Phrase in 30 Seconds
This phrase describes the everyday reality of owning a dog, combining the verb 'imati' (to have) with the animate object 'psa'.
- Means: To own or live with a pet dog.
- Used in: Introductions, small talk, and discussing daily routines or family life.
- Don't confuse: Use 'psa' (accusative), not 'pas' (nominative) after the verb 'imati'.
Explicação no seu nível:
Significado
The state of owning a pet dog.
Contexto cultural
In Zagreb, having a dog is a social ticket. People often meet in 'dog parks' or at 'nasip' (the Sava river embankment). It is very common to see dogs in cafes. Traditionally, dogs were for hunting or guarding. While this has changed, you might still see more working breeds in the hinterland (Zagora). Dogs are often kept in yards ('dvorište') rather than inside the house. The phrase 'imati psa' here might imply a guard dog for the property. There is a massive trend of 'udomljavanje' (adopting). Saying 'Imam psa iz azila' (I have a dog from a shelter) carries significant social prestige.
The Animate Rule
Always remember that for living things (men and animals), the object ending is '-a'.
Don't say 'Imam pas'
This is the most common beginner mistake. It sounds like 'I have dog' without the proper grammar.
The Animate Rule
Always remember that for living things (men and animals), the object ending is '-a'.
Don't say 'Imam pas'
This is the most common beginner mistake. It sounds like 'I have dog' without the proper grammar.
Use Diminutives
If you want to sound like a local in Zagreb, say 'Imam peseka'. It's much more friendly.
Dog in the Cafe
If you see a dog in a cafe, it's polite to ask 'Smijem li ga pomaziti?' (May I pet him?) after saying you also have a dog.
Teste-se
Fill in the correct form of the word 'pas'.
Ja imam ____.
After the verb 'imati', the masculine animate noun 'pas' must be in the accusative case, which is 'psa'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Select the correct sentence:
'Oni' (they) requires the verb form 'imaju', and 'pas' must be in the accusative 'psa'.
Complete the dialogue.
Ana: Imate li kućnog ljubimca? Vi: Da, ____.
The natural response uses the conjugated verb 'imam' followed by the object 'psa'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are at a party and want to talk about your life.
'Imam psa' is the standard way to share this personal fact.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Animate vs Inanimate Accusative
Banco de exercicios
5 exerciciosJa imam ____.
After the verb 'imati', the masculine animate noun 'pas' must be in the accusative case, which is 'psa'.
Select the correct sentence:
'Oni' (they) requires the verb form 'imaju', and 'pas' must be in the accusative 'psa'.
Ana: Imate li kućnog ljubimca? Vi: Da, ____.
The natural response uses the conjugated verb 'imam' followed by the object 'psa'.
You are at a party and want to talk about your life.
'Imam psa' is the standard way to share this personal fact.
🎉 Pontuação: /5
Perguntas frequentes
14 perguntasNo, in Croatian, 'Imam psa' already means 'I have a dog'. Using 'jedan' is only for emphasis.
You say 'Imam psicu'. The word for female dog is 'psica'.
You say 'Nemam psa'. Note that 'nemam' also takes the genitive/accusative 'psa'.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
Yes! 'Imam mačku' (I have a cat), 'Imam papigu' (I have a parrot).
The plural is 'Imam pse' (I have dogs).
The 'a' in 'pas' is 'nepostojano' (fleeting). It disappears when you add endings.
Many restaurants with terraces allow dogs, and some indoor ones too. Always look for the 'Pet Friendly' sticker.
Ask 'Imate li psa?' (formal/plural) or 'Imaš li psa?' (informal).
It is 'štene'. To say 'I have a puppy', you say 'Imam štene'.
Only in small talk. In a contract, you would see 'vlasnik psa'.
No, it means ownership. To say you are holding it, use 'držim psa'.
Many dogs are called 'Rex', 'Bobi', or 'Luna'.
It's better to say 'Živim sa psom' (I live with a dog).
Frases relacionadas
Šetati psa
builds onTo walk the dog
Hraniti psa
builds onTo feed the dog
Udomiti psa
specialized formTo adopt a dog
Čuvati psa
similarTo look after a dog
Izgubiti psa
contrastTo lose a dog
Voljeti pse
similarTo love dogs
Onde usar
Meeting a neighbor
Susjed: Dobar dan! Imate li psa?
Vi: Dobar dan! Da, imam malog psa.
Dating app profile
Profil: Volim planinariti i imam psa.
Apartment hunting
Najmoprimac: Je li u redu ako imam psa?
Vlasnik: Nažalost, ne primamo kućne ljubimce.
At the vet
Veterinar: Koliko dugo imate psa?
Vlasnik: Imam psa već tri godine.
Talking to a child
Dijete: Mogu li i ja imati psa?
Roditelj: Možeš, kad budeš malo stariji.
Job interview (small talk)
Intervjuer: Što radite u slobodno vrijeme?
Kandidat: Volim šetati jer imam psa.
Memorize
Mnemônico
Think of the 'a' in 'psa' as the 'a' in 'Active'—because a dog is an active, living thing, it needs that extra 'a'!
Associação visual
Imagine a person holding a leash. The leash is shaped like the letter 'a', connecting the person (the owner) to the dog (psa).
Rhyme
Imam psa, on sve zna! (I have a dog, he knows everything!)
Story
You walk into a Croatian cafe. You see a man with a dog. You want to be his friend. You say 'Imam psa' (I have a dog). He smiles, the dog wags its tail, and you are now part of the 'dog club'.
In Other Languages
In German, it's 'einen Hund haben', which also uses the accusative case. In Spanish, 'tener un perro' uses the verb 'to have' similarly, but requires an article.
Word Web
Desafio
Go to a local park or look at a photo of a dog and say out loud: 'Želim imati psa' or 'Imam psa'. Repeat 5 times focusing on the '-a' ending.
Review the 'animate accusative' rule on days 1, 3, and 7.
Pronúncia
Short falling accent on the first 'i'.
The 'p' and 's' are pronounced together quickly, followed by a short 'a'.
Espectro de formalidade
Vlasnik sam psa. (General ownership)
Imam psa. (General ownership)
Imam peseka. (General ownership)
Imam đukelu. (General ownership)
The phrase combines the Proto-Slavic verb '*iměti' (to have/hold) and the noun '*pьsъ' (dog).
Curiosidade
The word 'pas' is one of the few Croatian words that changes its root vowel (the 'a' disappears in most cases, e.g., 'psa', 'psu'), a feature called 'nepostojano a'.
Notas culturais
In Zagreb, having a dog is a social ticket. People often meet in 'dog parks' or at 'nasip' (the Sava river embankment). It is very common to see dogs in cafes.
“Mogu li ući sa psom u kafić?”
Traditionally, dogs were for hunting or guarding. While this has changed, you might still see more working breeds in the hinterland (Zagora).
“Ovaj pas je dobar čuvar.”
Dogs are often kept in yards ('dvorište') rather than inside the house. The phrase 'imati psa' here might imply a guard dog for the property.
“Pas je u dvorištu.”
There is a massive trend of 'udomljavanje' (adopting). Saying 'Imam psa iz azila' (I have a dog from a shelter) carries significant social prestige.
“Udomio sam psa prošle godine.”
Iniciadores de conversa
Imate li psa?
Zašto je dobro imati psa?
Biste li radije imali psa ili mačku?
Koje su najveće obveze kada odlučite imati psa?
Erros comuns
Imam pas.
Imam psa.
L1 Interference
Ja sam imati psa.
Ja imam psa.
L1 Interference
Imam jedan pas.
Imam psa.
L1 Interference
Imam psa u dvorište.
Imam psa u dvorištu.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Tener un perro
Spanish uses articles; Croatian uses cases.
Avoir un chien
French has no case marking on the noun 'chien'.
Einen Hund haben
German changes the article; Croatian changes the noun ending.
犬を飼っている (Inu o katte iru)
Japanese uses a specific verb for 'keeping' animals.
عندي كلب (Indi kalb)
Arabic lacks a direct verb equivalent to 'imati'.
我有一只狗 (Wǒ yǒu yī zhǐ gǒu)
Chinese requires measure words/classifiers.
개를 키워요 (Gae-reul ki-wo-yo)
The focus is on 'raising' rather than 'possessing'.
Ter um cão
Portuguese uses the article 'um'.
Spotted in the Real World
“Moj pas je moj najbolji prijatelj.”
A famous song by the legendary Croatian singer-songwriter about his dog.
“Ne možeš imati psa u ovom stanu!”
The landlord arguing with the tenants about keeping a pet.
“#imam_psa #najboljiprijatelj”
Common hashtags used by Croatian dog owners.
“Gospodine Fulir, imate li vi psa?”
Small talk during a social gathering in old Zagreb.
“Sve više Hrvata odlučuje imati psa.”
An article about pet ownership trends in Croatia.
Fácil de confundir
Learners might mix up 'to be' and 'to have'.
Remember: 'Imam' is for things you own; 'Sam' is for what you are.
Both mean 'to have/keep a dog'.
'Držati' often implies the physical location or the act of keeping them in a specific place (like a yard).
Perguntas frequentes (14)
No, in Croatian, 'Imam psa' already means 'I have a dog'. Using 'jedan' is only for emphasis.
grammar mechanicsYou say 'Imam psicu'. The word for female dog is 'psica'.
basic understandingYou say 'Nemam psa'. Note that 'nemam' also takes the genitive/accusative 'psa'.
grammar mechanicsIt is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
usage contextsYes! 'Imam mačku' (I have a cat), 'Imam papigu' (I have a parrot).
practical tipsThe plural is 'Imam pse' (I have dogs).
grammar mechanicsThe 'a' in 'pas' is 'nepostojano' (fleeting). It disappears when you add endings.
grammar mechanicsMany restaurants with terraces allow dogs, and some indoor ones too. Always look for the 'Pet Friendly' sticker.
cultural usageAsk 'Imate li psa?' (formal/plural) or 'Imaš li psa?' (informal).
basic understandingIt is 'štene'. To say 'I have a puppy', you say 'Imam štene'.
basic understandingOnly in small talk. In a contract, you would see 'vlasnik psa'.
usage contextsNo, it means ownership. To say you are holding it, use 'držim psa'.
comparisonsMany dogs are called 'Rex', 'Bobi', or 'Luna'.
cultural usageIt's better to say 'Živim sa psom' (I live with a dog).
practical tips
