Priključna snaga je mala.

Because both adjectives agree with snaga, which is a feminine singular noun in the nominative case.

In Croatian, adjectives must match the noun they describe in:

• gender
• number
• case

So here you have:

• priključna = feminine singular nominative
• snaga = feminine singular nominative
• mala = feminine singular nominative

That is why both adjectives end in -a.

The main noun phrase priključna snaga is in the nominative case because it is the subject of the sentence.

Breakdown:

• priključna snaga = the subject
• je = is
• mala = a predicate adjective describing the subject

So this is a very typical Croatian sentence pattern:

subject + je + adjective

Je is the 3rd person singular present form of the verb biti (to be).

So:

• ja sam = I am
• ti si = you are
• on/ona/ono je = he/she/it is

In this sentence, snaga is singular, so Croatian uses je:

• Priključna snaga je mala.

Unlike in some other Slavic languages, Croatian normally does use the present-tense form of to be in this kind of sentence.

Yes, Croatian word order is fairly flexible, but the neutral and most natural order here is:

Priključna snaga je mala.

Other orders are possible for emphasis, for example:

• Mala je priključna snaga.
• Priključna je snaga mala.

But these sound marked or stylistically different. For a learner, the safest choice is the standard order:

• subject + je + adjective

Yes, in many contexts it works like a technical term.

Snaga means power, and priključna snaga is used in technical, electrical, or installation-related contexts for something like connected load or connection power, depending on the exact context.

So learners should often understand priključna snaga as a unit, not just as two random words put together.

Priključna is an adjective related to the idea of connection or connecting.

It is connected to words such as:

• priključak = connection, hookup, attachment
• priključiti = to connect, attach

So priključna snaga literally suggests something like connection-related power or connected power, though the exact English translation depends on the technical field.

Because Croatian has no articles.

English uses:

• a
• the

Croatian does not. So a sentence like:

• Priključna snaga je mala.

can mean:

• The connected load is small
• A connected load is small

Which one is meant depends on context.

This is very normal in Croatian and something English speakers need to get used to.

Because snaga is feminine.

Croatian adjectives change form depending on the noun:

• mali = masculine singular
• mala = feminine singular
• malo = neuter singular

Examples:

• Mali kabel = small cable
• Mala snaga = small power
• Malo kućište = small casing

Since snaga is feminine, the correct form is mala.

You negate je by turning it into nije:

• Priključna snaga nije mala. = The connected load is not small.

This is the normal way to make a negative sentence with biti (to be).

A very common way is:

• Je li priključna snaga mala? = Is the connected load small?

You may also hear:

• Je l' priključna snaga mala? in informal speech

For learners, the best standard form is:

• Je li + rest of sentence

A rough pronunciation guide is:

• Priključna ≈ pree-KLYOOCH-na
• snaga ≈ SNA-ga
• je ≈ ye
• mala ≈ MA-la

A few useful sound notes:

• j is pronounced like English y
• č sounds like ch in church
• lj is a soft sound, somewhat like the lli in million for many English speakers

So a rough full pronunciation is:

pree-KLYOOCH-na SNA-ga ye MA-la

Yes, grammatically you could say that, because malena is also an adjective meaning small.

But there is a nuance:

• mala is the basic, neutral, everyday form
• malena can sound a bit more expressive, descriptive, or stylistic

In technical or neutral statements, mala is usually the better choice:

• Priključna snaga je mala.

The sentence follows a very common pattern:

adjective + noun + je + adjective

More abstractly:

• subject noun phrase
  • to be
    • predicate adjective

So:

• Priključna snaga = subject
• je = verb
• mala = predicate adjective

This same pattern appears in many simple Croatian sentences, for example:

• Soba je velika. = The room is big.
• Voda je hladna. = The water is cold.
• Cijena je visoka. = The price is high.

So this sentence is a very useful model to learn.