur]. Goran is joking [he’s a dinosaur].
↓ šetati (šeće / šeta) ~* pro- («) stroll, walk
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This verb pair with se² expresses casual walking; the se² is often left out, which was considered non-standard in the past:
Goran šeće. Goran is walking.
Goran se šeće. (the same, a bit more formal)
It’s possible to walk someone (an object in A) but that again must be for their pleasure; normally it’s used for children and dogs:
Ivan šeće psa. Ivan is walking his dog.
↓ tjerati ~ na-, po- force, chase
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The basic meaning is either chase either to go somewhere, or to do something.
It’s used with objects in A and optional destinations to express the first meaning; in this meaning, perf. verb derived with po- is usually used:
Ana tjera Gorana unutra. Ana is chasing Goran inside.
Goran tjera muhu van. Goran is chasing the fly out.
Goran je potjerao muhu van. Goran chased the fly out.
Without any destination, the implies meaning is away.
The other meaning – force, make to do something – is expressed by an atemporal clause i.e. both impf. and perf. verbs, but only in the present tense. In this meaning, the perf. verb derived with na- is usually used:
Ana tjera Gorana [da uči]. Ana is making Goran [study].
Ana je natjerala Gorana [da uči]. Ana has made Goran [study].
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* The verbal noun trajanje is also used as a common noun, meaning duration.
This verb is used with time periods in A:
Posao traje jednu godinu. The job lasts for a year.
It can be used with other time periods (here I-pl):
Loše vrijeme je trajalo tjednima. The bad weather lasted for weeks.
It can be used with time adverbs:
Zima još traje. The winter is still not over.
Zima dugo traje. Winter lasts for a long time.
There’s a derived adjective trajan (trajn-) permanent, lasting.
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This verb is used with objects in A:
Ana traži ključeve. Ana is looking for the keys.
Goran je tražio Anu. Goran was looking for Ana.
With certain abstract nouns, it corresponds to English ask for:
Goran je tražio pomoć. Goran asked for help.
To ask for directions use the verb pair pitati ~¹ u- («) ask.
↓ trčati (trči) ~ o-, do- ~ po- run
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There are two perfective verbs, but they don’t have exactly the same meaning, they rather form a go-come pair: the verb derived with o- is simply the perfective version of the impf. verb; it covers run away as well.
The perf. verb derived with do- is used in situations where the English come can be used; it’s essentially come by running.
Goran trči. Goran is running.
Goran je otrčao. Goran ran away.
The agent nouns are trkač m / trkačica f runner.
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* There’s no regular passive adjective, but the adjective potreban (potrebn-) needed can be used.
This verb can be used with objects in A:
Ana treba čašu. Ana needs a glass.
It can be used with another verb in infinitive, which can have objects, etc., and then it corresponds to English should:
Goran treba spavati. Goran should sleep.
If the other verb is ići (ide,...) go with a destination, it can be left out in speech, leaving only a destination:
Trebamo ići u dućan. We should go to a shop.
Trebamo u dućan. (the same meaning, in speech)
The same happens with the verbs htjeti (hoće +,...) want, moći (može +,...) can, and morati must, have to.
The verb often used in the ‘reverse’ mode, where what’s needed is the subject (in N), and one who needs is in DL:
Ani treba čaša. Ana needs a glass. (lit. ‘To Ana, a glass is needed.’)
In Serbia, this verb is usually used impersonally when used with another verb.
↓ trošiti ~* po- («) spend (money, resources)
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This verb pair can be used with objects in A:
Ivana je potrošila novac. Ivana has spent the money.
This verb pair is not used to spend time or holidays: for these meanings, the pair provoditi («) ~ provesti (provede, proveo) spend (time) is used.
↓ ubrzavati («) ~ ubrzati speed up, accelerate
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* The perf. verbal noun also means acceleration.
The verb pair is often used without any objects, when the subject speeds up:
Auto je ubrzao. The car sped up.
When the subject is a person, it can be used also with a se²:
Goran se ubrzao. Goran sped up.
↓ učiti ~* na- («) learn, study, teach
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This pair has two meanings, depending on number of objects and their cases. When used with 2 objects – one in A: a person/animal – another in A or a verb in infinitive: what is taught – it means teach:
Ivan uči Gorana matematiku. Ivan is teaching math to Goran.
Ana je naučila Gorana plivati. Ana taught Goran to swim.
However, it’s more common to use this pair with a single object in A or a verb in infinitive, and it then means study, learn:
Goran uči matematiku. Goran is studying math.
Goran je naučio plivati. Goran has learned to swim.
If you want to say e.g. Ivan teaches math, you have to used some generic word to have two objects:
Ivan uči djecu matematiku. Ivan teaches math to children.
Beware, here the Croatian noun djeca is here in A.
Another way is to use a more formal verb pair predavati (predaje) ~ predati teach, give lecture.
The agent nouns are:
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učenik m / učenica f student učitelj m / učiteljica f teacher |
↓ udarati ~¹ udariti hit, punch
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* There’s no regular smlf. verbal noun, the noun udarac (udarc-) is used when needed.
The verb pair is used with objects in A:
Goran je udario loptu. Goran has hit the ball.
The verb udariti is ‘semelfactive’, meaning you hit something once; however, it’s also used as an ordinary perfective verb, meaning the hitting is completed, something was hit at least once.
With a se², the verb is very frequently used to express hurt by contact with some physical object:
Goran se udario. Goran has hurt himself. (by bumping into something)
What is hurt is expressed as a destination:
Goran se udario u koljeno. Goran has hurt his knee.
(by bumping into something)
The same expression is used to say what someone bumped into:
Goran se udario u ogradu. Goran has bumped into the fence.
Such expressions are very often used by and with children.
These verbs aren’t used to hit something with flying objects (balls, stones, arrows, rockets, etc.). For that, use pogađati («) ~ pogoditi («) hit; guess.
↓ uključivati (uključuje) ~ uključiti («) include, turn on (device)
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The verbs are used with objects in A, usually for turning on various devices and power supplies:
Ana je uključila pećnicu. Ana has turned the oven on.
The verbs are also used with objects in A, in meaning include:
Cijena ne uključuje osiguranje. The price doesn’t include insurance.
† The present adverb uključujući is frequently used meaning including, e.g. uključujući porez including the tax.
↓ ulagati (ulaže) ~ uložiti («) invest, put in (effort, time)
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This verb pair is quite frequent because it – besides investing money – covers English expressions like put effort into, put time into etc. It’s used with an object in A and optional destinations:
Ana je uložila puno vremena. Ana has put in a lot of time.
Ana je uložila puno vremena u detalje. Ana has put in a lot of time into the details.
The agent nouns are ulagač m / ulagačica f investor, used only for financial investors.
↓ ulaziti ~ ući (uđe,...) enter, come in
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* There’s no regular perf. verbal noun, ulazak (ulask-) is used when needed.
This verb pair is used with optional destinations and origins:
Goran je ušao u kuću. Goran has entered the house.
↓
umirati (umire) ~ umrijeti (umre, umro) die
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This verb pair is used without an object:
Anina baka je davno umrla. Ana’s grandmother has died long ago.
* The past form umrli is used as an adjective, and even as a kind of pronoun, one who died.
† The present adverb umirući is also used as a true adjective, meaning dying.
↓ uništavati («) ~ uništiti destroy
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* The perfective verbal noun uništenje is used as a common noun, meaning destruction.
The verbs are used with objects in A:
Goran je uništio igračku. Ana has destroyed the toy.
There’s a potential adjective uništiv destructible, mostly used negated, i.e. neuništiv indestructible.
↓
uspijevati («) ~ uspjeti (uspije,...) succeed
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* There’s no regular perf. verbal noun, uspjeh success is used when needed.
Unlike English, this pair uses another verb in inf, possibly with its object, etc.:
Uspjela sam riješiti problem.
I succeeded in solving the problem. {f}
Uspjela je otvoriti prozor. She managed to open the window.
Nisam uspio pročitati knjigu. I failed to read the book. {m}
They can be translated with English succeed or manage, but these verbs are not used to ‘manage household’ and similar things – only to manage to do something.
The verb pair is often used in the ‘reverse’ mode: what is achieved (or not) is the subject (in N), and the person (or animal) who was responsible is optionally expressed in DL. As usual, if the subject is a verb in inf, it behaves like neuter singular:
Uspjelo mi je riješiti problem.
I succeeded in solving the problem.
In this mode, the subject can be also something that you succeeded in making (or failed to make). Now you must observe the subject gender:
Uspio nam je kolač. We succeeded in making the cake.
↓ usporavati («) ~ usporiti («) slow down
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The verb pair is often used without any objects, when the subject slows down:
Auto je usporio. The car slowed down.
When the subject is a person, it can be used also with a se²:
Goran se usporio. Goran slowed down.
↓ uspoređivati (uspoređuje) ~ usporediti («) compare
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* There’s no regular perf. verbal noun, usporedba is used when needed.
The pair is used with objects in A:
Usporedili smo dva filma. We have compared the two movies.
Another option is an object in A and another expressed by s¨ / sa¨ + I:
Usporedila sam novu Toyotu s novim Mercedesom.
I’ve compared the new Toyota with the new Mercedes. {f}
There’s a potential adjective usporediv comparable.
| The pair also appears as (non-standard in Croatian) | Bosnia, Serbia: upoređivati (upoređuje) ~ uporediti («) |
↓ usuđivati (usuđuje) se² ~ usuditi («) se² dare
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These verbs are always used with se², and another verb in infinitive, which can have its objects, and so on:
Goran se nije usudio otvoriti kutiju. Goran didn't dare to open the box.
↓ utjecati (utječe) influence, affect
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* The verb has an alternative form uticati (utiče) which is not standard in Croatia.
** Instead of the verbal noun, the noun utjecaj influence is often used.
The verb is used with an object expressed with na¨ + A:
Vrijeme utječe na ljude. The weather affects people.
↓ uzimati ~ uzeti (uzme) take (something)
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The verbs are used with objects in A, optional origins (od¨ + G for people) and optional destinations (unlike in English):
Ana je uzela knjigu. Ana took the book.
Ana je uzela knjigu od Ivane. Ana took the book from Ivana.
Ana je uzela knjigu u ruku . Ana took the book in her hand. (Croatian: a destination!)
This verb pair is used only for literally taking things (and sometimes people); it’s not used for taking it easy, taking it hard and other metaphorical uses of English.
With the ‘destination’ u obzir, this pair corresponds to English take into account:
Uzmi u obzir njenu poruku . Take her message into account.
Ne uzimaš u obzir [da je ljeto]. You don’t take into account [it’s summer].
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This verb pair is usually used without objects in A; what is enjoyed can be expressed with u¨ + DL or with a location:
Ana uživa. Ana is enjoying herself.
Ana uživa u odmoru. Ana is enjoying the vacation.
↓ vaditi ~ iz- take out, pull out
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This verb pair is used with things in A, normally pulling out from places that use the preposition u¨.
Ana je izvadila knjigu. Ana has pulled out a book.
The old location of things pulled out is expressed as an origin, consequently using iz¨ + G:
Ana je izvadila knjigu iz torbe. Ana has pulled out a book from the purse.
Colloquially, this verb pair is also used to obtain documents, ID’s, and similar things:
Izvadio sam osobnu. (colloq.) I got my ID. {m}
The opposite action is expressed with stavljati ~ staviti put (things somewhere) and spremati ~ spremiti tidy; put to its place, store; prepare.
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This verb pair translates as see or can see. It can be used with an object in A:
Vidim te. I can see you.
It can be also used with any kind of content clause:
Ana vidi [gdje su ključevi]. Ana can see [where the keys are].
This verb is essentially perfective, i.e. duration cannot be normally expressed with it.
With a se², the verb in plural with persons or animals as subjects has mutual meaning (each other):
Oni se vide. They see each other.
This includes a very common phrase, used to express people will meet again:
Vidimo se. We see each other. (used as see you)
In other cases, the meaning with a se² is mediopassive, and always translates as can be seen; when used with a se², duration can be expressed:
Vidi se mjesec. The moon can be seen.
Mjesec se vidio cijelu noć. The moon could be seen the whole night.
There’s a potential adjective vidljiv visible.
↓ vjerovati (vjeruje) ~~ po- believe
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* Besides the regular verbal noun, the noun vjera belief, faith is frequently used.
This verb pair is used in a very similar way like the English verb. It can be used with objects in DL:
Ne vjeruj svakom. Don’t believe everyone.
It can be also used with content clauses, using any tense (but no perf. verbs in the present tense):
Vjerujemo
[da ćemo pobijediti]. We believe [(that) we’re going to win].
It’s also used negated; the negation of the verb in the clause is less common, so instead of I believe they don’t... Croatian rather uses I don’t believe they...:
Ne vjerujem
[da ćemo pobijediti]. I don’t believe [(that) we’re going to win].
However, the verb is used less often to express predictions in speech, compared to English: the verb misliti think is more common.
With u¨ + A, the meaning is believe in:
Neki ljudi vjeruju u sudbinu. Some people believe in destiny.
The perf. verb is ‘inchoative’, i.e. it means start to believe.
| The verb also appears as (non-standard in Croatian) |
Ikavian: virovati (viruje) Ekavian: verovati (veruje) |
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The verb can be used without an object, in meaning exercise:
Ana vježba. Ana is exercising.
With an object in A, it corresponds also to English practise:
Goran je vježbao engleski. Goran practised English.
| The verb also appears as (non-standard in Croatian) | Ekavian: vežbati |
↓ voditi lead, conduct; take (someone)
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These verbs can be used without objects, in meaning be in front of somebody else (e.g. lead in sports):
Naši vode. lit. ‘Ours are leading.’ = Our team is leading.
With objects in A, it again corresponds to English lead (somebody, or idiomatically, life):
Goran vodi Anu. Goran is leading Ana.
This verb is also used to take, bring a person (or an animal) (expressed by an object in A) somewhere (expressed by a destination):
Ana vodi Gorana u školu. Ana takes Goran to school.
If the destination is a person, it’s normally expressed by DL:
Ana vodi Gorana doktoru. Ana takes Goran to a doctor.
Euphemistically, this verb is also used to ‘lead love’, i.e. have sex.
This is an imperfective verb. In the meaning take somebody somewhere, the completed action is expressed by the perf. verb odvesti (odvede, odveo).
† The present adverb vodeći is also used as a true adjective, meaning leading. For example, vodeći igrač leading player, vodeća uloga leading role.
The agent nouns are vodič tour guide, also meaning conductor (of electricity, heat...) with feminine versions vodičica and vodička. There’s also vođa m leader.
↓ voljeti (voli,...) ~~ za- («) love
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This verb pair is used with persons or things in A.
Goran voli Anu. Goran loves Ana.
Ana voli čaj. Ana likes tea.
It can be also used with other verbs in infinitive, possibly having additional objects, etc.
Ana voli kuhati. Ana likes to cook.
Ana voli piti čaj. Ana likes to drink tea.
This verb is used for long-term feelings.
For impressions, e.g. when you watch a movie once, eat something once, visit some place once, meet someone etc., no matter how great it was, the verb to use is sviđati se² ~~ svidjeti (svidi,...) se² like.
In conditional, the impf. verb has a bit shifted meaning: would like, wish. It’s then frequently used with da-clauses, in two ways. The first way are wishes about past and present, which are expressed by clauses in past and present (but no perf. verbs in present):
Volio bih [da imamo kuću]. I wish [we had a house].
To express wishes about the future, the present tense of both perf. and impf. verbs is used, and the verb biti (je² +) is replaced by the verb (bude):
Volio bih [da kupimo kuću]. I wish [we would buy a house].
Volio bih [da bude sunčano]. I’d like [it to be sunny].
Note that English grammar is completely unlike Croatian in such sentences.
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* Instead of the regular verbal noun, vožnja is much more common.
This verb is used for all vehicles, including bicycles and motorbikes.
This verb is used with optional objects in A, and optionally destinations and origins; in such sentences, the subject controls the vehicle:
Ana vozi auto. Ana is driving a car.
Ana vozi u Split. Ana is driving to Split.
This verb can be also used with se²; the meaning is kind of mediopassive; it’s not implied that the subject is driving, but he or she is riding; now there’s no object, but the vehicle can be specified as a location:
Ana se vozi u autu. Ana is riding a car.
Ana se vozi u Split. Ana is riding to Split.
This verb is related to vehicles only. It’s never used to express that something drives somebody to do something (i.e. forces). For that, the verb pair tjerati ~ na-, po- force, chase away is used.
The agent nouns are vozač m / vozačica f driver.
↓ vući (vuče,...) ~ povući (povuče,...) pull, drag
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This verb is used with objects in A:
Goran vuče igračku. Goran is pulling a toy.
With a se², a bit colloquially, the meaning is that the subject drags, i.e. does things slowly and with no enthusiasm:
Ana se vukla cijelo jutro. (colloq.) Ana dragged the whole morning.
Like in English, it can also mean a vehicle, time, anything moves slowly, slower than we would like to:
Vlak se vuče. (colloq.) The train is dragging.
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* There’s no regular perf. verbal noun; povratak (povratk-) return is used instead.
This verb pair can be used with an object in A, and an optional recipient in DL:
Ana je vratila knjigu. Ana has returned the book.
Ana je vratila knjigu Ivani. Ana has returned the book to Ivana.
When used with a se², the pair means that the subject returns, i.e. comes back:
Vraćamo se sutra. We’re coming back tomorrow.
↓ zabavljati ~ zabaviti entertain; se² have fun
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* Besides the regular verbal noun, the common noun zabava is used as well (it means fun, but also party).
This verb pair can be used with an object in A, when it means that someone entertains someone (an object in A):
Goran zabavlja Anu. Goran entertains Ana.
With a se², the meaning shifts a bit to have fun:
Goran se zabavlja. Goran is having fun.
The agent nouns are zabavljač m / zabavljačica f entertainer.
There’s a related adjective zabavan (zabavn-) entertaining, fun:
Film je jako zabavan. The movie is very entertaining.
↓ zaboravljati ~ zaboraviti forget
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* There’s no regular of perf. verbal noun, the noun zaborav can be used instead.
This verb pair can be used with an object in A:
Zaboravio sam jaknu. I forgot the jacket. {m}
It can be also used with any kind of content clause, i.e. a da-clause in any tense (but no perf. verbs in present):
Ana je zaboravila [gdje su ključevi]. Ana forgot [where the keys are].
When someone forgets to do something, it’s expressed in infinitive, which can have its objects, etc.:
Ana je zaboravila zaključati vrata. Ana forgot to lock the door.
A similar meaning is expressed by the negation of the verb sjetiti se² perf. recall, come to mind:
Ana se nije sjetila zaključati vrata. Ana didn’t remember to lock the door.
↓ zaključavati («) ~ zaključati lock
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This verb pair can be used with an object in A:
Ana zaključava vrata. Ana is locking the door.
The perf. pass. adj. is a very frequently used adjective:
Vrata su zaključana. The door is locked.
The opposite meaning is expressed by otključavati («) ~ otključati unlock.
↓ zamišljati («) ~ zamisliti («) imagine
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* The passive adjective zamišljen has an additional meaning: in thought, contemplating, i.e. when someone has been absorbed in their thoughts.
This verb pair is used with objects in A, what is imagined:
Ana zamišlja odmor na pustom otoku.
Ana imagines vacation on a desert island.
What is imagined can be also expressed with an unrestricted clause: any tense can be used, present of both impf. and perf. verbs can be used in them, usually expressing relative future (this is a special behavior):
Ana zamišlja [da pliva u moru]. Ana imagines [(that) she’s swimming in the sea].
Note that this construction is unlike in English, which often uses -ing forms with imagine.
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* The verbal noun zanimanje is also used as a common noun, meaning interest, but also profession, occupation.
This verb is usually used ‘reverse’, with interesting things and people as subjects, and persons that feel the interest in A:
Anu zanima film. The movie is interesting to Ana. (lit. ‘The movie interests Ana.’)
Negation of this verb is similar to English don’t care. This is a common phrase:
To me ne zanima. That’s not interesting to me. = I don’t care about it.
It can be also used with se², in meaning show interest (in): the person who shows interest is then the subject, and the object of interest is expressed with za¨ + A:
Ivan se zanima za Anu. Ivan is showing interest in Ana.
There’s a potential adjective zanimljiv, meaning simply interesting:
Jezero je jako zanimljivo. The lake is very interesting.
This verb has been borrowed from Russian in previous centuries.
↓ zatvarati («) ~ zatvoriti («) close
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This verb pair can be used with an object in A:
Ana zatvara kutiju. Ana is closing the box.
Goran je zatvorio prozor. Goran has closed the window.
With a se², the meaning is mediopassive, that is, something happens or has happened to the subject, but we don’t know or won’t say who is causing it:
Škola se zatvara sutra. The school is closing tomorrow.
Vrata su se zatvorila. The door has closed. (vrata door is always plural)
The perf. pass. adj. is a very frequently used adjective:
Dućan je zatvoren. The shop is closed.
The opposite meaning is expressed by otvarati («) ~ otvoriti («) open.
The agent noun is zatvarač, mostly used for various things, such as caps, fasteners, breeches (in guns), etc.
↓ zaustavljati ~ zaustaviti stop (somebody, something)
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These verbs are used with an object in A:
Ana je zaustavila auto. Ana has stopped the car.
This verb pair is also used with se²: the meaning is mediopassive, i.e. something happens or has happened to the subject, but we don’t say who is causing it, or it happens on its own:
Auto se zaustavio. The car stopped.
The same meaning is more often expressed with the pair stajati (staje) ~ stati (stane) stop, come to halt:
Auto je stao. The car stopped.
However, if somebody stops something or somebody else, you have to use this pair, since it permits objects, while stajati (staje) ~ stati (stane) stop, come to halt is only for people, animals and things that stop ‘on their own’.
There’s a potential adjective zaustavljiv stoppable, mostly used negated, i.e. nezaustavljiv unstoppable.
↓ završavati («) ~ završiti («) finish, end
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* There’s no regular perf. verbal noun, završetak (završetk-) end is used when needed.
The verb pair is usually used with a noun standing for an activity or an event as the subject, without anything else:
Film je završio. The movie has ended.
This implies an orderly, expected end; for things that can end at any moment (e.g. rain, pain, danger), the pair prestajati (prestaje) ~ prestati (prestane) stop, cease is used.
You can also finish something you work on, expressed as an object in A:
Goran je završio zadaću. Goran has finished the homework.
In Serbia and eastern parts of Bosnia, this verb pair must be used with an object or a (mediopassive) se². Therefore, the first example would rather be:
Film se završio. (Serbia, eastern Bosnia) The movie has ended.
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* The verbal noun značenje is, like in English, often used as a general noun, i.e. meaning.
This verb is often used with a person in DL and an adverb or indefinite pronoun in A as its object; the subject is very often a demonstrative adjective:
Ona mu znači sve. She means everything to him.
To mi je značilo puno. It meant a lot to me.
An object can be a content clause, i.e. a da-clause with verbs in any tense (but not perf. verbs in the present tense):
Znači [da moram ići u banku]. It means [I have to go to the bank].
The word znači is frequently used as a filler in colloquial speech, to fill gaps or connect sentences.
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* In some dialects, sometimes in speech and traditional songs, there are alternative forms of the present tense: pres-3 znade, and so on.
** The verbal noun znanje is also used as a common noun, meaning knowledge.
Knowledge of something is expressed with objects in A:
Ivan zna matematiku. Ivan knows math.
Ana zna engleski. Ana ‘knows’ English. (i.e. speaks)
It can be also used with any kind of content clause (i.e. a da-clause in any tense, but no perf. verbs in present):
Ana zna [gdje su ključevi]. Ana knows [where the keys are].
When someone knows how to do something, it’s expressed in infinitive:
Ana zna pjevati. Ana knows how to sing.
In Bosnia and Serbia, the verb umjeti (umije) is often used to express the last meaning. It’s also used in the southernmost parts of Croatia, including Dubrovnik.
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This verb is used with objects in A:
Ana zove Ivanu. Ana is calling Ivana.
This verb is also often used with se²: the meaning is similar to mediopassive (exactly like Spanish llamar and French apeller): naming the subject. Both the subject and the name are in N:
Zovem se Ivan. My name is Ivan. (lit. ‘I’m called Ivan.’)
Ona se zove Marija. Her name is Marija. (lit. ‘She’s called Marija.’)
↓ željeti (želi,...) ~¹/~~ po- («), za- («) want, wish, desire
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* There’s no regular verbal noun; the noun želja wish is used when needed.
This pair can be used with objects in A:
Goran želi sladoled. Goran wants ice-cream.
When someone wants to do something, it’s usually expressed in infinitive:
Ana želi spavati. Ana wants to sleep.
When someone wants something else to happen, where he or she isn’t the subject, it’s expressed by an atemporal clause (i.e. da + a verb in present, either impf. or perf. + object etc.):
Ana želi [da Goran prestane vikati]. Ana wants [Goran to stop screaming].
In such clauses, the verb bude is usually used instead of biti (je² +) be:
Ana želi [da bude sunčano]. Ana wants [it to be sunny].
The two perfective verbs cover both ‘semelfactive’ (wish for a moment) and ‘inchoative’ (start to wish) meanings, depending on the context. Only one is listed in the table, since the other has only a different prefix. The one derived with po- is more common. They’re used like the impf. verb:
Goran je poželio sladoled. Goran expressed a wish for ice-cream. (or felt a wish)
With nešto something as an object, these two verbs correspond to English make a wish:
Goran je poželio nešto. Goran made a wish.
In Serbia, it’s more common to use atemporal clauses also in sentences of type Ana wants to sleep.
There’s a related adjective poželjan (poželjn-) desirable.
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The verb is normally used without objects, with an optional location:
Ana živi u Zagrebu. Ana lives in Zagreb.
Sometimes it can be used with objects in A or I, meaning live something:
Ana živi svoj život. Ana lives her life.
Ana živi svojim životom. (the same meaning, a bit more common)
| The verb also appears as (non-standard in Croatian) |
Ikavian: živiti Ekavian: živeti (živi) |
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* There’s no regular verbal noun, but žurba hurry is used when needed.
The verb is normally used with optional destinations:
Goran žuri u školu. Goran is hurrying to school.
It’s often used with another verb in infinitive, which can have its object and so on, when someone hurries to do something:
Goran žuri pojesti sendvič. Goran is hurrying to eat the sandwich.
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