Questions & Answers about Ideš li po poštu?
Why does the preposition po mean 'to get' here?
When used with a verb of motion like ići (to go), the preposition po indicates the purpose of the trip. In this context, it translates to 'to fetch,' 'to pick up,' or 'to get.'
Why is the word for mail poštu instead of pošta?
The preposition po requires the accusative case when it means 'to fetch.' Since pošta is a feminine noun, its ending changes from -a to -u in the accusative case.
Could I ask this question without using the word li?
Yes! In everyday spoken Croatian, you can simply say Ideš po poštu? and raise your voice at the end. Using li directly after the verb is the standard, grammatically correct way to form a yes/no question, but dropping it is very common in casual speech.
How do I know if pošta means the mail or the post office?
Context is the key, as the word means both! Because you are going to fetch (po) it here, it clearly refers to the physical letters or packages. If you wanted to say you are going to the post office building, you would use a directional preposition instead, like Ideš li na poštu? or Ideš li u poštu?