When you're just starting out in Croatian, learning common verbs like 'pisati' (to write) is really helpful. This verb is super practical for everyday situations.
At the A1 level, focus on understanding that 'pisati' means 'to write' and how to use it in simple sentences. You'll often see it with basic subjects like 'ja' (I) or 'ti' (you).
For example, you might say 'Ja pišem.' which means 'I write.' or 'Ti pišeš.' for 'You write.'.
Knowing this verb lets you talk about writing emails, notes, or even your name, which are all important for basic communication.
§ Understanding "pisati"
The Croatian verb pisati (PEE-sah-tee) means "to write." It's an imperfective verb, which means it describes an ongoing or repeated action. You'll use it for the act of writing in general, or when the action is not yet complete.
- DEFINITION
- To write.
Ja pišem pismo.
I am writing a letter.
On često piše e-mailove.
He often writes emails.
§ "Pisati" vs. "napisati"
This is where things get practical. Croatian, like many Slavic languages, uses verb aspects (imperfective and perfective) to indicate whether an action is ongoing/repeated or completed.
- Pisati (imperfective): Use this when you're talking about the *process* of writing, or writing as a general activity.
- Napisati (perfective): This verb means "to write (and finish it)." Use it when the action of writing is completed, or when you want to emphasize the completion of the writing. The "na-" prefix often indicates completion or achievement.
§ Examples with "napisati"
Moram napisati važan izvještaj do sutra.
I have to write (and finish) an important report by tomorrow.
Jesi li napisao zadaću?
Did you write/finish the homework?
§ Other uses of "pisati"
"Pisati" can also be used in some idiomatic expressions or with prepositions to slightly change its meaning.
- Pisati nekome: To write to someone (implies sending a letter or message).
Želim pisati baki.
I want to write to my grandma.
- Pisati o nečemu: To write about something.
On piše o povijesti.
He writes about history.
§ Key takeaway for A1 learners
For now, focus on these two main verbs:
- Use pisati when you are generally talking about the act of writing, or when the writing is in progress.
- Use napisati when you want to say that something was written and completed.
§ Related words
- Pismo (PEES-moh): Letter.
- Knjiga (KNYEE-gah): Book.
- Tekst (TEKST): Text.
- Olovka (OH-lohv-kah): Pencil.
- Kemijska olovka (KEH-mees-kah OH-lohv-kah): Pen.
Imam olovku i papir za pisati.
I have a pencil and paper to write.
Learning these basic distinctions will make your Croatian sound much more natural. Keep practicing!
Wichtige Grammatik
Croatian verbs like 'pisati' are conjugated based on person and number. For A1 level, focus on present tense conjugations.
Ja pišem (I write), Ti pišeš (You write - singular informal), On/Ona/Ono piše (He/She/It writes), Mi pišemo (We write), Vi pišete (You write - plural/singular formal), Oni/One/Ona pišu (They write).
The verb 'pisati' is an imperfective verb, meaning it describes an ongoing or repeated action. For a completed action, you would typically use a perfective counterpart (e.g., 'napisati' - to write down/finish writing).
Ja pišem pismo svaki tjedan. (I write a letter every week.) Vs. Ja sam napisao pismo. (I wrote a letter - implying it's finished.)
In Croatian, direct objects often follow the verb. With 'pisati', the thing being written is usually in the accusative case.
Ja pišem knjigu. (I write a book.) 'Knjigu' is in the accusative case.
You can use prepositions with 'pisati' to indicate where or what you are writing on/with. For example, 'pisati po' (to write on) or 'pisati s' (to write with).
On piše po ploči. (He writes on the blackboard.) Ja pišem s olovkom. (I write with a pencil.)
The past tense of 'pisati' is formed using the auxiliary verb 'biti' (to be) and the past active participle. For 'pisati', the past active participle is 'pisao' (masculine), 'pisala' (feminine), 'pisalo' (neuter).
Ja sam pisao. (I wrote - masculine speaker). Ona je pisala. (She wrote).
Beispiele nach Niveau
Pisao sam joj pismo prije dva tjedna, ali još uvijek nisam dobio odgovor.
I wrote her a letter two weeks ago, but I still haven't received a reply.
Možeš li mi pisati e-mail s detaljima našeg sastanka?
Can you write me an email with the details of our meeting?
Djeca uče pisati prva slova u školi.
Children learn to write their first letters at school.
Ne volim pisati eseje, više volim usmene prezentacije.
I don't like writing essays, I prefer oral presentations.
Pisac je godinama radio na svom novom romanu.
The writer worked on his new novel for years.
Molim te, pazi što pišeš u porukama, jer se sve pamti.
Please be careful what you write in messages, because everything is remembered.
Uvijek pišem popis za kupovinu prije nego što idem u trgovinu.
I always write a shopping list before I go to the store.
Zaboravila sam pisati zadaću, nadam se da učiteljica neće biti ljuta.
I forgot to write my homework, I hope the teacher won't be angry.
Pisao sam joj duge e-mailove, ali nikad mi nije odgovorila.
I wrote her long emails, but she never replied to me.
Past tense of 'pisati' (pisao sam) and dative case for 'joj' (to her).
Molim vas, možete li pisati jasnije? Ne mogu pročitati vaš rukopis.
Please, can you write more clearly? I can't read your handwriting.
Imperative form of 'pisati' (možete li pisati) and comparative adverb 'jasnije' (more clearly).
Odlučio sam pisati knjigu o svojim putovanjima.
I decided to write a book about my travels.
Infinitive 'pisati' used after 'odlučio sam' (I decided).
Vrijeme je da počnemo pisati izvještaj za sastanak.
It's time for us to start writing the report for the meeting.
Infinitive 'pisati' used after 'počnemo' (we start).
On voli pisati poeziju u slobodno vrijeme.
He likes to write poetry in his free time.
Infinitive 'pisati' used after 'voli' (he likes).
Kada sam bio dijete, učio sam pisati lijevom rukom.
When I was a child, I learned to write with my left hand.
Past tense of 'učio sam' (I learned) and infinitive 'pisati'.
Moramo pisati službeni zahtjev za dozvolu.
We need to write an official request for a permit.
Infinitive 'pisati' used after 'moramo' (we must).
Nadam se da ćeš mi pisati češće kada odeš na studij.
I hope you will write to me more often when you go to study.
Future tense of 'pisati' (ćeš mi pisati) and adverb 'češće' (more often).
Im Alltag üben
Kontexte aus dem Alltag
When talking about writing a letter or an email.
- Pisati pismo (to write a letter)
- Pisati e-mail (to write an email)
- Želim pisati pismo. (I want to write a letter.)
When referring to writing in general, like writing notes or a diary.
- Pisati bilješke (to write notes)
- Pisati dnevnik (to write a diary)
- Volim pisati bilješke. (I like to write notes.)
When discussing writing as a hobby or profession.
- Volim pisati. (I like to write.)
- On voli pisati priče. (He likes to write stories.)
- Ona je pisac. (She is a writer.)
When giving instructions to write something down.
- Molim te, piši ovo. (Please, write this down.)
- Pišite svoje ime ovdje. (Write your name here.)
- Trebaš pisati brže. (You need to write faster.)
When talking about learning to write.
- Učiti pisati (to learn to write)
- Djeca uče pisati. (Children are learning to write.)
- Kada si naučio pisati? (When did you learn to write?)
Gesprächseinstiege
"Što voliš pisati? (What do you like to write?)"
"Pišeš li često? (Do you write often?)"
"Koja je tvoja omiljena stvar za pisati? (What is your favorite thing to write?)"
"Možeš li pisati na hrvatskom? (Can you write in Croatian?)"
"Tko ti je zadnji pisao pismo? (Who last wrote you a letter?)"
Tagebuch-Impulse
Piši o tome što si radio/radila danas. (Write about what you did today.)
Piši o svojim planovima za sutra. (Write about your plans for tomorrow.)
Piši o nečemu što želiš naučiti pisati. (Write about something you want to learn to write.)
Piši o osobi koja dobro piše. (Write about a person who writes well.)
Piši kratku priču. (Write a short story.)
Teste dich selbst 30 Fragen
Ja ____ pismo. (I write a letter.)
The verb 'pisati' (to write) conjugates to 'pišem' for the first person singular (Ja - I).
Ti ____ poruku. (You write a message.)
For the second person singular (Ti - You), the verb 'pisati' becomes 'pišeš'.
On ____ knjigu. (He writes a book.)
In the third person singular (On/Ona/Ono - He/She/It), 'pisati' conjugates to 'piše'.
Mi ____ domaći rad. (We write homework.)
For the first person plural (Mi - We), the correct form is 'pišemo'.
Vi ____ e-mail. (You all write an email.)
When addressing multiple people (Vi - You all), the verb 'pisati' becomes 'pišete'.
Oni ____ priču. (They write a story.)
For the third person plural (Oni/One/Ona - They), the verb 'pisati' conjugates to 'pišu'.
She is writing a letter to a friend.
I write emails every day.
Can you write faster?
Read this aloud:
Ja pišem domaći rad.
Focus: pišem
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Mi pišemo priču.
Focus: pišemo
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Hoćeš li pisati izvještaj?
Focus: pisati
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Write two sentences describing what you like to write. For example, 'I like to write emails.' or 'I like to write letters.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Volim pisati e-poštu. Volim pisati kratke priče. (I like to write emails. I like to write short stories.)
Imagine you need to send a quick message to a friend. Write a simple text message in Croatian telling them you will write to them tomorrow.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Pisat ću ti sutra. (I will write to you tomorrow.)
Write a sentence saying who usually writes in your family. For instance, 'My mother writes notes.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Moja sestra voli pisati razglednice. (My sister likes to write postcards.)
Što Ana često piše?
Read this passage:
Ana često piše e-poštu svom bratu koji živi u inozemstvu. Ona mu piše o svom danu i obiteljskim novostima. Njezin brat voli čitati njezine poruke.
Što Ana često piše?
Ana često piše e-poštu. (Ana often writes emails.)
Ana često piše e-poštu. (Ana often writes emails.)
Zašto Marko mora pisati?
Read this passage:
Marko mora pisati izvješće za posao. To je dugačak dokument i treba mu puno vremena. Njegov kolega mu pomaže s nekim dijelovima.
Zašto Marko mora pisati?
Marko mora pisati izvješće za posao. (Marko has to write a report for work.)
Marko mora pisati izvješće za posao. (Marko has to write a report for work.)
Što dijete uči pisati?
Read this passage:
Dijete u školi uči pisati slova. Učiteljica mu pokazuje kako držati olovku. Dijete je sretno jer uči novu vještinu.
Što dijete uči pisati?
Dijete u školi uči pisati slova. (The child in school is learning to write letters.)
Dijete u školi uči pisati slova. (The child in school is learning to write letters.)
This sentence means 'She wants to write a letter.' The structure is Subject (Ona) + Verb (želi) + Infinitive (pisati) + Object (pismo).
This means 'I have to write a report by tomorrow.' The auxiliary verb 'moram' (I must) is followed by the infinitive 'pisati' (to write).
This asks 'Can you write faster?' 'Možeš li' is the common way to ask 'Can you...?' followed by the infinitive.
Odaberite ispravan glagolski oblik: Ja _______ pismo svaki dan.
'Pišem' is the first person singular present tense form of 'pisati' (to write), which agrees with 'Ja' (I).
Koja je ispravna rečenica za 'She will write a book'?
The future tense in Croatian is formed with the auxiliary verb 'htjeti' (to want/will) in its short form ('će') followed by the infinitive of the main verb ('pisati').
Odaberite antonim za 'pisati' u kontekstu komunikacije:
While 'govoriti' (to speak) is also a form of communication, 'čitati' (to read) is the direct opposite action to 'pisati' (to write) when referring to text.
Glagol 'pisati' je uvijek prijelazni glagol (transitive verb).
'Pisati' can be used intransitively, for example, 'On piše lijepo' (He writes beautifully), where there is no direct object.
Perfekt glagola 'pisati' za treće lice jednine muškog roda je 'on je pisao'.
The perfect tense (past tense) for 'he wrote' is indeed 'on je pisao', using the auxiliary 'je' and the masculine singular past participle 'pisao'.
Imperativ glagola 'pisati' za drugo lice množine je 'pišite'.
The imperative form for 'you all write' or 'write!' (plural informal/formal singular) is 'pišite'.
/ 30 correct
Perfect score!
