Learn Croatian: Je li ovo skupo?

Je li ovo skupo?

Is this expensive?

Breakdown of Je li ovo skupo?

biti

to be (sam, si, je)

ovaj

this (m) / ova (f), ovo (n)

question particle

skup

expensive

Questions & Answers about Je li ovo skupo?

How does Je li work here?

Je li is the standard way to start a yes/no question in Croatian. It combines je (the "is" form of the verb "to be") with the small question word li.

Why does the word for expensive end in -o (skupo)?

In Croatian, adjectives must match the gender of the noun or pronoun they describe. Since ovo (this) is a neuter pronoun, the adjective takes the neuter ending -o, making it skupo instead of the masculine skup or feminine skupa.

Could I just ask Ovo je skupo? with a questioning tone?

Yes, just like in English, you can turn a regular statement into a question simply by raising your voice at the end. However, using Je li makes it perfectly clear right from the start that you are asking a question.

I've heard people say Da li je... instead. Can I use that here?

Yes, Da li je ovo skupo? means the exact same thing. Both are very common to hear in daily life, but Je li is considered more strictly correct in standard Croatian grammar, so it is the best form to practice!