When you're just starting out in Croatian, learning how to say 'to say' or 'to tell' is super useful. The verb kazati is your go-to for this. It's an A1-level verb, meaning it's one of the first verbs you'll encounter and use frequently.
Think of it like saying 'to speak' or 'to inform' in a simple way. You'll use kazati for basic communication, like when you want to tell someone something directly.
kazati in 30 Sekunden
- Use 'kazati' for 'to say' or 'to tell'.
- It's a common, everyday verb.
- Essential for basic communication in Croatian.
§ Direct Object vs. Indirect Object
One common pitfall for English speakers learning 'kazati' is confusing when to use a direct object and when to use an indirect object. In English, we often 'tell someone something.' In Croatian, with 'kazati,' the 'something' (what is said) is the direct object, and the 'someone' (to whom it is said) is usually in the dative case, functioning as an indirect object.
Ja ću kazati tebi istinu. (I will tell you the truth.)
Here, 'istinu' (truth) is the direct object (accusative), and 'tebi' (to you) is the indirect object (dative).
§ 'Reći' vs. 'Kazati'
Another frequent mistake is using 'kazati' interchangeably with 'reći' (also 'to say' or 'to tell'). While often synonymous, 'reći' is generally more common in everyday conversation. 'Kazati' can sometimes carry a slightly more formal or emphatic tone, especially when delivering important news or giving instructions.
§ Imperfective vs. Perfective Aspect
Like many Croatian verbs, 'kazati' has an imperfective counterpart, 'kazivati.' English speakers often struggle with verb aspect. 'Kazati' is perfective, meaning it describes a completed action or a single instance of telling. 'Kazivati' is imperfective, describing an ongoing, repeated, or habitual action.
On mi je jednom kazao tajnu. (He told me the secret once.)
- This is a completed action, so 'kazao' (perfective) is used.
Uvijek mi je kazivao priče. (He always used to tell me stories.)
- This is a repeated action, so 'kazivao' (imperfective) is used.
- DEFINITION
- It's crucial to pay attention to the context to determine whether the action is a one-time event or an ongoing process. Using the wrong aspect can change the meaning of your sentence.
§ Overuse of 'Kazati' in Formal Contexts
While 'kazati' can be slightly more formal, avoid overusing it in situations that don't warrant it. Sometimes learners might feel that a less common word sounds 'better' or more advanced, but natural communication often relies on the most appropriate and common word for the context.
§ Incorrect Case Usage After 'Kazati'
As mentioned, the person being told something ('to whom') is typically in the dative case. A common error is using the accusative case, especially if thinking too directly in English ('tell him').
- Incorrect: 'Kazao sam njega' (literally: I told him - accusative)
- Correct: 'Kazao sam mu' or 'Kazao sam njemu' (I told him - dative)
Molim te, kaži mi. (Please tell me.)
- DEFINITION
- 'Mi' is the short dative form of 'ja' (I), meaning 'to me'.
How Formal Is It?
"Možete li mi kazati gdje se nalazi kolodvor? (Could you tell me where the station is?)"
"Možeš li mi reći koliko je sati? (Can you tell me what time it is?)"
"Kaj mi veliš, kak je bilo? (What do you say, how was it?)"
"Reci mama, što želiš? (Tell mommy, what do you want?)"
"Ma zbubaj mu sve što znaš! (Just tell him everything you know!)"
Wusstest du?
Many Slavic languages have similar words stemming from this root, often meaning 'to show' or 'to tell'.
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
Što želiš kazati?
What do you want to say?
Možeš li mi kazati?
Can you tell me?
Ne mogu ti to kazati.
I can't tell you that.
Želim ti nešto kazati.
I want to tell you something.
On je kazao da dolazi.
He said he is coming.
Što ti je kazala?
What did she tell you?
Molim te, kazati mi istinu.
Please, tell me the truth.
Ne znam što bih kazao.
I don't know what to say.
Ona voli kazati priče.
She likes to tell stories.
Moraš kazati što osjećaš.
You must say what you feel.
Wortherkunft
Proto-Slavic
Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: *kazati (to show, to point out)
Indo-European, Slavic branchKultureller Kontext
The verb 'kazati' is a fundamental part of daily Croatian communication. While 'reći' is also common for 'to say' or 'to tell', 'kazati' often carries a slightly more formal or deliberate nuance, implying a clear communication of information. It's used in a wide range of contexts, from casual conversations to more official statements.
Teste dich selbst 48 Fragen
Choose the correct translation of 'to say' in Croatian.
'Kazati' means 'to say' or 'to tell' in Croatian.
Which of these sentences correctly uses 'kazati'?
'Kazati' is used for speaking or telling, not for objects like books, water, or cars.
Complete the sentence: 'Molim te, ___ mi gdje je autobusna stanica.' (Please, ___ me where the bus station is.)
'Kaži' is the imperative form of 'kazati' (to tell) used to give a command or make a request.
'Kazati' can mean both 'to say' and 'to tell'.
Yes, 'kazati' is a versatile verb that covers both 'to say' and 'to tell'.
If you want to ask someone to 'read' something, you would use 'kazati'.
'Kazati' means 'to say' or 'to tell'. The verb for 'to read' is 'čitati'.
The sentence 'Ja ne želim kazati.' means 'I don't want to eat.'
'Ja ne želim kazati.' means 'I don't want to say.' The verb for 'to eat' is 'jesti'.
The correct order is Subject (Mi), modal verb (moramo), infinitive (kazati), and object (istinu). This translates to 'We must tell the truth.'
The correct order is Subject (On), verb (želi), infinitive (kazati), and object/adjective phrase (nešto važno). This means 'He wants to say something important.'
This is a question: Can you tell me where the station is? The auxiliary verb 'možeš' (can you) comes first, followed by 'li' for a question, then the indirect object 'mi' (me), the infinitive 'kazati' (tell), and the subordinate clause 'gdje je postaja' (where the station is).
Choose the correct form of 'kazati' to complete the sentence: 'On mi je ___ istinu.'
'Kazao' is the masculine singular past participle, agreeing with 'on' (he).
Which sentence uses 'kazati' correctly in the future tense?
The future tense in Croatian is formed with the auxiliary verb 'htjeti' (to want) in its short form (ću, ćeš, će, ćemo, ćete, će) followed by the infinitive.
Select the sentence where 'kazati' means 'to tell a secret'.
In this context, 'kazati' is used with 'tajna' (secret), clearly indicating the meaning 'to tell a secret'.
The sentence 'Kazali su mi da dođem rano.' means 'They told me to come early.'
'Kazali su' is the plural past participle, and 'da dođem rano' means 'that I come early' or 'to come early'.
The imperative form 'Kazi mi!' means 'Tell me!'
'Kazi' is the singular imperative form of 'kazati'.
You can use 'kazati' to describe showing something visually, like 'He told me the picture.'
'Kazati' is used for verbal communication. For showing something visually, you would use a verb like 'pokazati' (to show).
The speaker is asking for directions to a pharmacy.
The sentence is about someone relaying information about a tiring trip.
The speaker is requesting more details about a project.
Read this aloud:
Kako biste kazali 'Dobar dan' na hrvatskom?
Focus: Dobar dan
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Kazali smo mu da je važno doći na vrijeme.
Focus: Kazali smo
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Možeš li kazati svoje mišljenje o ovome?
Focus: Možeš li kazati
Du hast gesagt:
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Imagine you are giving advice to a friend who is starting a new job. Write three sentences using 'kazati' to tell them something important or offer a piece of wisdom.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Želim ti kazati da uvijek budeš strpljiv. Nemoj se bojati kazati svoje mišljenje, ali budi pristojan. Na kraju, mogu ti kazati da će sve biti u redu.
You are writing an email to a colleague about a project update. Use 'kazati' twice in two different sentences to inform them about progress or next steps.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Želim ti kazati da smo završili prvi dio projekta. Mogu ti kazati da će sljedeći korak biti sastanak u ponedjeljak.
Write a short personal reflection (2-3 sentences) about something you learned recently and how you might 'kazati' this new knowledge to someone else.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Nedavno sam naučio kako se popravlja bicikl. Mogu kazati svom prijatelju da je to puno lakše nego što sam mislio. Važno je kazati im da budu oprezni s alatom.
Što je majka pokušala kazati Ivanu?
Read this passage:
Ivan je bio zabrinut zbog ispita. Njegova majka mu je pokušala kazati da se ne brine previše, ali Ivan nije slušao. Učiteljica mu je isto pokušala kazati da se fokusira na gradivo, a ne na stres.
Što je majka pokušala kazati Ivanu?
U tekstu piše: 'Njegova majka mu je pokušala kazati da se ne brine previše'.
U tekstu piše: 'Njegova majka mu je pokušala kazati da se ne brine previše'.
Zašto su zaposlenici pažljivo slušali direktora?
Read this passage:
Na sastanku je direktor želio kazati važne vijesti o budućnosti tvrtke. Svi su pažljivo slušali jer je ono što je imao za kazati bilo ključno za sve zaposlenike. Nakon govora, mnogi su imali pitanja.
Zašto su zaposlenici pažljivo slušali direktora?
Tekst navodi: 'Svi su pažljivo slušali jer je ono što je imao za kazati bilo ključno za sve zaposlenike'.
Tekst navodi: 'Svi su pažljivo slušali jer je ono što je imao za kazati bilo ključno za sve zaposlenike'.
Što je prijateljica htjela učiniti na početku?
Read this passage:
Prijateljica mi je htjela kazati tajnu, ali se u zadnji tren predomislila. Rekla je da će mi kazati kasnije, kad budemo sami. Nadam se da će mi ipak kazati, jer sam jako znatiželjan.
Što je prijateljica htjela učiniti na početku?
U prvoj rečenici piše: 'Prijateljica mi je htjela kazati tajnu'.
U prvoj rečenici piše: 'Prijateljica mi je htjela kazati tajnu'.
Choose the most appropriate synonym for 'kazati' in the context of formally delivering information:
'Izjaviti' implies a more formal and official declaration, fitting the nuance of 'formally delivering information' better than the general 'reći' (to say), 'pričati' (to chat/tell a story), or the archaic 'zboriti'.
In a legal setting, if someone needs to 'kazati' (testify) under oath, which Croatian verb best conveys this specific legal action?
'Svjedočiti' specifically means 'to testify' or 'to bear witness', which is the precise legal context requested. Other options are too general.
When 'kazati' is used to express a strong, definitive opinion or judgment, which of the following best captures that intensity?
'Ustvrditi' means 'to assert' or 'to state emphatically', aligning with the idea of expressing a strong, definitive opinion. 'Spomenuti' is to mention, 'ponavljati' is to repeat, and 'šapnuti' is to whisper.
The phrase 'Ne mogu ti kazati koliko mi je drago' is a natural and common way to express 'I can't tell you how glad I am' in Croatian.
This is a perfectly idiomatic and frequently used expression in Croatian, conveying a high degree of emotion. 'Kazati' fits well in this context.
Using 'kazati' interchangeably with 'šutjeti' (to be silent) is grammatically and contextually correct when discussing communication.
'Kazati' means 'to say/tell', which is the direct opposite of 'šutjeti' (to be silent). They are antonyms, not interchangeable.
When referring to 'telling a secret', 'kazati tajnu' is more commonly used and natural than 'reći tajnu' in everyday Croatian speech.
While both 'reći' and 'kazati' can be used, 'kazati tajnu' often carries a slightly more common and natural ring when specifically referring to 'telling a secret' in conversational Croatian.
This sentence asks if someone can tell you where the nearest bakery is, using the verb 'kazati' (to tell).
This sentence uses 'kazati' to express that 'they didn't want to tell us why they canceled the meeting.'
This sentence emphasizes the need to 'honestly tell me what happened,' using 'kazati' for 'tell'.
Can you tell me where the nearest post office is?
I am always happy to say my opinion on topics like these.
I wasn't able to tell you the whole truth yesterday.
Read this aloud:
Mogao bih ti kazati kako da riješiš taj problem.
Focus: kazati
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Hoćeš li mi kazati svoju tajnu?
Focus: tajnu
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Molim te, nemoj nikome kazati što sam ti rekao.
Focus: rekao
Du hast gesagt:
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/ 48 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Kazati is a fundamental verb in Croatian for expressing the act of saying or telling something.
- Use 'kazati' for 'to say' or 'to tell'.
- It's a common, everyday verb.
- Essential for basic communication in Croatian.
