When you're first starting out with Croatian, voljeti is a great verb to learn. It means 'to love' or 'to like,' similar to how we use 'to love' in English for both people and things we enjoy. So, you can say you love a person, but also that you love ice cream or a good book.
It's important to remember that 'voljeti' is a verb, and like many verbs, it will change its ending depending on who is doing the loving. But don't worry about all the different forms just yet. For now, focus on understanding its basic meaning and how to use it in simple sentences.
When you want to say that you love someone or like something in Croatian, you use the verb voljeti. This verb works for both people and things.
For example, to say "I love you," you would say Volim te. If you want to say "I like coffee," you would say Volim kavu.
It's a regular verb, but remember to pay attention to the endings, which change based on who is doing the loving or liking.
It's important to use it correctly to express affection or preference.
When you're speaking Croatian at a B1 level, understanding the nuances of "voljeti" becomes really useful. While at A1 you learn it means 'to love' or 'to like,' at B1 you start to see it in more complex sentence structures and contexts. For example, you might use it to express a strong preference for an activity, a deep affection for a person, or even a general appreciation for something abstract. It's often followed by an object in the accusative case, but can also appear with a reflexive pronoun in certain expressions. Paying attention to these uses will help you sound much more natural and express a wider range of feelings.
When you're at the B2 level in Croatian, distinguishing between 'voljeti' and other verbs that express preference becomes important. While 'voljeti' broadly covers both 'to love' and 'to like', the intensity and context can subtly shift its meaning.
For instance, you'd use 'voljeti' for deep affection, like loving a person or a country. However, for milder preferences, especially for things or activities, you might also encounter constructions with 'sviđati se' (to like, literally 'to please').
Consider these nuances to choose the most natural and precise verb in different situations.
When you are talking about feelings towards a person, animal, or even an object, the verb voljeti is often used. It can express a strong emotional attachment, like 'to love,' but also a more general fondness, like 'to like.'
It's important to note that when referring to liking an activity or a general preference, Croatians often use constructions with the verb sviđati se (to be pleasing to), which works a bit differently. However, for a direct feeling of affection or fondness, voljeti is your go-to verb.
For example, if you love someone, you would say Volim te. If you like ice cream, you could say Volim sladoled.
voljeti في 30 ثانية
- Use for people you love: 'Volim te' (I love you).
- Use for things you like: 'Volim kavu' (I like coffee).
- It means both 'to love' and 'to like' depending on context.
§ What "voljeti" Means
- Definition
- To love or to like. This verb is super common in Croatian, just like in English. You'll hear it all the time.
§ When to Use "voljeti"
The verb voljeti is used for expressing both 'to love' and 'to like' in Croatian. This can be a bit different from English where we have two distinct verbs. In Croatian, the context usually makes it clear whether you're talking about deep love or simply liking something. Think of it like this: if you'd say 'I love' in English, you'll likely use voljeti. If you'd say 'I like,' you'll also use voljeti. Don't overthink it at first.
You'll use voljeti when talking about:
People: This is the most straightforward. Whether it's romantic love, family love, or even a strong platonic affection for a friend, voljeti is the verb to use.
Ja volim svoju obitelj. (I love my family.)
On voli nju. (He loves her.)
Things/Objects: When you have a strong preference or affection for an inanimate object, a hobby, or even food, voljeti works here too.
Mi volimo putovati. (We love to travel.)
Ona voli čitati knjige. (She likes to read books.)
Activities/Actions: If you enjoy doing something, voljeti is what you'll use.
Ja volim slušati glazbu. (I like to listen to music.)
§ Important Note on Nuance
While voljeti covers both 'love' and 'like', you can infer the intensity from the context. For example, if someone says Volim te (I love you), it's clearly expressing deep affection. If they say Volim kavu (I like coffee), it means they enjoy coffee, not that they are in love with it. Most of the time, it's pretty clear.
§ Conjugation Basics (A Quick Look)
For A1 learners, it's good to at least recognize the present tense forms of voljeti. Don't worry about memorizing everything right now, just get a feel for how it changes.
- Present Tense Forms
- Ja volim (I love/like)
- Ti voliš (You love/like - singular, informal)
- On/Ona/Ono voli (He/She/It loves/likes)
- Mi volimo (We love/like)
- Vi volite (You love/like - plural, or singular formal)
- Oni/One/Ona vole (They love/like)
You'll notice the endings change. This is typical for Croatian verbs. For now, focus on understanding that when you want to say 'I like' or 'I love', you'll use volim.
Ja volim more. (I like the sea.)
This verb is a cornerstone for expressing personal preferences and affections, so getting comfortable with it early on will be a huge help in your Croatian journey. Keep practicing with simple sentences, and you'll get the hang of it!
§ Understanding 'voljeti' (to love/to like)
§ Basic Conjugation of 'voljeti' (present tense)
- Ja volim (I love/like)
- Ti voliš (You love/like - singular, informal)
- On/Ona/Ono voli (He/She/It loves/likes)
- Mi volimo (We love/like)
- Vi volite (You love/like - plural or formal singular)
- Oni/One/Ona vole (They love/like)
§ When to use 'voljeti' for people, animals, and things
Ja volim svoju obitelj. (I love my family.)
Mi volimo putovati. (We love to travel.)
Ona voli svog psa. (She loves her dog.)
§ 'Voljeti' vs. 'Sviđati se' (to like, to be pleasing)
- Voljeti
- Expresses a deeper, more personal connection. The subject of the sentence (the person feeling the emotion) is also the grammatical subject of the verb.
Ja volim ovu knjigu. (I like/love this book.)
- Sviđati se
- Literally means 'to be pleasing to' and is often used for a more casual liking, preferences, or when something appeals to you. The thing that is pleasing is the grammatical subject, and the person who likes it is in the dative case (me, you, him, etc.).
Meni se sviđa ova knjiga. (This book is pleasing to me / I like this book.)
§ More Examples: 'voljeti' in context
On voli nogomet. (He likes/loves football.)
Djeca vole sladoled. (Children love/like ice cream.)
Ona voli spavati. (She likes/loves to sleep.)
حقيقة ممتعة
The root of 'voljeti' is shared with other Slavic languages, showing its ancient origins.
دليل النطق
- Many English speakers might mispronounce the 'lj' as a 'j' sound, like in 'volume'. However, in Croatian, 'lj' is a palatal lateral approximant, similar to the 'lli' in 'million'.
- The 'e' at the end is a short 'e' sound, like the 'e' in 'bed', not a long 'ee' sound.
أمثلة حسب المستوى
Ja volim kavu.
I love/like coffee.
Ti voliš čokoladu.
You love/like chocolate.
On voli nogomet.
He loves/likes football.
Mi volimo putovati.
We love/like to travel.
Vi volite učiti.
You (plural/formal) love/like to learn.
Oni vole glazbu.
They love/like music.
Ja volim svoju obitelj.
I love my family.
Ona voli čitati knjige.
She loves/likes to read books.
Voljeli bismo vidjeti više suradnje među odjelima kako bismo poboljšali učinkovitost.
We would like to see more cooperation among departments to improve efficiency.
Conditional tense, expressing a desire or wish.
Oduvijek je voljela zaranjati u složene filozofske rasprave, tražeći dublje razumijevanje svijeta.
She has always loved delving into complex philosophical discussions, seeking a deeper understanding of the world.
Past imperfect tense, describing a continuous past action or state.
Iako voli svoj posao, osjeća se iscrpljeno zbog prevelikog broja obaveza i nedostatka odmora.
Although she loves her job, she feels exhausted due to an excessive number of obligations and lack of rest.
Present tense, expressing a current state and feeling.
Nije voljela kompromise, uvijek je nastojala ostvariti svoje ciljeve bez ustupaka.
She didn't like compromises; she always tried to achieve her goals without concessions.
Past tense negation, describing a past preference.
Uvijek je volio pričati o svojim putovanjima, prepričavajući anegdote s nevjerojatnim detaljima.
He always loved talking about his travels, recounting anecdotes with incredible detail.
Past imperfect tense, describing a habitual past action.
Ne volim kada ljudi olako shvaćaju tuđe osjećaje i ne pokazuju empatiju.
I don't like it when people take other people's feelings lightly and don't show empathy.
Present tense negation, expressing a current dislike.
Volim te više nego što riječi mogu izraziti, tvoja prisutnost obogaćuje moj život.
I love you more than words can express; your presence enriches my life.
Present tense, expressing strong affection.
Voljeli bismo da ste nam se pridružili na proslavi, ali razumijemo vaše obaveze.
We would have liked you to join us at the celebration, but we understand your obligations.
Conditional perfect tense, expressing a past wish or regret.
نصائح
Basic use of 'voljeti'
The verb voljeti is pretty straightforward. You use it just like 'to love' or 'to like' in English. No big surprises here.
Conjugation of 'voljeti' (present tense)
Here's the present tense conjugation for voljeti:
Ja volim (I love/like)
Ti voliš (You love/like)
On/Ona/Ono voli (He/She/It loves/likes)
Mi volimo (We love/like)
Vi volite (You all love/like)
Oni/One/Ona vole (They love/like)
Use with nouns
When you want to say you love or like a noun, you use voljeti. For example: Volim kave. (I like coffee.)
Use with infinitives
You can also use voljeti with an infinitive verb. For example: Volim plivati. (I like to swim.)
Context is key
Just like in English, the exact meaning of voljeti (love vs. like) often depends on the context. You'll figure it out quickly.
Don't confuse with 'željeti'
Don't confuse voljeti (to love/like) with željeti (to want/wish). They are different and not interchangeable.
Common phrases: 'Volim te'
One of the most common and important phrases is Volim te, which means 'I love you.' Memorize this one!
Common phrases: 'Volim (something)'
To express liking something, just say Volim followed by the object. For example, Volim čokoladu. (I like chocolate.)
Gender and cases (later on)
For now, focus on the basic conjugation. Later, you'll learn about gender and cases which affect how nouns are used with verbs like voljeti, but don't worry about that for A1.
Practice makes perfect
The best way to get comfortable with voljeti is to use it. Try making simple sentences with things you like or people you love.
أصل الكلمة
Proto-Slavic
المعنى الأصلي: *volěti (to want, to wish)
Indo-European (Slavic branch)السياق الثقافي
<p>In Croatian culture, 'voljeti' is used broadly. It can express romantic love, familial love, or simply liking something like food or an activity.</p><p>It's common to hear it in everyday conversation, similar to 'to love' or 'to like' in English, but perhaps with a slightly stronger emotional resonance in some contexts.</p>
اختبر نفسك 60 أسئلة
What do I love?
What does he like?
What does she like?
Read this aloud:
Volim te.
Focus: Volim
قلت:
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Read this aloud:
Volite li Hrvatsku?
Focus: Volite
قلت:
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Read this aloud:
Mi volimo učiti.
Focus: volimo
قلت:
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This sentence means 'I love you.' In Croatian, the word order is typically Subject-Verb-Object.
This sentence means 'She likes the cat.' The standard word order is followed.
This sentence means 'We like to travel.' The infinitive verb 'putovati' (to travel) follows 'volimo' (we like).
Ja ____ kavu ujutro. (I love coffee in the morning.)
The verb 'voljeti' conjugates to 'volim' for the first person singular (Ja).
On ____ svoju obitelj. (He loves his family.)
The verb 'voljeti' conjugates to 'voli' for the third person singular (On/Ona/Ono).
Mi ____ putovati. (We love to travel.)
The verb 'voljeti' conjugates to 'volimo' for the first person plural (Mi).
Ti ____ čitati knjige? (Do you like to read books?)
The verb 'voljeti' conjugates to 'voliš' for the second person singular (Ti).
Oni ____ nogomet. (They love football.)
The verb 'voljeti' conjugates to 'vole' for the third person plural (Oni/One/Ona).
Vi ____ učiti hrvatski? (Do you all like to learn Croatian?)
The verb 'voljeti' conjugates to 'volite' for the second person plural (Vi).
Write two sentences describing something or someone you like a lot, using 'voljeti'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Volim čitati knjige. Ona voli putovati.
Imagine you are talking about your family. Write a sentence saying you love your parents and another saying what your sibling loves to do.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Volim svoje roditelje. Moj brat voli igrati nogomet.
Write a short sentence about something you don't like, using the negative form of 'voljeti'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Ne volim hladno vrijeme.
Što Ana voli raditi?
Read this passage:
Ana i Marko su prijatelji. Ana voli šetati parkom, a Marko voli čitati knjige. Zajedno vole jesti sladoled.
Što Ana voli raditi?
U tekstu piše 'Ana voli šetati parkom.' (Ana likes to walk in the park.)
U tekstu piše 'Ana voli šetati parkom.' (Ana likes to walk in the park.)
Što voli mama?
Read this passage:
Moja obitelj voli putovati. Moj tata voli planine, a mama voli more. Ja najviše volim posjećivati nove gradove.
Što voli mama?
U tekstu piše 'mama voli more.' (Mom likes the sea.)
U tekstu piše 'mama voli more.' (Mom likes the sea.)
Osim spavanja, što još voli mačka?
Read this passage:
Jesi li znao da mačke vole spavati? Moja mačka spava cijeli dan! Ali također voli igrati se s loptom.
Osim spavanja, što još voli mačka?
U tekstu piše 'Ali također voli igrati se s loptom.' (But it also likes to play with a ball.)
U tekstu piše 'Ali također voli igrati se s loptom.' (But it also likes to play with a ball.)
This sentence means 'I like chocolate.' In Croatian, the verb 'volim' (to like/love) comes after the subject.
This sentence means 'She loves her family.' 'Voli' is the third-person singular form of the verb 'voljeti'.
This sentence means 'We like to travel.' 'Volimo' is the first-person plural form of the verb 'voljeti'.
The correct order is 'Svi' (Everyone) 'trebamo' (we need) 'voljeti' (to love) 'svoj' (their own) 'život' (life).
The correct order forms the question: 'What do you most like to do in your free time?'
The correct order means: 'I would like to travel more around the world.'
Choose the sentence where 'voljeti' is used to express a strong personal preference for an activity.
While all options use 'voljeti,' 'Volim čitati knjige' (I like to read books) specifically highlights a personal enjoyment of an activity, which is a common nuance for 'voljeti' at a C1 level.
Which sentence demonstrates 'voljeti' in a more abstract or philosophical sense of appreciating something deeply?
'On voli svoju domovinu' (He loves his homeland) expresses a profound, often abstract, affection, which is a more advanced usage of 'voljeti' than simple preferences or personal relationships.
Identify the sentence where 'voljeti' is used to convey a conditional or hypothetical liking.
'Volio bih da dođeš' (I would like you to come) uses the conditional form of 'voljeti' (voljeti + bih) to express a desire or hypothetical preference, which is a key grammatical structure at the C1 level.
The sentence 'Volim da si sretan' (I like that you are happy) correctly uses 'voljeti' to express satisfaction or pleasure regarding someone else's state.
This construction, 'voljeti + da + (subordinate clause)', is a sophisticated way to express that one finds satisfaction in someone else's situation, showcasing a nuanced understanding of 'voljeti'.
It is always appropriate to use 'voljeti' when expressing a casual preference for an object, similar to saying 'I fancy this' in English.
While 'voljeti' can express preference, it often carries a stronger emotional connotation than a casual 'fancy'. For casual object preference, other verbs or phrases might be more natural, indicating a C1 level's understanding of idiomatic usage.
When 'voljeti' is used with an infinitive, such as 'voljeti čitati', it implies a general enjoyment of the activity rather than a specific instance.
This is correct. 'Voljeti' followed by an infinitive (e.g., 'voljeti čitati' - to like reading) indicates a general, habitual enjoyment of the action, a nuance important at the C1 level.
Nije lako ___ nekoga tko te povrijedio.
The sentence implies a difficulty in continuing to 'love' someone who has caused pain, requiring the infinitive form of the verb.
Ona je počela ___ svog novog kućnog ljubimca od prvog dana.
The context suggests an immediate affection for the new pet, thus 'to love' is the most fitting verb.
Bez obzira na sve, ja ću te uvijek ___.
This is a classic expression of enduring affection, making 'voljeti' the correct choice.
Teško je ___ nekoga s kim ne dijeliš iste vrijednosti.
The sentence implies a challenge in forming a deep emotional connection ('to love') when fundamental values are not shared.
On se trudi ___ svoju ženu unatoč svim nesuglasicama.
Despite disagreements, the effort is to maintain the core feeling of 'love' towards his wife.
Nema smisla ___ nekoga tko ne uzvraća osjećaje.
The sentence advises against continuing to 'love' someone whose feelings are not reciprocated, as it's a futile effort.
Koji glagol najbolje zamjenjuje 'voljeti' u kontekstu intenzivne romantične privrženosti?
'Obožavati' (to adore) često se koristi za izražavanje vrlo snažne romantične ljubavi, više od samog 'voljeti'.
U situaciji gdje netko iskazuje duboku privrženost svojoj domovini, koji bi se izraz mogao koristiti umjesto ili uz 'voljeti'?
'Štovati' (to revere, to venerate) nosi konotaciju dubokog poštovanja i divljenja, što je prikladno za domovinu.
Ako netko govori o 'voljeti' neku aktivnost ili hobi, koja bi riječ mogla naglasiti strast i entuzijazam?
'Biti zaljubljen u' (to be in love with, to be passionate about) može se figurativno koristiti za aktivnosti kako bi se istaknula velika strast, dok 'uživati' (to enjoy) može biti previše blago.
U hrvatskom jeziku, glagol 'voljeti' uvijek implicira romantičnu ljubav i ne može se koristiti za izražavanje sviđanja prema predmetima ili apstraktnim pojmovima.
'Voljeti' je vrlo svestran glagol i može se koristiti za izražavanje ljubavi prema ljudima, hobijima, predmetima, pa čak i idejama. Na primjer, 'Volim čitati knjige' ili 'Volim sunce'.
Izraz 'voljeti se' (refleksivno) najčešće se odnosi na međusobnu ljubav dviju osoba.
Kada se 'voljeti' koristi u refleksivnom obliku ('voljeti se'), to se gotovo uvijek odnosi na osjećaj ljubavi koji je obostran između dvije osobe. Npr. 'Oni se vole'.
Ako netko kaže 'Ja volim tebe', to je jedini ispravan način da izrazi romantičnu ljubav u hrvatskom jeziku.
Iako je 'Ja volim tebe' ispravno, postoji mnogo nijansi i alternativnih izraza. 'Volim te' je češći i prirodniji u svakodnevnom govoru za izražavanje romantične ljubavi, a mogu se koristiti i izrazi poput 'obožavam te' za jači intenzitet, ili 'stalo mi je do tebe' za duboku privrženost bez nužno romantičnog prizvuka.
This sentence discusses the profound meaning of loving unconditionally, accepting both flaws and virtues. The C2 level focuses on understanding abstract concepts.
This question explores the philosophical aspect of self-love as a prerequisite for loving others, a complex thought typical of C2 proficiency.
This sentence uses advanced vocabulary and a complex sentence structure to describe enduring love through difficulties, fitting for C2.
/ 60 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Voljeti is a versatile verb in Croatian, covering both 'to love' and 'to like,' with its precise meaning often understood through context.
- Use for people you love: 'Volim te' (I love you).
- Use for things you like: 'Volim kavu' (I like coffee).
- It means both 'to love' and 'to like' depending on context.
Basic use of 'voljeti'
The verb voljeti is pretty straightforward. You use it just like 'to love' or 'to like' in English. No big surprises here.
Conjugation of 'voljeti' (present tense)
Here's the present tense conjugation for voljeti:
Ja volim (I love/like)
Ti voliš (You love/like)
On/Ona/Ono voli (He/She/It loves/likes)
Mi volimo (We love/like)
Vi volite (You all love/like)
Oni/One/Ona vole (They love/like)
Use with nouns
When you want to say you love or like a noun, you use voljeti. For example: Volim kave. (I like coffee.)
Use with infinitives
You can also use voljeti with an infinitive verb. For example: Volim plivati. (I like to swim.)
