How to Use Relative Pronouns in Croatian for English Speakers

Understanding Relative Pronouns in Croatian

Relative pronouns are words that connect a clause or phrase to a noun or pronoun. In Croatian, relative pronouns are essential for forming complex sentences and providing additional information about a subject or object.

Common Croatian Relative Pronouns

The most frequently used relative pronouns in Croatian are koji, što, and tko. Each has specific uses depending on the context and the noun they refer to.

• koji – used for people and things (equivalent to "who," "which," or "that" in English)
• što – used mainly for things, often interchangeable with koji in some contexts
• tko – used exclusively for people, meaning "who"

Declension of 'koji'

The relative pronoun koji is declined according to gender, number, and case to agree with the noun it refers to. Here is the declension table for koji in singular and plural forms:

• Masculine Singular: koji (nom.), kojeg/kojeg (gen.), kojem (dat.), kojeg (acc.), kojim (instr.), kojem (loc.)
• Feminine Singular: koja (nom.), koje (gen.), kojoj (dat.), koju (acc.), kojom (instr.), kojoj (loc.)
• Neuter Singular: koje (nom.), kojeg (gen.), kojem (dat.), koje (acc.), kojim (instr.), kojem (loc.)
• Masculine Plural: koji (nom.), kojih (gen.), kojima (dat.), koje (acc.), kojima (instr.), kojima (loc.)
• Feminine Plural: koje (nom.), kojih (gen.), kojima (dat.), koje (acc.), kojima (instr.), kojima (loc.)
• Neuter Plural: koja (nom.), kojih (gen.), kojima (dat.), koja (acc.), kojima (instr.), kojima (loc.)

Examples of Relative Pronouns in Sentences

Here are some examples to illustrate how relative pronouns are used in Croatian sentences:

• Ovo je čovjek koji govori hrvatski. (This is the man who speaks Croatian.)
• Imam knjigu koju si mi dao. (I have the book that you gave me.)
• To je mjesto gdje smo se upoznali. (That is the place where we met.)
• Žena koja pjeva je moja sestra. (The woman who is singing is my sister.)

Differences Between 'koji' and 'što'

While both koji and što can mean "that" or "which," što is often used in spoken Croatian and can refer to both people and things, but it is less formal. Koji is more precise and is declined, while što is indeclinable.