Signification
Academic task completion
Contexte culturel
In Croatian schools, 'zadaća' is often checked at the beginning of every class. If a student hasn't done it, they might get a 'minus' or a bad grade. Across the Balkans, the phrase is a symbol of the struggle between childhood play and academic responsibility, often featured in regional children's literature. The emphasis on written homework is a legacy of the Austro-Hungarian education system which influenced Croatia for centuries. Even with the rise of Google Classroom, Croatians still say 'pišem zadaću' even if they are typing on a keyboard.
Use the Perfective
If you want to impress your teacher, say 'Napisao sam zadaću' to show you are finished and ready!
Case Matters
Always use 'zadaću' (with -u) after 'pišem'. Saying 'pišem zadaća' sounds very broken.
Signification
Academic task completion
Use the Perfective
If you want to impress your teacher, say 'Napisao sam zadaću' to show you are finished and ready!
Case Matters
Always use 'zadaću' (with -u) after 'pišem'. Saying 'pišem zadaća' sounds very broken.
The 'Kava' Excuse
In Croatia, 'Moram pisati zadaću' is the most socially acceptable way to decline a coffee invitation if you are a student.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'pisati' in the present tense.
Ja sada _______ zadaću.
The subject is 'Ja' (I), so the verb must be in the first person singular: 'pišem'.
Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'I finished my homework'?
Choose the correct sentence:
The perfective verb 'napisao' indicates that the action is completed.
Match the Croatian phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are standard translations for these common collocations.
Complete the dialogue with the correct word.
Mama: Jesi li _______ zadaću? Sin: Jesam, mama, gotov sam!
The mother is asking if the task is finished, so the perfective past tense is used.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Pisati vs. Napisati
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesJa sada _______ zadaću.
The subject is 'Ja' (I), so the verb must be in the first person singular: 'pišem'.
Choose the correct sentence:
The perfective verb 'napisao' indicates that the action is completed.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are standard translations for these common collocations.
Mama: Jesi li _______ zadaću? Sin: Jesam, mama, gotov sam!
The mother is asking if the task is finished, so the perfective past tense is used.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
14 questionsYes, it is understood and used by many young people, but 'pišem zadaću' is more traditional and grammatically preferred in schools.
'Zadaća' is the whole homework assignment, while 'zadatak' is a single task or math problem.
No, 'zadaća' alone almost always implies 'domaća zadaća' (homework).
You say 'Nemam zadaće' (Genitive case).
Yes, but they also use 'seminar' or 'vježbe' for specific types of assignments.
It's a linguistic tradition reflecting that most school tasks were historically written by hand.
Yes, 'pisati domaći' or 'pisati zadaću' is used across the former Yugoslavia.
You say 'prepisati zadaću'.
You can still say 'pišem zadaću' as a general term, or more specifically 'čitam lektiru'.
Yes, it is a feminine noun ending in -a.
Yes, 'zadaće' (Nominative plural) or 'zadaća' (Genitive plural).
That is a special notebook used specifically for writing school essays.
Zaboravio sam zadaću.
It is neutral and can be used in any context.
Expressions liées
napisati zadaću
specialized formTo finish homework
domaća zadaća
synonymHomework
školski zadatak
similarSchool task/problem
lektira
specialized formRequired reading
učiti
builds onTo study
