Signification
To be confused or naive.
Contexte culturel
In rural Croatia, pear trees were often planted at the edge of properties. Falling from one meant you were literally 'on the edge' of the community's shared knowledge. The 'pear' is often contrasted with the 'oak' (hrast). The oak is strong and reliable, while the pear is seen as 'soft' or 'unreliable', mirroring the 'naive' meaning of the idiom. On Croatian social media (Reddit r/croatia), 'Pao s kruške' is frequently used to mock politicians who seem unaware of the struggles of average citizens.
Use it as a question
It is most effective as a rhetorical question: 'Jesi li ti pao s kruške?' to immediately challenge an absurd statement.
Watch the gender
If you are talking to a woman, you MUST say 'Jesi li pala'. Using 'pao' for a woman sounds very unnatural.
Signification
To be confused or naive.
Use it as a question
It is most effective as a rhetorical question: 'Jesi li ti pao s kruške?' to immediately challenge an absurd statement.
Watch the gender
If you are talking to a woman, you MUST say 'Jesi li pala'. Using 'pao' for a woman sounds very unnatural.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'pasti' and the noun 'kruška'.
Ona se ponaša kao da je ____ s ____.
The subject is 'ona' (feminine), so the verb is 'pala'. The preposition 's' requires the genitive 'kruške'.
Which situation is appropriate for using 'Pao si s kruške'?
Your friend says:
The idiom is used for calling out naivety or unrealistic beliefs.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Jesi li čuo da je sutra praznik i da nitko ne radi? B: Što? Stvarno? Gledaj me, ____.
Speaker B is admitting they were out of the loop (clueless) about the holiday.
🎉 Score : /3
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
3 exercicesOna se ponaša kao da je ____ s ____.
The subject is 'ona' (feminine), so the verb is 'pala'. The preposition 's' requires the genitive 'kruške'.
Your friend says:
The idiom is used for calling out naivety or unrealistic beliefs.
A: Jesi li čuo da je sutra praznik i da nitko ne radi? B: Što? Stvarno? Gledaj me, ____.
Speaker B is admitting they were out of the loop (clueless) about the holiday.
🎉 Score : /3
Questions fréquentes
3 questionsIt can be. It's like saying 'Are you stupid?' but in a more colorful way. Use it only with people you know well.
Only 'dud' (mulberry) is a common alternative. 'Pao s jabuke' (fell from an apple tree) is not an idiom and will be taken literally.
'Pasti s Marsa' is slightly more modern and implies a total lack of connection to the current world, whereas 'pasti s kruške' implies simple naivety.
Expressions liées
Pasti s Marsa
similarTo fall from Mars.
Nisam ja od jučer
contrastI wasn't born yesterday.
Prodavati muda pod bubrege
builds onTo sell testicles as kidneys.
