Breakdown of Želim samo malo maslaca za doručak.
malo
a little
željeti
to want
samo
only
doručak
breakfast
za
for / at (a table) (+ instrumental)
maslac
butter
Questions & Answers about Želim samo malo maslaca za doručak.
Why is the word for butter written as maslaca instead of maslac?
Because it comes directly after the quantifier malo (a little). In Croatian, words that express a quantity always force the following noun into the genitive case. The genitive form of the masculine noun maslac is maslaca.
Does the word malo change depending on the gender of the noun that follows it?
No. When used as a quantifier meaning "a little", malo acts as an adverb and never changes its form. It stays exactly the same whether you want a little butter (malo maslaca) or a little water (malo vode).
Why isn't there a word for "of" between malo and maslaca?
In English, we often say "a little bit OF something," but in Croatian, the genitive case itself already carries that "of" meaning. The phrase malo maslaca translates directly without needing an extra preposition.
Why doesn't the word doručak change its ending after the preposition za?
The preposition za (meaning "for" in this context) requires the accusative case. Because doručak (breakfast) is a masculine non-living (inanimate) noun, its accusative form looks exactly the same as its standard dictionary form. If it were a living masculine noun, the ending would change.
Learn Želim samo malo maslaca za doručak and more in Croatian
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free