Learn Croatian: Voljeli bismo preporučiti desert. - We would like to recommend a dessert.

To say "we would like", you combine the past participle of the verb voljeti (to like) with the conditional helper word for "we", which is bismo. Since "we" is plural, you use the plural form voljeli. Together, voljeli bismo translates to "we would like".

Could I say Bismo voljeli preporučiti desert instead?

No, because bismo is an enclitic (a "weak" word). Enclitics can never be the first word in a sentence; they usually must sit in the strict second position. That is why it comes right after Voljeli.

Would the sentence change if a group of women were speaking?

Yes! The word voljeli has the -i ending, which is used for a group of men or a mixed-gender group. If the group was entirely female, they would use the feminine plural ending and say Voljele bismo preporučiti desert.

Why doesn't the word desert change its ending here?

The word desert is the direct object of the sentence (the thing being recommended), so it must be in the accusative case. However, for masculine non-living nouns like desert, the accusative form is exactly the same as its dictionary (nominative) form.