Impersonal Reflexive Constructions (e.g., Govori se)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'se' with a 3rd-person singular verb to talk about general actions or rumors without naming a specific person.
- Use 3rd person singular verb + 'se' for general statements: 'Pije se kava' (Coffee is drunk).
- For rumors or news, use 'Kaže se' (It is said) or 'Govori se' (People say).
- In negative sentences, 'se' stays but 'ne' goes before the verb: 'Ne radi se' (One doesn't work).
Impersonal 'Se' Formation (Present Tense)
| Person | Verb Form | Particle | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Impersonal
|
3rd Sing (kaže)
|
se
|
Kaže se
|
It is said
|
|
Impersonal
|
3rd Sing (pije)
|
se
|
Pije se
|
One drinks
|
|
Impersonal
|
3rd Sing (radi)
|
se
|
Radi se
|
Work is being done
|
|
Impersonal
|
3rd Sing (ide)
|
se
|
Ide se
|
One goes
|
|
Impersonal
|
3rd Sing (spava)
|
se
|
Spava se
|
One sleeps
|
|
Impersonal
|
3rd Sing (jede)
|
se
|
Jede se
|
One eats
|
Meanings
A construction used to express an action where the doer is unknown, irrelevant, or represents people in general. It functions similarly to the English 'one', 'they', or the passive voice.
Generalizing Actions
Describing what is typically done in a certain place or situation by anyone.
“U Dalmaciji se pije vino.”
“Na vjenčanjima se pleše.”
Reporting Rumors/News
Used to convey information that is being circulated without attributing it to a specific source.
“Govori se da će sutra padati kiša.”
“Kaže se da je taj restoran skup.”
Instructions and Rules
Providing directions or stating regulations where the subject is 'everyone'.
“Ovdje se ne puši.”
“Ulazi se na stražnja vrata.”
Reference Table
| Type | Structure | Croatian Example | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Verb + se
|
Govori se.
|
People are talking / It is said.
|
|
Negative
|
Ne + Verb + se
|
Ne govori se.
|
It is not being talked about.
|
|
Question (Li)
|
Verb + li + se
|
Govori li se?
|
Is it being talked about?
|
|
Question (Da li)
|
Da li se + Verb
|
Da li se govori?
|
Is it being talked about?
|
|
With Adverb
|
Adverb + se + Verb
|
Ovdje se spava.
|
One sleeps here.
|
|
Past Tense
|
Verb-l form (neut) + se
|
Govorilo se.
|
It was said / People were talking.
|
|
Future Tense
|
Glagol + će + se
|
Govorit će se.
|
It will be talked about.
|
|
Modal Verb
|
Modal + se + Infinitive
|
Mora se raditi.
|
One must work.
|
Espectro de formalidad
Smatra se da je on imućan. (Discussing someone's wealth)
Govori se da je on bogat. (Discussing someone's wealth)
Priča se da ima puno para. (Discussing someone's wealth)
Šuška se da je pun k'o brod. (Discussing someone's wealth)
The Functions of Impersonal 'Se'
Rumors
- Kaže se It is said
- Priča se It is told
Customs
- Pije se One drinks
- Slavi se One celebrates
Rules
- Ne puši se No smoking
- Ulazi se One enters
Active vs. Impersonal
Ejemplos por nivel
Ovdje se pije kava.
Coffee is drunk here.
Kako se kaže 'apple'?
How do you say 'apple'?
Tu se ne puši.
No smoking here.
Dobro se spava.
One sleeps well.
Govori se da je on dobar doktor.
It is said that he is a good doctor.
U Hrvatskoj se puno radi.
In Croatia, people work a lot.
Kamo se ide večeras?
Where are people going tonight?
Ne smije se ulaziti unutra.
One is not allowed to enter inside.
O tome se dugo raspravljalo.
That was discussed for a long time.
Vjeruje se da taj kamen donosi sreću.
It is believed that this stone brings luck.
Puno se očekuje od nove vlade.
Much is expected from the new government.
Lako se može vidjeti razlika.
The difference can easily be seen.
Smatra se da je projekt uspješan.
The project is considered successful.
Nije se moglo ništa učiniti.
Nothing could be done.
Pretpostavlja se da su pobjegli.
It is assumed that they fled.
Ovdje se radi o principu.
It is a matter of principle.
Teži se postizanju konsenzusa.
The goal is to reach a consensus.
Ustanovilo se da su podaci netočni.
It was established that the data is incorrect.
Nagađa se o mogućim posljedicama.
There is speculation about possible consequences.
Podrazumijeva se da ćete doći.
It is understood that you will come.
Kroz povijest se uočava stalna promjena.
Throughout history, a constant change is observed.
Pristupilo se rješavanju problema.
The resolution of the problem was initiated.
Očituje se nedostatak volje.
A lack of will is manifesting itself.
Dalo bi se naslutiti da je kraj blizu.
One might sense that the end is near.
Fácil de confundir
Learners confuse 'On se pere' (He washes himself) with 'Ovdje se pere' (One washes here).
Choosing between 'Kava je skuhana' and 'Kava se kuha'.
Thinking the verb must be plural if the implied people are plural.
Errores comunes
Ljudi se kažu...
Kaže se...
Se pije kava.
Pije se kava.
Ovdje pije kava.
Ovdje se pije kava.
Oni se govori.
Govori se.
U restoranu se jedu dobro.
U restoranu se jede dobro.
Ne se puši.
Ne puši se.
Što se radiš?
Što se radi?
Jučer se su rekli...
Jučer se reklo...
Mora se pije.
Mora se piti.
To se ne može reći ga.
To se ne može reći.
Smatra se ih...
Smatra ih se...
Patrones de oraciones
U ___ se često ___.
Kaže se da ___.
Ovdje se ne smije ___.
Kako se ___ na hrvatskom?
Real World Usage
Što se radi?
Izvještava se o novim mjerama.
Što se danas nudi?
Ovdje se cijeni točnost.
Ovdje se kupuju karte.
Puno se priča o tom koncertu.
The 'Second Position' Rule
Avoid 'Ljudi'
Rumor Mill
Politeness
Smart Tips
Use 'Priča se da...' or 'Govori se da...'. It sounds much more natural than 'Oni kažu'.
Look for the 'se' at the end. 'Ne puši se' is a rule for everyone, not just a command to you.
Use 'se' to make it sound like a professional manual. 'Prvo se nareže luk' (First, the onion is cut).
Always use 'Kako se kaže...?' It's the most essential phrase for any learner.
Pronunciación
Clitic Stress
The word 'se' is never stressed. It 'leans' on the word before it.
Vowel Length
The 'e' in 'se' is short and neutral.
Falling Intonation
Govori se. ↘
A statement of fact or rumor.
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Remember 'SE' as 'Someone Everywhere' — it's what people in general are doing.
Asociación visual
Imagine a busy town square where everyone is a grey silhouette without faces. They are all doing things (eating, walking, talking), but you don't know who they are. That's the 'se' world.
Rhyme
Kad ne znaš tko, a radi se, samo dodaj malo 'se'.
Story
In the village of 'Nekome', nobody has a name. When the sun rises, 'ustaje se' (one gets up). When there is bread, 'jede se' (one eats). The villagers love it because nobody can be blamed for anything!
Word Web
Desafío
Go through your day and describe 5 things you see people doing using 'se'. For example, if you see people waiting for a bus, say 'Čeka se autobus'.
Notas culturales
Croatians use impersonal constructions to avoid being too direct or confrontational. Instead of saying 'You made a mistake', they might say 'Pogriješilo se' (A mistake was made).
In coastal regions, you'll hear 'se' used even more frequently to describe the slow pace of life (pomalo).
Official documents and signs use this to sound authoritative and objective.
The particle 'se' comes from the Proto-Indo-European reflexive pronoun *s(w)e. In Slavic languages, it evolved from a full pronoun to a clitic.
Inicios de conversación
Što se obično jede za doručak u tvojoj zemlji?
Što se priča o novom filmu u kinu?
Kako se slavi Božić u Hrvatskoj?
Što se radi vikendom u tvom gradu?
Temas para diario
Errores comunes
Test Yourself
U Hrvatskoj ___ (piti) puno kave.
How do you say 'It is said that it will rain'?
Find and fix the mistake:
Ovdje se ne puše.
se / kava / pije / Ovdje
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
A: Što se radi večeras? B: ___ u kino.
In impersonal constructions, the verb can be plural if we are talking about many people.
___ hrvatski.
Score: /8
Ejercicios de practica
8 exercisesU Hrvatskoj ___ (piti) puno kave.
How do you say 'It is said that it will rain'?
Find and fix the mistake:
Ovdje se ne puše.
se / kava / pije / Ovdje
1. Radi se. 2. Jede se. 3. Spava se.
A: Što se radi večeras? B: ___ u kino.
In impersonal constructions, the verb can be plural if we are talking about many people.
___ hrvatski.
Score: /8
Preguntas frecuentes (8)
Most verbs can be used impersonally, but it's most common with verbs of action (`raditi`), communication (`kazati`, `govoriti`), and consumption (`piti`, `jesti`).
In Croatian, 'se' is a clitic, which means it's a 'weak' word that cannot carry the stress of starting a sentence. It must follow a 'stronger' word.
No, it's perfectly correct! However, `Kaže se` is often preferred when you want to sound more objective or when the identity of the 'people' isn't important.
Use the neuter singular form of the past participle + 'se'. For example: `Radilo se` (Work was being done).
`On se pere` means 'He is washing himself'. `Pere se` (without a subject) means 'One is washing' or 'Washing is being done'.
Indirectly, yes! If you say `Ide se u kino`, it can include you and your friends, but it sounds more like a general plan than a specific 'We are going'.
Yes, `Ne puši se` is a very common way to say 'No smoking'. It's slightly more polite than the imperative `Ne puši!`.
It's a type of passive. It's called the 'reflexive passive' or 'impersonal reflexive'. It's much more common in spoken Croatian than the formal passive with `biti`.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Se impersonal / Se pasivo
Croatian 'se' cannot start a sentence, while Spanish 'se' can.
On
French uses a specific pronoun ('on'), while Croatian uses a reflexive marker ('se').
Man
German 'man' is a nominative pronoun; Croatian 'se' is an accusative clitic.
Passive form (~reru/~rareru)
Japanese changes the verb ending; Croatian adds a particle.
Passive Voice (Majhul)
Arabic uses vowel shifts; Croatian uses an external particle.
Subjectless sentences
Chinese relies on context; Croatian requires the 'se' particle.
