Learn Hardcore Croatian: Vikend je kratak, ali obično radimo manje. - The weekend is short, but we usually work less.

Je is the 3rd‑person singular of the verb biti (to be). It links the subject vikend (weekend) with the predicate adjective kratak (short): Vikend je kratak = “The weekend is short.”
It’s a clitic, so it tends to appear in second position in the clause (see next Q).

Why does je come after the first word? Could I say Vikend kratak je?

Clitics like je normally occupy “second position,” i.e., after the first stressed word or phrase. So Vikend je kratak is the neutral order.
You cannot say Vikend kratak je. You can, however, front the adjective for emphasis: Kratak je vikend, which stresses “short.”

Why is it kratak, not kratki?

In predicate position (after “to be”), Croatian uses the short form of the adjective: kratak (m), kratka (f), kratko (n).
The long form kratki is typically used attributively before a noun (e.g., kratki vikend “a short weekend”) or for definiteness/emphasis. Saying Vikend je kratki is wrong in standard usage.

What gender is vikend, and how does agreement work here?

Vikend is masculine singular. The predicate adjective agrees: vikend (m.sg.) je kratak (m.sg.).
A few useful forms of “weekend”:

Nominative: vikend (subject)
Genitive: vikenda
Dative/Locative: vikendu
Instrumental: vikendom (also used adverbially: “on weekends”)

What does obično mean, and where does it go in the sentence?

Obično means “usually.” It’s an adverb and most naturally goes before the verb or at the start of the clause:

Obično radimo manje.
Mi obično radimo manje.
You can move it, but those are the most neutral placements.

Does radimo require the pronoun mi?

No. Radimo already encodes “we” (1st person plural). Mi radimo is used only for emphasis or contrast (e.g., “We (as opposed to others) work…”).

Does radimo mean “work” or “do”?

Both, depending on context. Raditi can mean “to work” (employment/labor) or “to do/make.”

Here, radimo manje = “we work less.”
With an object, it can be “do”: Radimo projekt = “We are doing a project.”

Why manje and not manji/manja?

Manje here is an adverb meaning “less,” modifying the verb radimo.

Manje = adverb (“less”): radimo manje (“we work less”).
Manji/manja/manje = adjective (“smaller/lesser”) used with nouns: manji posao (“a smaller job”), manje obaveza (“fewer obligations” — Croatian doesn’t split “less/fewer” like English; it uses manje with count and mass).

Does radimo manje mean fewer hours, less hard, or fewer tasks?

It’s context‑dependent. On its own, radimo manje means “we work less” in general. To be specific:

Fewer hours/shorter time: radimo kraće or radimo manje sati
Less intensely: radimo manje naporno
Fewer tasks: radimo manje zadataka

Can I say manje radimo instead of radimo manje?

Yes. Both are grammatical. Radimo manje is the most neutral. Manje radimo can put a bit more focus on the “less” part.
You can also say Obično manje radimo, again focusing the “less.”

Why is there a comma before ali?

In Croatian, you place a comma before adversative conjunctions like ali (“but”) when they link clauses or contrasting parts: Vikend je kratak, ali obično radimo manje. The comma is standard here.

Could I use no or međutim instead of ali?

No also means “but,” often a tad more formal/literary: Vikend je kratak, no obično radimo manje.
Međutim (“however”) behaves more like a sentence adverb; it’s usually set off by commas or starts a new sentence: Vikend je kratak. Međutim, obično radimo manje.

How would I say “On weekends we usually work less”?

Use adverbial vikendom (“on weekends”) or a prepositional phrase:

Vikendom obično radimo manje.
Za vikend obično radimo manje.
Tijekom vikenda obično radimo manje. (during the weekend)

How do I negate these parts?

“The weekend is not short”: Vikend nije kratak. (negative of je is nije)
“We usually don’t work less”: Obično ne radimo manje.
“But we don’t usually work less”: … ali ne radimo obično manje. (note the shift in focus with adverb placement)

How do I ask “Is the weekend short?” in Croatian?

Use je li (standard yes/no question particle): Je li vikend kratak?
Colloquial: Je l’ vikend kratak?
Note: Da li is common regionally, but je li is preferred in standard Croatian.

What are the comparative/superlative forms involved here?

kratak (short) → comparative: kraći → superlative: najkraći
Example: Vikend je kraći u kolovozu. (“The weekend is shorter in August.”)
malo (a little) → comparative adverb: manje (less) → superlative: najmanje
Example: Obično radimo više, ali danas radimo manje. (“… we work more, but today we work less.”)

What’s the difference between kratak and kraće?

Kratak is an adjective (masculine): Vikend je kratak.
Kraće is an adverb meaning “shorter (in duration)”: Danas radimo kraće. (“We’re working for a shorter time today.”)

Can I use jest instead of je?

Jest is the full/emphatic form of je. It adds emphasis or contrast: Vikend jest kratak, ali… = “The weekend is indeed short, but…”
In everyday neutral speech, stick with je.

Is there any difference between obično (usually) and običan (usual/ordinary)?

Yes. Obično is an adverb (“usually”), while običan/obična/obično is an adjective (“usual/ordinary”).

Adverb: Obično radimo manje. (“We usually work less.”)
Adjective: običan dan (“an ordinary day”)