Learn Hardcore Croatian: Razumijem ga kad govori polako. - I understand him when he speaks slowly.

Ga is the unstressed clitic pronoun for him or it (masculine singular) in the accusative/genitive. In this sentence it’s the direct object, so accusative: I understand him/it.

Feminine object: je/ju (I understand her = Razumijem je/ju)
Plural object: ih (I understand them = Razumijem ih)

Why is ga placed after the verb?

Because ga is a clitic, and Croatian clitics tend to sit in the “second position” of their clause (after the first stressed word). The first element here is Razumijem, so we get Razumijem ga. You cannot place ga at the very start.

Can I start the sentence with ga (e.g., Ga razumijem...)?

No. Clitics can’t start a clause. If you want to front the object for emphasis, use the stressed form: Njega razumijem kad govori polako, not Ga razumijem...

When do I use njega instead of ga?

Use njega (the stressed form) for emphasis/contrast or after prepositions.

Emphasis/contrast: Razumijem njega, a ne Marka.
After prepositions: Bez njega ne mogu.

In neutral sentences without special emphasis, use ga: Razumijem ga.

Do I need to say on in kad govori polako, or is the subject understood?

You don’t need on. Croatian usually drops subject pronouns because the verb ending shows who it is. Add on only for emphasis or clarity: Razumijem ga kad on govori polako (I understand him when he speaks slowly).

Is the “he” in the kad clause necessarily the same person as ga?

By default, listeners will assume co-reference (him = the one who speaks slowly). But it’s not guaranteed. If you want to avoid ambiguity, name the subject or add a pronoun:

Same person: Razumijem ga kad on govori polako.
Different person: Razumijem ga kad Marko govori polako.

Do I need a comma in this sentence?

Not in the given order: Razumijem ga kad govori polako.
If you front the kad-clause, use a comma: Kad govori polako, razumijem ga.

What are the verb forms here?

Razumijem = 1st person singular present of razumjeti (I understand).
Govori = 3rd person singular present of govoriti (he/she/it speaks).

Present of razumjeti (Croatian standard): razumijem, razumiješ, razumije, razumijemo, razumijete, razumiju.

Why does razumijem have -ij-? Is that the pronoun je inside it?

No. The -ij- is part of the verb stem/spelling in Croatian (from razumjeti). The pronoun je (her) is a separate clitic and would be written separately: Razumijem je = I understand her.

Is there a difference between kad and kada?

No difference in meaning. Kada is slightly more formal or careful; kad is the common shorter form. Both are correct here.

What’s the nuance of polako compared with sporo or polagano?

Polako: general, neutral “slowly”; also used as an interjection meaning “take it easy.”
Sporo: “slowly” in the sense of low speed/tempo; can sound a bit more evaluative (slow-paced).
Polagano: a bit more formal/literary/regional.

All can work with speech: Govori polako/sporo/polagano.

Could I use dok instead of kad?

You could, but dok focuses on simultaneity (“while”): Razumijem ga dok govori polako = I understand him while he is speaking slowly. Kad is more general “when/whenever” and is the usual choice for this habitual meaning.

How do I say “I can understand him when he speaks slowly”?

Use mogu: Mogu ga razumjeti kad govori polako.
You can also say Uspijem ga razumjeti kad govori polako (I manage to understand him…).

How would the sentence change with a feminine or plural object?

Feminine singular: Razumijem je/ju kad govori polako. (both je and ju are used in Croatian)
Plural: Razumijem ih kad govore polako. (note plural verb govore)

What if I mean a language (it) rather than a person?

Masculine languages (e.g., hrvatski) use ga:

Razumijem ga kad se govori polako. (I understand it when it is spoken slowly – impersonal passive)
Or specify: Razumijem hrvatski kad ljudi govore polako.

How do I talk about the future: “I’ll understand him when he speaks slowly”?

Preferred standard: use Future II in the kad-clause:

Razumjet ću ga kad bude govorio polako.
Colloquially you may hear present in the kad-clause:
Kad govori polako, razumjet ću ga.

How do I negate it: “I don’t understand him when he speaks fast”?

Ne razumijem ga kad govori brzo.
Negation uses ne before the verb; ga stays after the first stressed word: Ne razumijem ga…

Can I rearrange the sentence, and what happens to ga?

Yes, word order is flexible for emphasis, but clitic placement stays the same within each clause:

Kad govori polako, razumijem ga.
Njega razumijem kad govori polako. (emphasis on him)
Avoid: Kad govori polako, ga razumijem. (clitic can’t start that clause)

Is there a difference between govoriti and pričati here?

Govoriti = to speak (general act of speaking).
Pričati = to tell/narrate, or colloquially “to chat/talk.”
For clarity about speaking speed, govoriti is the default: govori polako.

Why do some sources show razumem without -ij-?

That’s the Serbian ekavian form (razumem). Croatian standard is ijekavian (razumijem). Your sentence is in Croatian.

How would I say it in the past: “I understood him when he spoke slowly”?

Masculine speaker: Razumio sam ga kad je govorio polako.
Feminine speaker: Razumjela sam ga kad je govorio polako.