How to Form Questions and Use Question Words in Croatian

Understanding Question Formation in Croatian

In Croatian, forming questions can be done in several ways, often without changing the word order as much as in English. The intonation and question words play a crucial role in signaling a question.

Yes/No Questions

Yes/no questions in Croatian are typically formed by using a rising intonation at the end of a statement, without changing the word order. For example, the statement Ti ideš kući. (You are going home.) becomes a question by intonation: Ti ideš kući? (Are you going home?).

Using Question Words

To ask more specific questions, Croatian uses question words similar to English. These words usually appear at the beginning of the sentence.

Common Croatian Question Words

Examples of Questions Using Question Words

Here are some examples of questions using Croatian question words:

• Tko dolazi? (Who is coming?)
• Što radiš? (What are you doing?)
• Gdje si? (Where are you?)
• Kada počinje? (When does it start?)
• Zašto plačeš? (Why are you crying?)
• Kako si? (How are you?)
• Koji je tvoj omiljeni film? (Which is your favorite movie?)

Tips for English Speakers Learning Croatian Questions

Unlike English, Croatian does not always require auxiliary verbs like "do" or "does" to form questions. Pay attention to intonation and the placement of question words. Practice listening to native speakers to get familiar with the natural rhythm and intonation of Croatian questions.