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Questions & Answers about Molim te, dođi kasnije.
What does the phrase Molim te literally mean, and how is it used here?
Literally, molim means “I ask” or “I beg,” and te is the object pronoun “you.” In practice, Molim te functions as “please,” softening the request that follows. Note: molim on its own also means “you’re welcome” in other contexts, but here it’s “please.”
Why is the verb dođi used—what form is that?
Dođi is the 2nd-person singular imperative of doći (to come). It’s the form used to give a direct command or request to one person you’re on familiar terms with (ti).
How would I say this politely to a stranger or in a formal context?
Use the formal pronoun and plural imperative:
- Molim Vas, dođite kasnije. Capitalize Vas (and Vi) in formal writing to show respect; in casual writing you’ll also see lowercase.
What if I’m talking to more than one person informally?
Use the plural imperative and the plural pronoun:
- Molim vas, dođite kasnije. (Here vas is plural “you.”)
Can I put Molim te at the end instead?
Yes:
- Dođi kasnije, molim te. It’s equally natural; the meaning and politeness are the same.
Do I need the comma after Molim te?
It’s recommended: Molim te, dođi kasnije. The comma sets off the politeness phrase. In casual texting people often drop it, but standard writing prefers it.
Could I just say Molim, dođi kasnije without te?
Yes. Molim alone can serve as “please.” Molim te adds a touch of personal address (“I’m asking you”) and can sound a bit warmer or more emphatic.
Why not say Molim te, dođeš kasnije?
Because dođeš is the present-tense form (“you come”), not an imperative. If you don’t want the imperative, use a request clause:
- Molim te da dođeš kasnije. (I ask you to come later.)
What’s the difference between Molim te, dođi kasnije and Molim te da dođeš kasnije?
- Molim te, dođi kasnije. Direct request using the imperative; it can feel a bit more straightforward.
- Molim te da dođeš kasnije. Uses a “that”-clause; often perceived as slightly softer or more formal.
How do I pronounce the letters đ and ć in dođi and doći?
- đ sounds like the “j” in “juice,” but a bit softer and more palatal (IPA [dʑ]).
- ć is a soft “ch” sound (IPA [tɕ]), lighter than English “ch” in “church.” So: dođi ≈ “DOH-jee,” doći ≈ “DOH-chee,” with softer sounds than in English.
I can’t type Croatian diacritics. Is writing dodji acceptable?
In informal messages, many people type dodji/doći without diacritics (e.g., dodji) and are understood. In correct standard writing, use đ and ć: dođi, doći.
Can I say Kasnije dođi instead of Dođi kasnije?
Yes. Word order is flexible. Kasnije dođi places a bit more emphasis on “later,” but both are natural.
What’s the role of te in Molim te? Can it move?
Te is the unstressed (clitic) object pronoun “you.” Croatian clitics typically sit in the second position of a clause/phrase, so Molim te is the natural order. Te molim is unusual outside of special emphasis or poetic style.
Is there any aspect nuance with doći here?
Yes. Doći is perfective (a single, completed coming). Using the imperfective dolaziti in the imperative (dolazi) would suggest repeated/habitual action: Dolazi kasnije = “Come later (habitually),” which is a different message.
Are there alternatives to kasnije?
- Kasnije = “later” (neutral, adverb).
- Poslije also means “later/afterwards.” As a preposition it needs the genitive: poslije ručka (after lunch). As a bare adverb it’s fine: Dođi poslije, though kasnije is the default in a context like this.