Learn Hardcore Croatian: Autobus je brži, ali auto je manji. - The bus is faster, but the car is smaller.

je is the 3rd-person singular of biti (to be), i.e., the copula: “is.”
It’s a clitic, so in Croatian it typically sits in second position in the clause: Autobus je brži.
In the second clause, the clitic follows the first stressed word after the conjunction: … ali auto je manji. The conjunction ali doesn’t “count” for clitic placement.

Why are the forms brži and manji used here?

They’re comparatives of adjectives: brz → brži (fast → faster), mali → manji (small → smaller).
brži is formed with -ji; the sequence z+j becomes ž in spelling/pronunciation.
manji is an irregular comparative of mali.

How do I say “faster than the car” or “smaller than the bus”?

Two common options:

With od + genitive (very common): brži od auta / od automobila; manji od autobusa.
With nego + nominative: brži nego auto / automobil; manji nego autobus. Both are fine in affirmative sentences; od + genitive is the safest all-purpose choice.

Why use ali, and could I use a instead?

ali = “but,” marking a stronger contrast/opposition.
a = “and/but,” a milder, contrastive “whereas.” You could say: Autobus je brži, a auto je manji. Both are natural; ali sounds more adversative.

Do adjectives agree with the nouns here?

Yes. Predicate adjectives agree in gender and number with the subject:

autobus (m.sg) → brži
auto (m.sg) → manji Examples in other genders: Lokomotiva je brža (f.sg), Vozilo je brže (n.sg).

Can I change the word order for emphasis?

Yes, within limits. Neutral: Autobus je brži…
Focus on the adjective: Brži je autobus… (roughly “It’s the bus that’s faster”). The clitic je must still sit in second position of its clause.

Are there articles like “the” or “a” in Croatian?

No articles. Definiteness is inferred from context. If you need to specify, use demonstratives:

taj/ta/to (that), ovaj/ova/ovo (this), onaj/ona/ono (that over there). Example: Taj autobus je brži, ali ovaj auto je manji.

Which case are the nouns and adjectives in here?

Autobus and auto are in the nominative as subjects.
Predicate adjectives (brži, manji) are also nominative.
When you add “than,” od takes the genitive: od auta, od automobila, od autobusa.

How do I pronounce the tricky parts (especially ž and j)?

autobus: “AH-oo-toh-boos” (au is a diphthong).
je: “yeh” (Croatian j = English y).
brži: “BR-zh-ee” (ž like the s in “vision”; r is tapped/rolled).
ali: “AH-lee.”
auto: “OW-toh” (ow like in “cow,” but shorter).

Is auto informal? What’s the more formal word?

auto is common and neutral-colloquial; automobil is more formal/standard.
Both decline: genitives are auta and automobila respectively.

How do I make this sentence plural?

Plurals: autobusi, auti (colloquial) or automobili (formal).
Verb changes to su (are). Example: Autobusi su brži, ali automobili su manji. Note: masculine plural predicate comparatives often look the same as masculine singular (brži/manji); context shows number.

Can I omit the second je?

Yes. It’s common to drop a repeated copula in coordinated clauses:

Autobus je brži, a auto manji.
Including the second je is also perfectly correct.

What are the superlatives of brz and mali?

najbrži = fastest
najmanji = smallest
Example: Autobus je najbrži, ali auto je najmanji.

What’s the difference between brži/brže and manji/manje?

brži/manji = comparative adjectives (agree with a noun): Auto je brži/manji.
brže/manje = comparative adverbs (modify verbs/adjectives) or neuter adj.: Auto ide brže (“The car goes faster”); Vozilo je manje (neuter noun).

Do I need a comma before ali?

Yes. In Croatian, you place a comma before ali when it connects independent clauses: Autobus je brži, ali auto je manji.