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Questions & Answers about To nije šala, već ozbiljan problem.
I thought već meant 'already'. Why is it translated as 'but' here?
Već usually means 'already', but it can also mean 'but' or 'but rather' when correcting a negative statement. Because the first part of the sentence is negative (To nije šala), we use već to introduce the contrasting truth. You could also use nego here with the exact same meaning.
Could I use ali instead of već for 'but' in this sentence?
No, ali sounds unnatural here. In Croatian, when you have a 'not X, but Y' structure (denying one thing to assert another), you must use već or nego. You use ali to add contrasting information that doesn't completely replace the first part.
Why do we use the neuter pronoun To when šala is feminine and problem is masculine?
When you are pointing out a general situation or concept ('This is...' or 'That is...'), you always use the neuter pronoun to, regardless of the gender of the nouns that follow. You are saying 'This general situation is not a joke,' so to stays neuter.