Phrase in 30 Seconds
A fundamental phrase used to describe having the financial means to buy things or support oneself.
- Means: To possess money or be in a good financial position.
- Used in: Shopping, planning trips, and discussing personal wealth.
- Don't confuse: 'Imati novac' (specific) with 'Imati novca' (general/partitive).
توضیح در سطح شما:
معنی
Possessing financial resources.
زمینه فرهنگی
The 'kava' (coffee) ritual is central. Even if someone says they 'nemaju novca', they usually have enough for a long coffee session with friends. In coastal regions, wealth was historically tied to land and olive oil. Today, 'imati novca' is often associated with successful tourist seasons. In the capital, there is a more 'Central European' approach to money—more formal banking and a focus on steady 'plaća' (salary). The word 'pare' (from Turkish) is used interchangeably with 'novac' in informal settings across the whole region.
The Genitive Rule
Always use 'novca' after 'nemam'. It's the most common mistake for beginners!
Slang Power
Use 'imam para' with friends to sound more like a local.
The Genitive Rule
Always use 'novca' after 'nemam'. It's the most common mistake for beginners!
Slang Power
Use 'imam para' with friends to sound more like a local.
Rude Questions
Don't ask strangers 'Imaš li novca?' unless you are a waiter or cashier.
خودت رو بسنج
Fill in the correct form of 'novac' in the negative sentence.
On nema ______.
Negative sentences in Croatian require the genitive case, which for 'novac' is 'novca'.
Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'I have money'?
Choose the best option:
'Imam' is the correct 1st person singular conjugation of 'imati'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Možemo li kupiti pizzu? B: Da, ______ novca.
The speaker (B) is answering for themselves, so 'imam' (I have) is correct.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are at a store and realize you forgot your wallet.
'Nemam novca' means 'I don't have money'.
🎉 امتیاز: /4
ابزارهای بصری یادگیری
Ways to say 'I have money'
Formal
- • Raspolagati sredstvima
- • Posjedovati kapital
Neutral
- • Imati novca
- • Biti pri novcu
Slang
- • Imati para
- • Imati love
- • Biti pun ko brod
بانک تمرین
5 تمرینهاOn nema ______.
Negative sentences in Croatian require the genitive case, which for 'novac' is 'novca'.
Choose the best option:
'Imam' is the correct 1st person singular conjugation of 'imati'.
A: Možemo li kupiti pizzu? B: Da, ______ novca.
The speaker (B) is answering for themselves, so 'imam' (I have) is correct.
You are at a store and realize you forgot your wallet.
'Nemam novca' means 'I don't have money'.
🎉 امتیاز: /5
سوالات متداول
10 سوالIt's the genitive case, used here to mean 'some money' (partitive) or required by the negative verb.
Yes, it's common in plural, especially in northern Croatia, but 'novca' is more standard.
No, it's just informal. Use it with friends, but maybe not with your boss.
You can say 'Nemam novca' or the slang 'Švorc sam'.
Not necessarily. It just means you have money at the moment. 'Biti bogat' means you are rich.
'Novac' is money in general; 'valuta' is a specific currency like Euro or Dollar.
Both are correct. 'Novaca' is an older genitive plural form, still very common.
Say 'Račun, molim', but you might check if you 'imate novca' first!
Yes, you can say 'Imam novca na kartici'.
It means you currently have funds available, often implying you just got paid.
عبارات مرتبط
Imati para
synonymTo have money (informal)
Biti bogat
similarTo be rich
Nemati ni lipe
contrastTo not have a single cent
Raspolagati novcem
specialized formTo have money at one's disposal
کجا استفاده کنیم
At a Cafe
Konobar: To je pet eura.
Gost: U redu, imam novca.
Planning a Trip
Ana: Idemo li u Split?
Ivan: Da, ako budemo imali novca.
At the Grocery Store
Blagajnica: Kartica ili gotovina?
Kupac: Nemam novca na kartici, platit ću gotovinom.
Job Interview
Kandidat: Ima li tvrtka novca za nove projekte?
Direktor: Da, imamo osiguran proračun.
Talking to a Child
Dijete: Kupi mi igračku!
Mama: Danas nemamo novca za igračke.
Lending Money
Prijatelj A: Možeš li mi posuditi deset eura?
Prijatelj B: Nažalost, trenutno nemam novca.
حفظ کنید
روش یادسپاری
Think of 'Imati' as 'I'm at it' (possessing) and 'Novca' as 'Notes & Coins'.
تداعی تصویری
Imagine yourself standing in front of a bakery (pekara) holding a handful of shiny new coins (novac). You feel confident because you 'imati novca' for a burek.
Rhyme
Tko ima novca, taj kupuje ovca! (He who has money, buys a sheep!)
Story
Marko wanted a coffee. He checked his pocket. He said, 'Imam novca!' He went to the cafe, paid the waiter, and enjoyed his sunny afternoon in Zagreb.
In Other Languages
Similar to 'Tener dinero' in Spanish or 'Geld haben' in German. Most European languages use a 'to have' + 'money' structure.
شبکه واژگان
چالش
Go to a local market (or pretend to) and say 'Imam novca' for three different items you see.
Review this phrase on day 1, 3, and 7. Focus on the 'vca' ending.
تلفظ
Short 'i', stress on the first syllable.
The 'c' is pronounced like 'ts' in 'cats'.
طیف رسمیت
Posjedujem potrebna novčana sredstva. (General statement of wealth)
Imam novca. (General statement of wealth)
Imam para. (General statement of wealth)
Pun sam love. (General statement of wealth)
The verb 'imati' comes from Proto-Slavic *jěti (to take). 'Novac' comes from 'nov' (new), referring to new coins.
نکته جالب
The word for money in many Slavic languages comes from the word for 'cattle' (stoka), but in Croatian, it specifically highlights the 'newness' of coins.
نکات فرهنگی
The 'kava' (coffee) ritual is central. Even if someone says they 'nemaju novca', they usually have enough for a long coffee session with friends.
“Idemo na kavu, ja imam novca za oboje.”
In coastal regions, wealth was historically tied to land and olive oil. Today, 'imati novca' is often associated with successful tourist seasons.
“Nakon sezone, svi imaju novca.”
In the capital, there is a more 'Central European' approach to money—more formal banking and a focus on steady 'plaća' (salary).
“Dobio sam plaću, sad imam novca.”
The word 'pare' (from Turkish) is used interchangeably with 'novac' in informal settings across the whole region.
“Imaš li kakvih para?”
شروعکنندههای مکالمه
Što bi uradio da imaš puno novca?
Imaš li dovoljno novca za ovaj tjedan?
Je li važno imati puno novca za sreću?
اشتباهات رایج
Nemam novac.
Nemam novca.
L1 Interference
Ja sam novca.
Ja imam novca.
L1 Interference
Imam novci.
Imam novca.
L1 Interference
Imati novca za kupiti.
Imati novca za kupnju / Imati novca da kupim.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Tener dinero
Spanish doesn't change the form of 'dinero' in negative sentences.
Avoir de l'argent
French uses an article, while Croatian uses a case ending.
Geld haben
German word order often puts 'Geld' before 'haben' in subordinate clauses.
お金がある (Okane ga aru)
The subject is the money itself, not the person.
لديه مال (Ladayhi mal)
There is no direct verb 'to have' in this context.
有钱 (Yǒu qián)
Chinese has no cases or verb conjugations.
돈이 있다 (Don-i itda)
The grammatical structure is 'Money-subject marker exists'.
Ter dinheiro
Very similar to Spanish and Croatian in its basic logic.
Spotted in the Real World
“Novac, novac, samo novac...”
A common theme in pop and rap music about the desire for wealth.
“Nemamo mi novca za takve stvari.”
A film about a cashier struggling with low wages.
بهراحتی اشتباه گرفته میشود
Learners don't know when to use 'novac' vs 'novca'.
Use 'novca' for general possession and 'novac' for a specific, previously mentioned sum.
The preposition 'pri' is confusing.
Think of it as 'being near money'—meaning you currently have some.
سوالات متداول (10)
It's the genitive case, used here to mean 'some money' (partitive) or required by the negative verb.
grammar mechanicsYes, it's common in plural, especially in northern Croatia, but 'novca' is more standard.
usage contextsNo, it's just informal. Use it with friends, but maybe not with your boss.
practical tipsYou can say 'Nemam novca' or the slang 'Švorc sam'.
practical tipsNot necessarily. It just means you have money at the moment. 'Biti bogat' means you are rich.
basic understanding'Novac' is money in general; 'valuta' is a specific currency like Euro or Dollar.
comparisonsBoth are correct. 'Novaca' is an older genitive plural form, still very common.
grammar mechanicsSay 'Račun, molim', but you might check if you 'imate novca' first!
practical tipsYes, you can say 'Imam novca na kartici'.
usage contextsIt means you currently have funds available, often implying you just got paid.
basic understanding
