The Verb 'Htjeti' (To want to, Will)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
'Htjeti' is a dual-purpose powerhouse used to express desire ('I want') and to build the future tense ('I will').
- Use long forms (hoću) for emphasis or when the verb stands alone: 'Hoćeš li? Hoću!'
- Use short clitic forms (ću, ćeš...) to form the Future I tense: 'Ja ću doći.'
- Negative forms (neću, nećeš...) are always written as one word and carry their own stress.
Present Tense of 'Htjeti' (Long/Stressed Forms)
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
|
1st Person
|
hoću (I want)
|
hoćemo (we want)
|
|
2nd Person
|
hoćeš (you want)
|
hoćete (you all want)
|
|
3rd Person
|
hoće (he/she/it wants)
|
hoće (they want)
|
Future Auxiliary (Short/Unstressed Forms)
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
|
1st Person
|
ću (I will)
|
ćemo (we will)
|
|
2nd Person
|
ćeš (you will)
|
ćete (you all will)
|
|
3rd Person
|
će (he/she/it will)
|
će (they will)
|
Meanings
The verb 'htjeti' primarily functions as a modal verb expressing volition or desire, and as an auxiliary verb to form the future tense.
Volition / Desire
Expressing a direct wish or intention to do something.
“Što hoćeš od mene?”
“Oni hoće novi auto.”
Future Auxiliary
Used with an infinitive to indicate an action that will happen in the future.
“Sutra ćemo ići u kino.”
“Kada ćeš završiti posao?”
Polite Request / Offer
Using the interrogative form to offer something or ask politely.
“Hoćete li malo vode?”
“Hoćeš li da ti pomognem?”
Hypothetical / Conditional
In certain contexts, it can imply a conditional willingness.
“Htio bih vas zamoliti za uslugu.”
“Tko bi htio živjeti vječno?”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative (Long)
|
Subject + hoću/hoćeš...
|
Ja hoću jabuku.
|
|
Affirmative (Short)
|
Subject + ću/ćeš... + Infinitive
|
Ja ću spavati.
|
|
Negative
|
Subject + neću/nećeš...
|
On neće doći.
|
|
Interrogative (Long)
|
Hoćeš/Hoćete... + li + ...?
|
Hoćeš li kavu?
|
|
Interrogative (Short)
|
Infinitive-ći + ću/ćeš...?
|
Ići ćeš?
|
|
Short Answer (+)
|
Hoću. / Ćemo.
|
Hoćeš li? - Hoću.
|
|
Short Answer (-)
|
Neću. / Nećemo.
|
Hoćete li? - Nećemo.
|
|
Future (Infinitive first)
|
Infinitive (no -i) + ću/ćeš...
|
Radit ću sutra.
|
Espectro de formalidade
Želio bih poći kući. (leaving a place)
Hoću ići kući. (leaving a place)
Idem ja doma. (leaving a place)
Gibam ja. (leaving a place)
The Two Faces of 'Htjeti'
Volition (Want)
- Hoću I want (stressed)
- Neću I don't want
Future (Will)
- ću, ćeš, će... will (auxiliary)
- Futur prvi Future I tense
Htjeti vs. Željeti
Which form of 'htjeti' to use?
Is it for the Future Tense?
Is it a question with 'li'?
Is it a negative statement?
Common Future Tense Verbs
Travel
- • Ići ću
- • Putovat ćemo
- • Doći ćete
Work
- • Radit ćeš
- • Pisat ću
- • Završit ćemo
Exemplos por nível
Ja hoću kavu.
I want coffee.
On neću jesti.
He doesn't want to eat.
Što hoćeš?
What do you want?
Ja ću doći.
I will come.
Sutra ćemo ići na plažu.
Tomorrow we will go to the beach.
Hoćeš li mi pomoći?
Will you help me?
Nećemo zakasniti na vlak.
We won't be late for the train.
Kupit ću novi mobitel.
I will buy a new mobile phone.
Hoću da mi pošalješ taj email.
I want you to send me that email.
Htio bih rezervirati stol za dvoje.
I would like to reserve a table for two.
Oni će sigurno htjeti doći.
They will surely want to come.
Što ćeš raditi kad završiš školu?
What will you do when you finish school?
Ma što on hoće od nas zapravo?
What does he actually want from us anyway?
Projekt će biti dovršen do petka.
The project will be completed by Friday.
Neće on tako lako odustati.
He won't give up that easily.
Hoćete li da vam pokažem grad?
Would you like me to show you the city?
Htjeli mi to ili ne, promjene dolaze.
Whether we want it or not, changes are coming.
Nije htio ni čuti za moju ispriku.
He wouldn't even hear of my apology.
Sve će to jednom biti prošlost.
All of that will one day be the past.
Hoće li se ikada saznati istina?
Will the truth ever be known?
Glagol 'htjeti' u ovom kontekstu implicira namjeru, a ne puku želju.
The verb 'htjeti' in this context implies intent, not mere desire.
Htio-ne htio, morat ćeš se suočiti s posljedicama.
Willy-nilly, you will have to face the consequences.
On kao da hoće reći da nismo dobrodošli.
It's as if he wants to say that we are not welcome.
Budućnost će pokazati tko je bio u pravu.
The future will show who was right.
Fácil de confundir
Learners use 'željeti' for everything because it sounds like 'wish', or 'htjeti' for everything because it's shorter.
Mixing up 'want' and 'need'.
Using Future I in 'if' clauses where Future II is required.
Erros comuns
Ja ne ću.
Ja neću.
Ću ići.
Ići ću.
On hoće raditi sutra.
On će raditi sutra.
Hoćeš vodu? - Da, ću.
Hoćeš vodu? - Hoću.
Raditi ću.
Radit ću.
Mi ćemo ga vidjeti.
Vidjet ćemo ga.
Neću ću ići.
Neću ići.
Hoću tebe doći.
Hoću da dođeš.
Želim da ću ići.
Želim ići / Želim da idem.
On će se htjeti.
On će htjeti.
Htio je da bi išao.
Htio je ići.
Padrões de frases
Ja ću ___ (infinitive) sutra.
Hoćeš li ___ (infinitive)?
Neću ___ (infinitive) jer ___.
Hoću da ___ (present tense).
Real World Usage
Di ćeš? (Where will you go/be?)
Hoću jedan espresso, molim.
U budućnosti ću voditi tim.
Kada će avion sletjeti?
Dostavljač će stići za 10 minuta.
Nećeš vjerovati što se dogodilo!
The 'Second Position' Rule
Don't double up!
Dropping the 'i'
Politeness counts
Smart Tips
Flip the verb! Put the infinitive first and drop the 'i'.
Switch from 'Hoću' to 'Htio bih'.
Remember that the next verb must be in the present tense, not the infinitive.
Just use 'neću' + infinitive. Don't add 'ću'.
Pronúncia
Enclitic Stress
Short forms (ću, ćeš...) have no stress of their own and 'attach' to the word before them.
Negative Stress
Negative forms (neću, nećeš...) are stressed on the first syllable.
Question with 'li'
Hoćeš li doći? ↑
Rising intonation at the end for a yes/no question.
Memorize
Mnemônico
Remember 'HO-ĆU' for 'HO-LDING' a desire, and 'ĆU' for 'QU-ICK' future actions.
Associação visual
Imagine a person holding a sign that says 'HOĆU' (I want) standing next to a fast-moving train labeled 'ĆU' (Future). The sign is heavy and stressed, the train is light and moving forward.
Rhyme
Hoću, hoćeš, hoće - tko će jesti voće? Ću, ćeš, će - sutra radit će!
Story
Marko 'hoće' (wants) an ice cream. He says 'Hoću sladoled!'. His mom says 'Dobit ćeš' (You will get) one later. Marko is happy because he 'će' (will) eat it soon.
Word Web
Desafio
Write down 3 things you 'hoćeš' (want) right now and 3 things you 'ćeš' (will) do this weekend.
Notas culturais
In coastal regions, you might hear 'ćemo' shortened or pronounced with a very soft 'ć', sometimes sounding like 'ćemo' or even 'ćemo' with a specific local lilt.
In Zagreb, people often use 'bum, buš, bu' (from German 'haben' or 'werden' influence via Kajkavian) instead of 'ću, ćeš, će' in very informal speech.
Offering food or drink with 'Hoćeš li...?' is a cornerstone of Croatian hospitality. Refusing the first time is common, so the host will often ask 'Hoćeš li?' multiple times.
Derived from the Proto-Slavic root *xotěti.
Iniciadores de conversa
Što ćeš raditi ovog vikenda?
Kamo hoćeš putovati sljedeće godine?
Što hoćeš postići u svojoj karijeri?
Hoćeš li da ti skuham kavu ili čaj?
Temas para diário
Erros comuns
Test Yourself
Mi ___ sutra ići u kino.
Ja ___ (not want) piti sok.
Find and fix the mistake:
Ću doći sutra.
On ___.
A: Hoćeš li kavu? B: ___, hvala.
Select the correct spelling.
___ da slušaš.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Exercicios praticos
8 exercisesMi ___ sutra ići u kino.
Ja ___ (not want) piti sok.
Find and fix the mistake:
Ću doći sutra.
On ___.
A: Hoćeš li kavu? B: ___, hvala.
Select the correct spelling.
___ da slušaš.
1. Hoću, 2. Ću, 3. Neću
Score: /8
Perguntas frequentes (8)
Yes, but only for emphasis. For example, 'Ja HOĆU doći!' means 'I WILL come (despite what you think)'. For a normal future, use 'ću'.
Verbs ending in `-ti` drop the 'i' when the clitic follows. Verbs ending in `-ći` (like `ići`, `peći`, `reći`) keep their full form.
Yes, in standard Croatian, the negative forms of 'htjeti' are always written as one word: `neću`, `nećeš`, `neće`, etc.
`Htjeti` is more direct and used for the future. `Željeti` is softer, like 'to wish'.
No. Never. It must always follow another word. If you want to start with the verb, use the infinitive: `Doći ću`.
Use the conditional form: `Htio bih` (masculine) or `Htjela bih` (feminine).
It can be very direct. In a restaurant, `Htio bih` or `Molim vas` is more polite than just `Hoću...`.
Yes, it is formed like any other verb: `htio sam`, `htjela sam` (I wanted).
Scaffolded Practice
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2
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4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Will / Want
Croatian 'htjeti' covers both 'will' and 'want'.
Querer / Futuro
Croatian uses an auxiliary verb for the future, while Spanish uses endings.
Wollen / Werden
German has two distinct verbs for 'want' and 'will'.
Tai / Tsumori
Japanese is agglutinative; Croatian is inflectional.
Sa- / Arada
Arabic uses a prefix for future; Croatian uses a separate auxiliary verb.
Yào (要)
Chinese has no conjugation; Croatian has complex person/number agreement.
