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Questions & Answers about Kako se zove tvoja ulica?
What does the se in Kako se zove tvoja ulica? do?
Croatian uses the reflexive verb zvati se = to be called. The clitic se is required with this meaning.
- Kako se zove tvoja ulica? = What is your street called.
- Without se, zvati means to call (someone/something), not to be called: Zovem mačku Micom. = I call the cat Mica.
Why is the verb zove in third-person singular?
Because the subject is tvoja ulica (your street), which is third-person singular. The verb agrees with the subject:
- Singular: Kako se zove tvoja ulica?
- Plural: Kako se zovu tvoje ulice?
- For a person: Zovem se Ana.
Why is it tvoja ulica and not tvoju ulicu?
The noun phrase is the subject of the verb zove se, so it’s in the nominative: tvoja ulica. You’d use accusative (tvoju ulicu) only as a direct object of another verb (for example, Vidim tvoju ulicu = I see your street).
Can I say Kako zove tvoja ulica? without se?
No. Without se, zvati means to call someone/something, so Kako zove tvoja ulica? would be ungrammatical. Use Kako se zove tvoja ulica?
Is Kako se tvoja ulica zove? also correct?
Yes. Word order is flexible. Kako se zove tvoja ulica? and Kako se tvoja ulica zove? are both fine. Keep se early in the clause; Kako tvoja ulica se zove? sounds off.
Where does se go in statements?
Clitics like se usually come in second position in the clause.
- More prescriptive: Moja se ulica zove Ilica.
- Very common: Moja ulica se zove Ilica. In subordinate clauses it stays inside the clause: Ne znam kako se zove tvoja ulica.
How do I answer this question naturally?
Any of these:
- Just the name: Ilica.
- Short sentence: Zove se Ilica.
- Full sentence: Moja se ulica zove Ilica.
What’s the difference between tvoja and vaša here?
- tvoja = your (singular, informal).
- vaša = your (formal to one person, or plural). Examples:
- Kako se zove tvoja ulica? (to a friend)
- Kako se zove vaša ulica? (politely or to a group)
Why Kako and not Što or Koje?
The idiomatic way to ask a name in Croatian is with Kako se zove … (literally: How is … called).
- Što je ime tvoje ulice? sounds unnatural.
- Koje je ime tvoje ulice? can be understood but is uncommon.
- Koja je tvoja ulica? means Which street is yours (choosing from a known set), not What is its name.
Can I omit tvoja? What about Kako ti se zove ulica?
Yes:
- Kako se zove ulica? works if context already makes it clear you mean your street.
- Kako ti se zove ulica? is also common; ti (to you) makes it clear we’re asking about your street without saying tvoja.
Why is it tvoja ulica and not tvoj ulica?
Agreement. Ulica is feminine, so the possessive must be feminine: tvoja. Compare:
- Masculine: tvoj grad (your city)
- Feminine: tvoja ulica (your street)
- Neuter: tvoje selo (your village)
How do I change this for plural streets or different people?
- Plural subject: Kako se zovu tvoje ulice?
- Formal singular/plural you: Kako se zove vaša ulica?
- Third person: Kako se zove njihova ulica?
How would I ask where someone lives instead of the street’s name?
Use a locative question:
- U kojoj ulici živiš? = On which street do you live. You can also hear Na kojoj ulici živiš?; both occur, but u is more common with ulica. Or ask more generally: Gdje živiš?
Any quick pronunciation tips?
- Kako = KAH-koh
- se = seh (very short)
- zove = ZOH-veh
- tvoja = TVOY-ah (the j is like English y)
- ulica = OO-lee-tsah (the c is like ts)