How to Form Singular and Plural Nouns in Croatian for English Speakers

Understanding Croatian Nouns: Singular and Plural Forms

Croatian nouns change their form depending on whether they are singular or plural. Unlike English, Croatian nouns also change based on gender and case, but in this article, we will focus on the singular and plural forms to help English speakers get started.

Gender of Croatian Nouns

Croatian nouns are divided into three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. The gender affects how nouns form their plural. Recognizing the gender of a noun is essential for forming the correct plural.

Forming the Plural: Basic Rules

Here are the general rules for forming plurals in Croatian based on gender:

• Masculine nouns often add -i or -ovi in plural.
• Feminine nouns usually change the ending to -e or -i.
• Neuter nouns typically end with -a in plural.

Examples of Singular and Plural Forms

Notice that some plurals are irregular, such as "čovjek" becoming "ljudi" and "dijete" becoming "djeca". These exceptions are important to memorize.

Common Endings for Plural Nouns

Here are some common plural endings for Croatian nouns by gender:

• Masculine: -i, -ovi, -evi
• Feminine: -e, -i
• Neuter: -a

Tips for English Speakers Learning Croatian Nouns

• Learn the gender of nouns along with the word itself.
• Practice common plural endings by gender.
• Memorize irregular plural forms separately.
• Use flashcards to reinforce singular and plural forms.