Zapešće je blizu podlaktice.

to be

Breakdown of Zapešće je blizu podlaktice.

• blizu: near
• zapešće: a wrist
• podlaktica: a forearm

Questions & Answers about Zapešće je blizu podlaktice.

What does each word in Zapešće je blizu podlaktice. mean?

• zapešće = wrist
• je = is
• blizu = near / close to
• podlaktice = of the forearm / forearm in the form required after blizu

So the structure is literally something like Wrist is near forearm.

Why is there no word for the in this sentence?

Croatian does not use articles like the or a/an.

So:

• zapešće can mean the wrist or a wrist
• podlaktice can mean the forearm depending on context

Croatian usually leaves definiteness to context instead of using articles.

Why is it podlaktice and not podlaktica?

Because blizu normally takes the genitive case.

The basic dictionary form is:

• podlaktica = forearm

But after blizu, it changes to the genitive singular:

• blizu podlaktice = near the forearm

This is a very common thing in Croatian: certain words force the following noun into a specific case.