Splitting "Jedan Drugi"
In Croatian, when you want to express a reciprocal action that involves a preposition—like competing with each other or being suspicious of each other—you use the phrase jedan drugi (each other).
However, the preposition does not go before the phrase like it does in English. Instead, it is always inserted directly between the two words: jedan + [preposition] + drugi.
With (s) + Instrumental
When using the preposition s (with) alongside words like blizak (close) or natjecati se (to compete), the second word (drugi) must be in the Instrumental case.
The first word (jedan) typically stays in the Nominative case and matches the gender of the subject. For plural subjects, you can use either the singular forms (jedan s drugim) or the plural forms (jedni s drugima)—both are very common.
| Regardless of the problem, we are very close with each other. | Bez obzira na problem, mi smo vrlo bliski jedni s drugima. |
| Instead of working together, they compete with each other. | Umjesto da rade zajedno, oni se natječu jedan s drugim. |
Towards (prema) + Dative/Locative
Many adjectives and verbs in Croatian describe how people act or feel towards each other. This requires the preposition prema, which forces drugi into the Dative/Locative case.
Notice in the examples below how the gender of jedan drugi changes depending on who is interacting: masculine (jedan prema drugome), feminine (jedna prema drugoj), or mixed plural (jedni prema drugima).
| They treat each other with respect. | Oni se odnose jedan prema drugome s poštovanjem. |
| Those women are constantly suspicious of each other. | Te žene su stalno sumnjičave jedna prema drugoj. |
| We must be tolerant towards each other. | Moramo biti tolerantni jedni prema drugima. |
Other Prepositions and Cases
The case of drugi will always adapt to whichever preposition the verb or adjective demands.
For example, verbs like zazirati (to shy away) use od (from), which takes the Genitive case:
| Why do those neighbors shy away from each other? | Zašto ti susjedi zaziru jedni od drugih? |
Adjectives like ovisan (dependent) use o (on), which takes the Locative case. (Notice the neuter form jedno used for a mixed or general pair):
| They are very dependent on each other. | Oni su jako ovisni jedno o drugome. |
Finally, prepositions like u (in/into) and na (on) take the Accusative case when directing trust or emotions, such as relying on someone (pouzdati se u) or being jealous of someone (ljubomoran na):
| Can we rely on each other for that project? | Možemo li se pouzdati jedni u druge za taj projekt? |
| The fact that they are jealous of each other is a pity. | To što su ljubomorni jedan na drugoga je šteta. |
