Learn Hardcore Croatian: Ovaj desert je jeftin, ali onaj desert je skup. - This dessert is cheap, but that dessert is expensive.

ovaj = this (near the speaker)
onaj = that (far from both speaker and listener, or more removed in context)
taj = that (near the listener or contextually “that one we’re talking about”)

The pair ovaj … onaj … is a very common way to contrast two specific items: “this one here … that one there …”. You could use taj instead of onaj if “that dessert” is near your listener or is the one just mentioned, but ovaj … onaj … sounds like a neat, balanced contrast.

Forms by gender:

Masculine: ovaj, taj, onaj
Feminine: ova, ta, ona
Neuter: ovo, to, ono

Do I have to repeat desert the second time? Can I say … a onaj je skup?

You don’t have to repeat it. All of these are correct:

Ovaj desert je jeftin, a onaj desert je skup.
Ovaj desert je jeftin, a onaj je skup. (more natural)
Ovaj je jeftin, a onaj je skup. (if the context makes the noun obvious)

Why are the adjectives jeftin and skup in this form and not jeftino/skupo?

Adjectives in Croatian agree with the noun’s gender and number. Desert is masculine singular, so the predicate adjectives are masculine singular:

Masculine: jeftin, skup
Feminine: jeftina, skupa (e.g., Ova torta je skupa.)
Neuter: jeftino, skupo (e.g., Ovo jelo je jeftino.)

You use -o (neuter) when the subject is neuter (like ovo, “this thing”), not here.

What case is used here for desert, jeftin, and skup?

Nominative. With the verb “to be” (biti), the subject (ovaj/onaj desert) and the predicate adjective (jeftin/skup) are in the nominative:

Ovaj desert (NOM) je jeftin (NOM).

Why does it say je jeftin? Is the double “je” sound an issue? Can I drop je?

je is the 3rd person singular of biti (“to be”) and is required: desert je jeftin = “the dessert is cheap.” The “je je…” sequence is normal in Croatian; pronounce je like English “ye.” You can’t drop je in standard sentences.

Is the comma before ali necessary? Could I use a or nego instead?

Yes, put a comma before ali (“but”): …, ali …
a (“and/whereas”) is also common for contrast that’s more neutral: Ovaj desert je jeftin, a onaj je skup.
nego (“but rather/than”) is used after a negative: Ovaj desert nije jeftin, nego skup.

What’s the difference between ovaj and ovo (and onaj vs ono)?

They differ by gender and usage:

ovaj/onaj = masculine demonstratives used with masculine nouns: ovaj desert, onaj desert.
ovo/ono = neuter standalone pronouns (“this/that thing”): Ovo je jeftino. Ono je skupo. Use ovo/ono when you point to something without naming it; use ovaj/onaj when you modify a masculine noun.

Does desert mean “dessert” or “desert (sand)” in Croatian?

Here desert means “dessert” (the sweet course). The geographical “desert” is pustinja in Croatian. You’ll also hear slastica as a general word for “dessert/sweet.”

Can I change the word order for emphasis, like Jeftin je ovaj desert, ali onaj je skup?

Yes. Croatian allows flexible word order for emphasis or style:

Neutral: Ovaj desert je jeftin, a onaj je skup.
Emphatic on the adjectives: Jeftin je ovaj desert, a skup je onaj. All versions are correct; fronting the adjective highlights the quality (cheap/expensive).

How do I say “This dessert is cheaper than that one”?

Use the comparative:

Ovaj desert je jeftiniji od onoga. (genitive after od) You can also say:
Ovaj desert je jeftiniji nego onaj. Other forms:
skuplji = more expensive; najjeftiniji/najskuplji = the cheapest/the most expensive.

How would I make the sentence plural: “These desserts are cheap, but those are expensive”?

Ovi deserti su jeftini, ali oni su skupi. Notes:
ovi = these (masc. plural), oni = those (masc. plural)
Adjectives agree: jeftini/skupi (masc. plural)

What is the gender and basic declension pattern of desert?

Gender: masculine, inanimate.
Key singular forms you’ll meet often:
- Nominative: desert (subject) — Ovaj desert je dobar.
- Accusative: desert (object for inanimate masculines) — Vidim desert.
- Genitive: deserta — Okus deserta je odličan.
- Dative/Locative: desertu — Približavam se desertu. / Govorimo o desertu.
- Instrumental: desertom — S desertom pijem kavu.

How do I say “a cheap dessert” and “an expensive dessert” when the adjective comes before the noun?

jeftin desert = a cheap dessert
skup desert = an expensive dessert In the plural:
jeftini deserti, skupi deserti