Learn Hardcore Croatian: Tko je tvoj doktor u bolnici? - Who is your doctor at the hospital?

In standard Croatian, the word for “who” is tko. In Bosnian and Serbian, it’s ko, and in casual Croatian speech you’ll also hear ko, but formal/standard Croatian prefers tko. If you’re writing or speaking carefully in Croatia, use tko.

How do I pronounce Tko?

Pronounce it as a tight consonant cluster: [tko], with no vowel between the t and k. Don’t insert a schwa (avoid “tuh-ko”). In fast or colloquial speech many people drop the t and say ko, but the careful form keeps the t. Stress is typically on the only syllable, and it’s quick.

Why is Je right after Tko?

Je is a clitic (the short form of the verb “to be”) and Croatian places clitics in second position in the clause. In a wh-question, the wh-word (tko) comes first, so je must follow it: Tko je …. You can’t say “Tko tvoj je …” or put je at the beginning.

Can I drop Je, like in “Who your doctor in the hospital?”

No. Croatian generally requires the present-tense form of “to be”: Tko je tvoj doktor …. Omitting je is not standard; it only happens in very fragmentary colloquial speech or headlines.

Why is it Doktor and not Doktora or Doktorom?

After the verb biti (to be) in the present tense, Croatian uses the nominative for the predicate noun. So you say:

On je doktor. (He is a doctor.) — nominative. Using doktora (genitive/accusative) or doktorom (instrumental) would be wrong here.

What’s the difference between Doktor and Liječnik?

Doktor commonly means “medical doctor” in everyday speech, but it can also mean “holder of a doctorate (PhD).”
Liječnik specifically means “physician/medical doctor” and is preferred in official/medical contexts in Croatia. Female forms: doktorica, liječnica. All are widely understood.

How do I say it if the doctor is a woman?

Make both the noun and the possessive agree in gender:

Tko je tvoja doktorica u bolnici?
Tko je tvoja liječnica u bolnici?

Why is it Tvoj and not Tvoja or Tvoje?

The possessive must agree with the noun’s gender and number:

tvoj doktor (masculine singular)
tvoja doktorica (feminine singular)
tvoje dijete (neuter singular)
Plurals: tvoji doktori (masc. animate), tvoje bolnice (fem./neut. pl.)

Can I say Tko ti je doktor u bolnici? What’s the difference?

Yes. Tko ti je doktor u bolnici? uses the dative pronoun ti (“to you”) as a “dative of possession.” It’s very natural and common. Meaning-wise it’s the same as Tko je tvoj doktor …, though the tvoj version can sound a touch more explicit/emphatic about possession.

Why does Bolnica become Bolnici?

Because of the preposition u indicating location. With static location (“in/at a place”), u takes the locative case. The locative singular of bolnica is bolnici:

u bolnici = in/at the hospital.

What’s the difference between U bolnici and U bolnicu?

u bolnici (locative) = “in/at the hospital” (location).
u bolnicu (accusative) = “into the hospital” (movement to). Examples:
Radim u bolnici. I work at the hospital.
Idem u bolnicu. I’m going into the hospital. Leaving the hospital: iz bolnice (genitive).

Can I use Na instead of U (e.g., na bolnici)?

Not with bolnica. You say u bolnici. The preposition na is used with certain institutions/places (e.g., na fakultetu = at the faculty, na odjelu = on the ward, na hitnoj = at the ER), but “hospital” itself takes u.

Can I move U bolnici to the front: “U bolnici tko je tvoj doktor?”

Avoid putting anything before tko in a wh-question. Keep the wh-word first and the clitic second:

Best: Tko je tvoj doktor u bolnici? You can also place the location earlier but after the wh-word if you want to focus it:
Tko je u bolnici tvoj doktor? (possible for emphasis, but the first version is the most neutral.)

Could I ask “Which doctor is yours at the hospital?” in Croatian?

Yes, that’s a different question using koji (“which” from a set):

Koji je tvoj doktor u bolnici? or
Koji ti je doktor u bolnici? Use tko (“who”) to ask for a person’s identity in general; use koji when choosing from known options.

How do I make the sentence polite/formal?

Use the vi/vaš forms:

Tko je vaš doktor u bolnici? Or with the dative of possession:
Tko vam je doktor u bolnici? In formal letters/emails, you may capitalize Vi/Vaš.

How would I answer this question naturally?

Examples:

Moj doktor u bolnici je dr. Horvat.
Moja doktorica u bolnici je dr. Kovač. With the dative of possession:
Meni je doktor u bolnici dr. Horvat. (colloquial, very natural)

Do I need an article like “the”?

No. Croatian has no articles. Tko je tvoj doktor u bolnici? covers both “Who is your doctor at the hospital?” and “Who is your doctor in the hospital?” without “the.”

Does U mean “in” or “at” here?

It can correspond to either in English, depending on context. U bolnici can be translated as “in the hospital” or “at the hospital.” Croatian focuses on the case (locative for location), not the English preposition choice.

How do I ask the yes/no version: “Is your doctor at the hospital?”

Use je li (or colloquial jel’):

Je li tvoj doktor u bolnici?
Polite: Je li vaš doktor u bolnici? / Je li vam doktor u bolnici?

Could I say “Tko je tvoj bolnički doktor?” instead of “… u bolnici?”

You can, but it sounds less neutral. Bolnički doktor/liječnik means “a hospital doctor” as a type (employed by a hospital). When asking about someone’s personal doctor at a hospital, Croatians more naturally say … tvoj doktor u bolnici.