Learn Croatian: Putujem u grad Split vlakom. - I am traveling to the city of Split by train.

In English, we use "of" (which usually points to the genitive case). But in Croatian, when a generic word like grad (city) is paired with a specific name like Split, they act as partners and match cases. Since u for a destination takes the accusative case, both words are put in the accusative case together.

Wait, grad Split looks exactly like the dictionary form. Is it really in the accusative case here?

Yes, it is! For masculine nouns that are inanimate (not alive, like cities and objects), the accusative case form is exactly the same as the nominative (dictionary) form. Both grad and Split are masculine inanimate nouns, so their endings don't change.

Why is "by train" just vlakom and not s vlakom?

When the instrumental case is used to show the means or instrument of an action (like traveling by a vehicle, or writing with a pen), you do not use the preposition s (with). You only use s when it means accompanying someone or something, like traveling with a friend (s prijateljem).

I know the verb is putovati (to travel). Why does it look like putujem here?