On je na poslu.

to be

Breakdown of On je na poslu.

• on: he
• posao: work
• na: at

Questions & Answers about On je na poslu.

What case is the word poslu, and why is it used here?

It’s the locative case. With location (no movement), Croatian uses:

• na + locative to mean “at/on”: na poslu = “at work”
• By contrast, na + accusative expresses motion (“to/onto”).

So we use locative poslu because the sentence describes a static location: he is at work.

Why is it na poslu and not u poslu?

• na poslu is the idiomatic way to say “at work” (at one’s workplace).
• u poslu literally means “in work,” and is used to mean “engaged in work/immersed in work,” not location. Example: Zauzet je u poslu = “He is busy with work.”
• If you want “at the office,” use u uredu (“in the office”).

Why does posao change to poslu?

Because of case inflection. The noun posao (job/work) declines. Key singular forms:

• Nominative: posao (subject form)
• Genitive: posla
• Dative/Locative: poslu
• Accusative: posao
• Instrumental: poslom In na poslu, the preposition demands locative, hence poslu.

Can I drop the pronoun on?

Yes. Croatian often omits subject pronouns because the verb form carries person/number. However, you cannot start the sentence with the clitic je. So instead of “Je na poslu” (incorrect), say:

• Na poslu je. (He/She is at work.)
• Or keep the pronoun for clarity: On je na poslu.

Where can I put je in the sentence? Could I say “Je on na poslu?” or “On na poslu je”?

The verb je is a clitic and normally sits in “second position,” after the first stressed word or phrase in the clause.

• Correct: On je na poslu.
• Correct (different emphasis): Na poslu je (on).
• Not allowed: Je on na poslu? (je cannot begin a clause.)
• “On na poslu je” is odd; stick to the standard placements above.

How do I turn it into a yes-no question?

Several options:

• Neutral/standard: Je li on na poslu?
• Colloquial contraction: Je l’ on na poslu?
• Regionally common: Da li je on na poslu?
• Informal speech can also use rising intonation: On je na poslu?

How do I make it negative?

Use nije (ne + je):

• On nije na poslu. (He is not at work.)
• You can also drop the pronoun: Nije na poslu.

Does na poslu mean “he’s working” or “he’s physically at his workplace”?

Primarily, it’s a location: he’s at his workplace. To stress the activity “is working (right now),” you’d typically say:

• On radi. or Trenutno radi. Context decides whether radi means “works (as a habit)” or “is working (now).”

How do I say “He is going to work”?

Use motion with accusative:

• On ide na posao. Compare:
• On je na poslu. (location, locative: at work)
• On ide na posao. (motion, accusative: to work)

How do I say it for “she” or “they”?

• She: Ona je na poslu.
• They (mixed or all-male group): Oni su na poslu.
• They (all-female group): One su na poslu. Note the verb “to be” changes: je (he/she/it), su (they).

Is there any article like “the” in Croatian (“at the work”)?

No articles. Na poslu already covers “at work.” If you need to specify, use a demonstrative:

• na tom poslu = “at that job”

How would I answer “Where is he?” using this phrase?

• Question: Gdje je (on)?
• Short answer: Na poslu. Note the clitic rule in the question: Gdje je on? (not “Gdje on je?”)

How do I say “at the office” instead?

• On je u uredu. = He is in the office. Use u + locative with enclosed spaces like offices, rooms, buildings.

How do you pronounce the words?

Approximate English-friendly guide:

• On = “ohn”
• je = “yeh”
• na = “nah”
• poslu = “POS-loo” (stress typically on the first syllable)

Is there a colloquial form of posao I might hear?

Yes, in casual speech some people drop the middle syllable and say pos’o. You’ll still decline it the same way in writing and standard speech (e.g., na poslu, not “na pos’o”).