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Questions & Answers about Trgovina je danas zatvorena.
Why does zatvorena end in -a here?
Because trgovina is a feminine noun. In Croatian, adjectives and past participles used as predicates agree with the subject’s gender and number. So:
- feminine singular: zatvorena (trgovina je zatvorena)
- masculine singular: zatvoren (dućan je zatvoren)
- neuter singular: zatvoreno (kino je zatvoreno)
- plural feminine: zatvorene (trgovine su zatvorene)
- plural masculine: zatvoreni (dućani su zatvoreni)
- plural neuter: zatvorena (kina su zatvorena)
Is zatvorena an adjective or a verb form?
It’s a past passive participle of the verb zatvoriti that functions like an adjective here, describing a state: “is closed.” It tells you the result/state, not the action of closing.
How would I say “It’s closed today” without naming the shop?
Use the impersonal/neuter form: Danas je zatvoreno. This is common on signs or when context makes the place obvious.
Can I change the word order? For example, Danas je trgovina zatvorena?
Yes. All of these are grammatical, with slight differences in emphasis:
- Trgovina je danas zatvorena. Neutral; topic = “the shop.”
- Danas je trgovina zatvorena. Emphasis on “today.”
- Trgovina je zatvorena danas. Also possible; tends to stress “today” at the end. Croatian is flexible with word order, but the clitic je must stay in second position.
Why does je sit after Trgovina?
Je is a clitic (short form of “to be,” 3rd person singular) and in standard Croatian clitics occupy the “second position” in the clause. So it comes right after the first stressed element (here, Trgovina). If you front something else, je follows that: Danas je trgovina…
How do I ask “Is the shop closed today?”
Use the je li question pattern:
- Je li trgovina danas zatvorena? You’ll also hear colloquial Da li je…, but Je li… is the standard in Croatian.
How do I say the opposite: “The shop is open today”?
Use otvoren-:
- Trgovina je danas otvorena.
- Impersonal: Danas je otvoreno.
What if I mean multiple shops: “The shops are closed today”?
Make everything plural and keep agreement:
- Trgovine su danas zatvorene. Note the plural verb su and plural feminine predicate zatvorene.
Why is there no word for “the” in Croatian?
Croatian has no articles. Trgovina can mean “a shop” or “the shop” depending on context. The sentence as given is usually understood as “The shop is closed today.”
Could I say Trgovina je danas zatvoreno?
No. Trgovina is feminine, so the predicate must be feminine: zatvorena. The neuter zatvoreno is only right in impersonal sentences without a named subject (e.g., Danas je zatvoreno).
What’s the difference between zatvoren/a/o and zaključan/a/o?
- zatvoren = closed (not operating/open to customers)
- zaključan = locked (physically locked with a key) A shop can be zatvorena but not necessarily zaključana (e.g., a mall entrance is open but the store is not trading).
Does danas move around freely, and does it change form?
- It can appear at the start, middle, or end: Danas…, …je danas…, …danas.
- It’s an adverb, so it does not decline; it keeps the same form.
How do I talk about the action of closing (e.g., “The shop closes at 5 today”)?
Use a verb of closing or a “works until” phrase:
- Action/schedule: Trgovina se danas zatvara u 17.
- Or: Trgovina danas radi do 17. Saying Trgovina je danas zatvorena u 17 would be odd; it sounds like “is closed at 5” as a state, not a scheduled action.
What are other common words for “shop” in Croatian?
- trgovina (very common; also means “trade” in general)
- dućan (colloquial, widely used)
- prodavaonica (more formal/standard in Croatia) In Serbian/Bosnian you’ll see prodavnica. The sentence adjusts gender accordingly (e.g., Dućan je danas zatvoren).
How do I negate it: “The shop is not open today”?
- Trgovina danas nije otvorena. Or, to say it’s open (negating “closed”): Trgovina danas nije zatvorena. Use nije (the negated form of je).
Can I drop je like headline style?
In standard full sentences, no. But on notices and headlines you’ll see ellipsis:
- Trgovina danas zatvorena.
- Danas zatvoreno. In conversation or formal writing, keep je.
Any pronunciation tips?
- j = English “y” in “yes” (so je = “ye”)
- r is trilled/tapped; g is always hard (as in “go”)
- Syllables: trg-go-VEE-na | ye | DA-nas | zat-vo-RE-na Say it smoothly: “tr-go-vee-na ye da-nas zat-vo-re-na.”
Is there any false friend with zatvor-?
Yes: zatvor is “prison.” Don’t confuse it with zatvoren/zatvorena (“closed”). A prisoner is zatvorenik.