Learn Croatian: Dobar prevoditelj može olakšati posao. - A good translator can make the job easier.

Dobar prevoditelj može olakšati posao.

A good translator can make the job easier.

Breakdown of Dobar prevoditelj može olakšati posao.

to make easier, to relieve (perfective)

Questions & Answers about Dobar prevoditelj može olakšati posao.

How is the noun prevoditelj formed in this sentence?

It is formed from the imperfective verb prevoditi (to translate) by adding the suffix -telj. This suffix is highly productive in Croatian for creating agent nouns—words for people who perform a specific action—just like the English suffixes "-er" or "-or". Other common examples include učitelj (teacher) and voditelj (host/leader).

Are there other common suffixes used for this specific profession, or is it always -telj?

You might also encounter the word prevodilac, which uses the -lac suffix to mean the exact same thing. However, in standard Croatian, words ending in -telj are strongly preferred for these types of professions, making prevoditelj the most standard and widely accepted form to use.

If the translator were female, how would the suffix change?

To make agent nouns ending in -telj feminine, you typically add the suffix -ica. The word becomes prevoditeljica, and the adjective must match its gender, making the sentence: Dobra prevoditeljica može olakšati posao.

What is the root of the verb olakšati?

It is derived from the adjective lak (easy) and its comparative form lakši (easier). By adding the prefix o- and the verb ending -ati, it becomes the perfective verb olakšati, meaning to make something easier, to facilitate, or to relieve.