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Questions & Answers about Molim vas, čekajte ovdje.
Why is the verb in the plural (čekajte) if I might be speaking to just one person?
Croatian uses the 2nd person plural for polite/formal address (the vi form), even when speaking to one person. So čekajte is either “you (plural) wait” or “you (formal) wait.” The informal singular would be čekaj.
Can I say Molim te, čekaj ovdje to a friend or child?
Yes. Molim te, čekaj ovdje is the informal version (using ti/te and čekaj). It’s perfectly natural with people you know well or when speaking to a single child.
Do I need the vas? Can I just say Molim, čekajte ovdje?
You can omit vas. Molim, čekajte ovdje is still polite. Including vas makes the address a bit more direct and personal, like “Please, I ask you, wait here.”
Is the comma after Molim vas necessary?
It’s recommended. Molim vas functions like an introductory politeness marker, so a comma after it is standard: Molim vas, čekajte ovdje. On quick signs you might sometimes see it without a comma, but the comma is best.
Should Vas be capitalized in formal writing?
In modern Croatian, lowercase (vas/vi) is standard. Capitalizing (Vas/Vi) is an optional courtesy, mostly in letters, emails, forms, and very formal notices. So Molim vas is correct; Molim Vas is also seen in formal contexts.
How do I pronounce this sentence?
- Molim: MOH-leem (j like English y, but note there’s no j here).
- vas: vahs.
- čekajte: CHEH-kai-teh (č like ch in “church”; aj like “eye”).
- ovdje: OV-dyeh (j like y; the dj is pronounced a bit like “dy”).
Say it smoothly: MOH-leem vahs, CHEH-kai-teh OV-dyeh.
What’s the difference between ovdje, tu, and ovde?
- ovdje = “here” (standard Croatian; slightly more specific/formal than tu).
- tu = “here” (very common, colloquial, often interchangeable with ovdje).
- ovde = “here” in standard Serbian; Croatians normally say ovdje.
Can I put molim at the end: Čekajte ovdje, molim?
Yes. Čekajte ovdje, molim is natural and polite. You can place molim at the beginning or the end to soften an instruction.
How do I say “Please don’t wait here”?
The usual polite negative is Molim vas, nemojte čekati ovdje. You may also see Molim vas, ne čekajte ovdje, especially on signs, but nemojte + infinitive is the most typical negative request.
Is pričekajte different from čekajte?
Yes. čekati (imperfective) is neutral “to wait,” while pričekati (perfective) often implies “wait for a bit/for a short time.” In service contexts, Molim vas, pričekajte ovdje can sound especially natural and polite.
Why is it vas? What case is that?
vas is the accusative form of vi (you, plural/formal). The verb moliti (“to ask/beg”) takes a direct object in the accusative, literally “I ask you.”
Can I move ovdje to a different position?
Yes. Word order is flexible for emphasis:
- Neutral: Čekajte ovdje.
- Emphasizing place: Ovdje čekajte.
Both are correct; the first is the most common.
How would this appear on a sign addressing customers?
You’ll often see the 1st person plural: Molimo, pričekajte ovdje. (We kindly ask: please wait here.)
Also common: Molimo vas, pričekajte ovdje.
Both are polite and standard on signs.
Is sačekajte acceptable in Croatian?
You’ll be understood, but in standard Croatian pričekajte is preferred. sačekati is more typical of Serbian usage (though many Croatians do say it). If you’re aiming for standard Croatian, use pričekati.
Does čekati need an object? How do I say “Wait for me here”?
It doesn’t need an object when the context is clear: Čekajte ovdje.
If you want to add one: Čekajte me ovdje (“wait for me here”). For a polite version: Molim vas, čekajte me ovdje.
Are the diacritics (like č) mandatory? What if I can’t type them?
In standard writing, yes, use diacritics: č, ć, đ, š, ž. Without them (e.g., cekajte ovdje) it’s still understandable in texts or chats, but it’s not standard orthography. If possible, enable a Croatian keyboard.
Is there a more deferential or softer way to say it?
Yes. You can add softeners:
- Ljubazno vas molimo, pričekajte ovdje. (We kindly ask you to wait here.)
- Molim vas, pričekajte ovdje na trenutak. (…for a moment.)
These sound very polite.
Does molim also mean “you’re welcome” or “pardon?” How do I know?
Yes. Molim can mean:
- “You’re welcome” (after Hvala “thank you”).
- “Pardon?”/“Sorry?” when you didn’t hear something (often with a questioning intonation: Molim?).
In your sentence with an imperative (Molim vas, čekajte ovdje), it clearly means “please.”