Learn Hardcore Croatian: On voli onaj film.

No. Croatian usually drops subject pronouns because the verb ending shows the subject. The most neutral version is simply: Voli onaj film. Including On adds contrast/emphasis (He does, as opposed to someone else) or helps avoid ambiguity in context.

What’s the difference between onaj, taj, and ovaj?

ovaj = this (near the speaker; very “current” in the conversation)
taj = that (near the listener, or the one just mentioned)
onaj = that (farther away, or “that well-known one” both speakers can identify, or something more removed in space/time)

So onaj film often means “that (specific, already-known/remote) film.”

Why is it film and not something like filma?

Because film is a masculine inanimate noun. In Croatian, the direct object is in the accusative case. For masculine inanimate nouns, the accusative singular looks the same as the nominative: film. You’d see a different ending (genitive/accusative form) with masculine animate nouns (e.g., onog čovjeka).

Is the word order fixed?

No—Croatian word order is flexible, and changes can add emphasis:

Neutral: (On) voli onaj film.
Emphasizing the object: Onaj film (on) voli. (“That film he likes.”)
Emphasizing the subject: On voli onaj film. (“HE likes that film.”) The basic information doesn’t change, but focus does.

How do you conjugate voljeti in the present tense?

Present tense:

ja volim
ti voliš
on/ona/ono voli
mi volimo
vi volite
oni/one/ona vole

Note the infinitive is voljeti, but in the present the stem is voli- (the -j- drops).

Does voljeti mean “to like” or “to love”?

Both, depending on context and intensity. For a safer “like,” many speakers use the impersonal construction sviđati se:

Njemu se sviđa onaj film. = He likes that film.
On jako voli onaj film. = He really likes/loves that film.
Stronger: On obožava onaj film. = He adores that film.

Can I say On voli taj film instead? What’s the nuance?

Yes. taj film usually points to something just mentioned or closer in the discourse (or near the listener). onaj film feels more “that one over there/that well-known one.” Both can be correct; choice depends on what you’re pointing to in the situation or conversation.

Can I replace onaj film with a pronoun?

Yes, if the film is already known from context:

On ga voli. = He likes it. Here ga is the unstressed accusative clitic for a masculine (or neuter) singular object. For a feminine object you’d use je/ju; for plural ih.

Where do clitic pronouns like ga go?

They typically go in second position in the clause:

On ga voli.
Voli ga.
Onaj film ga voli? (ungrammatical in this meaning—don’t put ga after the noun like that) Think: place the clitic right after the first word or first stressed constituent of the clause.

Could the sentence simply be Voli onaj film?

Yes. That’s the most common neutral way to say it, since Croatian usually drops subject pronouns unless needed for emphasis or clarity.

Does onaj have to agree with film?

Yes—demonstratives and adjectives agree with the noun’s gender, number, and case.

Masculine inanimate accusative: onaj film
Feminine accusative: onu knjigu
Neuter accusative: ono pivo
Masculine animate accusative: onog(a) psa

Is onaj related to on?

They share a historical root, but they’re different words:

on = he (personal pronoun)
onaj = that (demonstrative determiner/pronoun) In this sentence, on refers to a male person; onaj points to the specific film.

How do I say “He likes that film, not this one”?

On voli onaj film, ne ovaj.
If you’ve just mentioned the closer one and want to contrast, you could also say: On voli onaj, ne taj.

If the subject is female, what changes?

Use ona:

Ona voli onaj film. The verb form voli stays the same in the present; only the subject pronoun changes.

How do I say it in the past?

Use the perfect:

Masculine: On je volio onaj film.
Feminine: Ona je voljela onaj film.
Plural (mixed/masc.): Oni su voljeli onaj film. (fem. plural: voljele)

How do I put strong emphasis on the object?

Front it:

Onaj film on voli (a ne neki drugi). = It’s that film he likes (not some other). You can also add focus particles: Baš onaj film on voli. / Samo onaj film on voli.

Does onaj film ever mean “that kind of film”?

No. Onaj film is a specific film. For “that kind of film,” use:

takav/onakav film = that kind/such a film
plural type: takvi/onakvi filmovi

Any pronunciation tips for these words?

onaj: the j sounds like English y in “yes” (o-nay).
voljeti vs voli: lj is a palatal “ly” sound (vo-LYE-ti). In voli, you just have l (VO-lee).