To zaslužuje poštovanje.

To is a demonstrative pronoun. In this sentence it usually means that, this, or sometimes it, depending on context.

It is neuter singular, but in real usage it often refers to:

• a situation: That deserves respect
• an action: Doing that deserves respect
• something just mentioned: It deserves respect

So to is very flexible.

Zaslužuje means deserves. It is the 3rd person singular present tense form of zasluživati / zaslužiti.

Here it agrees with to, which is treated as singular:

• to zaslužuje = that deserves

Croatian often uses the present tense where English also uses the simple present, so this part matches English quite closely.

The form zaslužuje comes from the verb zasluživati or, in many dictionaries and learning materials, from zaslužiti.

In everyday learning, you should know:

• zaslužiti = to deserve
• zaslužuje = he/she/it deserves

Aspect can make things a little more technical:

• zaslužiti is commonly treated as perfective
• zasluživati is its imperfective partner

But in many basic examples, learners simply memorize zaslužiti = to deserve and zaslužuje = deserves.

Poštovanje is a noun meaning respect.

After zaslužuje, the thing deserved is the direct object, so it goes in the accusative case.

Here, poštovanje is a neuter singular noun, and for many neuter nouns:

• nominative singular = accusative singular

So the form stays poštovanje.

That is why you do not see any ending change here.

Yes. In this sentence poštovanje is being used like the uncountable English noun respect.

So:

• To zaslužuje poštovanje. = That deserves respect.

Croatian does not need an article, and the noun can naturally express the general idea of respect.

Croatian has no articles. There is no direct equivalent of English the or a/an.

So Croatian simply says:

• To zaslužuje poštovanje.

English has to choose:

• That deserves respect
• This deserves respect

Croatian leaves article-related meaning to context.

Yes, Croatian word order is more flexible than English word order.

The neutral order here is:

• To zaslužuje poštovanje.

But other orders are possible for emphasis, for example:

• Poštovanje to zaslužuje.
  This puts more focus on poštovanje
• To poštovanje zaslužuje.
  This can sound contrastive, depending on context

For most learners, the original order is the safest and most natural neutral choice.

Usually to refers more naturally to:

• a thing
• an idea
• an action
• a whole situation

If you are clearly talking about a person, Croatian often uses other pronouns or just the person’s name/noun instead.

Still, in real conversation to can refer to a person in some contexts, especially when pointing something out, but it may sound more like that than a personal he/she.

A simple learner-friendly pronunciation guide would be:

to zah-SLOO-zhoo-yeh posh-TOH-vah-nyeh

A few useful points:

• ž sounds like the s in measure
• š sounds like sh
• j sounds like English y
• nj sounds like the ny in canyon

So poštovanje ends with a sound like -nyeh.

It is neutral and works in both everyday and more formal language.

It sounds natural in many situations:

• praising someone’s behavior
• reacting to courage or honesty
• making a respectful comment about an action or decision

So it is a very useful general sentence.

Not with the same meaning.

• poštovanje = respect
• pošta = mail/post

So To zaslužuje poštovanje is the correct sentence for That deserves respect.

A related verb is:

• poštovati = to respect

But in this sentence the noun poštovanje is the natural choice.

Both can be similar in meaning, but they are built differently.

• To zaslužuje poštovanje = That deserves respect
• To je vrijedno poštovanja = That is worthy of respect

The first is often more direct and common in everyday speech.
The second can sound a little more formal or descriptive.

Both are correct, but To zaslužuje poštovanje is a very straightforward, natural sentence for learners to know.