Learn Croatian: Ova buka je čudna. - This noise is strange.

In Croatian, adjectives and pointing words like 'this' must match the gender of the noun they describe. Buka (noise) is a feminine noun, which usually ends in -a. Therefore, 'this' becomes ova and 'strange' becomes čudna to match.

The dictionary form of 'strange' is čudan. Why did the 'a' disappear in čudna?

This is an example of the 'fleeting a'. Many Croatian adjectives end in -an in their basic masculine form. When you add endings for feminine, neuter, or plural forms, that last 'a' drops out. So čudan becomes čudna for a feminine noun, not čudana.

The lesson mentions clitics requiring the 'second position'. Why is je the third word here?

Yes, je (is) is an unstressed verb clitic. Clitics usually need to be in the 'second position' of a sentence. However, Croatian often treats a closely connected phrase like Ova buka (This noise) as a single block occupying the first position. So, je safely takes the second slot right after that whole phrase. You could also say Ova je buka čudna, which splits the phrase, but keeping the phrase together is very natural!

Can I move je to the beginning of the sentence to ask a question?