Sklopiva stolica stoji između prijatelja.

Because the adjective has to agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.

• stolica is feminine singular nominative
• so the adjective must also be feminine singular nominative
• that gives sklopiva

If the noun changed, the adjective would change too:

• sklopivi stolac = a folding chair/stool (masculine)
• sklopivo sjedalo = a folding seat (neuter)

Sklopiva means folding or foldable.

It comes from the idea of folding something up. In this sentence, it describes the chair as a folding chair.

So:

• sklopiva stolica = folding chair

Here, stolica is the subject of the sentence, so it is in the nominative case.

That is the basic dictionary form of the noun:

• stolica = chair

Because there is only one chair, it is singular. Because stolica is a feminine noun, the adjective also matches it.

Yes, stoji literally means stands or is standing, but in Croatian it is also often used for the position of an object.

So in a sentence like this, stoji can mean:

• stands
• is standing
• is placed
• is located

For furniture and objects, this is very natural in Croatian. It often sounds more vivid than just using is.

Stoji is the 3rd person singular present tense of the verb stajati = to stand.

Why 3rd person singular?

Because the subject is one chair:

• stolica stoji = the chair stands / is standing

Compare:

• stolica stoji = the chair stands
• stolice stoje = the chairs stand

Because the preposition između requires the genitive case.

The noun prijatelji is the nominative plural form, but after između you need genitive:

• prijatelji = friends
• prijatelja = of friends / friends in the genitive form

So:

• između prijatelja = between friends

Here it is plural.

That can be confusing, because prijatelja can also be the genitive singular form of prijatelj. But in this sentence, the meaning makes it clear that it is plural:

• između prijatelja = between friends

The context tells you that the chair is between more than one friend.

Because između usually means between, especially in a physical or clearly separated sense.

So if a chair is physically positioned with one friend on one side and another on the other side, između is the natural choice.

Very roughly:

• između = between
• među = among / among the / in the company of

So Sklopiva stolica stoji između prijatelja emphasizes that the chair is between them.

Because Croatian does not use articles like English does.

So stolica can mean:

• a chair
• the chair

Which meaning is intended depends on the context.

That means Sklopiva stolica stoji između prijatelja could be understood as:

• A folding chair is standing between the friends
• The folding chair is standing between the friends

The situation tells you which one is meant.

No. Croatian word order is fairly flexible.

The version you have:

• Sklopiva stolica stoji između prijatelja.

is a very normal, neutral order.

But Croatian can move things around for emphasis. For example, you might also hear:

• Između prijatelja stoji sklopiva stolica.

That puts more attention on where the chair is.

So the original sentence is the most straightforward, but it is not the only possible order.

Yes, that is understandable and grammatical.

But there is a small nuance:

• je između prijatelja = is between the friends
• stoji između prijatelja = stands / is positioned between the friends

Using stoji sounds a bit more physical and descriptive. It suggests the chair is actually standing there in that place.

So both work, but stoji is often the more natural choice for an object in a visible position.

A rough English approximation is eez-MEH-joo, but that is only approximate.

The tricky letter is đ. It is a soft sound somewhat like the j in jeans, but not exactly the same.

So:

• i = like ee
• zme = roughly zmeh
• đu = a soft joo sound

The whole word is pronounced smoothly as one word: između.