Choosing Between: kakav and koji
When asking about objects in Croatian, you will frequently use two interrogative words: kakav (what kind of) and koji (which). Because they function like adjectives, both must change their endings to match the gender, number, and case of the noun they describe.
Asking "What kind of" with kakav
Use kakav when you are asking about an item's qualities, characteristics, or style. It asks for a description rather than a specific choice.
| What kind of dress are you looking for? | Kakvu haljinu tražite? |
| What kind of model do you like more? | Kakav model ti se više sviđa? |
| What kind of material is that? | Kakav je to materijal? |
Selecting Specifics with koji
Use koji when you want someone to single out a specific item from a set or a group of possibilities. This translates directly to "which" in English.
| Which dress do you want to buy? | Koju haljinu želite kupiti? |
| Which size do you wear? | Koju veličinu nosite? |
| Which material do you like more? | Koji vam se materijal više sviđa? |
Describing Qualities and Materials
When making choices while shopping, you will often answer kakav with descriptive adjectives like svijetao (light) and taman (dark), or by naming a material like pamuk (cotton) or svila (silk). Remember that these adjectives and nouns must also decline to fit their role in the sentence (such as taking the accusative case for direct objects).
| What kind of color do you need, light or dark? | Kakvu boju trebate, svijetlu ili tamnu? |
| I want this dark model. | Želim ovaj tamni model. |
| What kind of material do you want, cotton or silk? | Kakav materijal želite, pamuk ili svilu? |
| I like cotton, not silk. | Volim pamuk, a ne svilu. |
