Donesi njoj vodu, molim te.

water

Breakdown of Donesi njoj vodu, molim te.

• molim te: please
• donijeti: to bring
• njoj: her

Questions & Answers about Donesi njoj vodu, molim te.

What form is “Donesi” and which verb is it from?

• It’s the 2nd person singular imperative of the perfective verb donijeti “to bring (once/to completion)”.
• Plural/formal imperative: donesite. “Let’s bring”: donesimo.

Why is it “njoj” here? What’s the difference between “njoj” and “joj”?

• Both mean “to her” (dative singular of ona).
• joj is the unstressed clitic; it’s the default in neutral speech: Donesi joj vodu.
• njoj is the stressed/full form, used for emphasis or where clitics can’t be used (e.g., after certain prepositions: prema njoj, k njoj; or clause-initial for emphasis: Njoj donesi vodu).

Can “joj” appear at the start or end of the clause?

• No. Croatian clitics like joj can’t be clause-initial or clause-final.
• Place them after the first stressed word: Donesi joj vodu. / Vodu joj donesi.
• If it must come first or last, use the full form njoj: Njoj donesi vodu. / Donesi vodu njoj.

Why is it “vodu,” not “voda” or “vode”?

• voda is feminine; as a direct object it takes accusative singular vodu.
• voda is nominative (subject), vode is genitive; neither fits the direct object slot here.

Do I need a preposition for “to her”? Why not “za nju”?

• Recipients of “bring” are in bare dative: (Donesi) njoj/joj (što?) vodu.
• za nju = “for her (intended for her)” shifts the nuance to purpose: Donesi vodu za nju.

How flexible is the word order, and does it change meaning?

• Neutral: Donesi joj vodu, molim te.
• Emphasize recipient: Njoj donesi vodu.
• Emphasize the object/contrast: Vodu joj donesi.
• With full pronoun at the end: Donesi vodu njoj.
• Avoid placing the clitic last: ✗ Donesi vodu joj.

What does “molim te” add, and is the comma required?

• molim te = “please” (literally “I beg you”), informal.
• Softens the command; without it, the imperative can sound brusque.
• It’s usually set off by a comma as a parenthetical: Donesi joj vodu, molim te. / Molim te, donesi joj vodu.

How do I make this polite/formal or address more than one person?

• Use plural/formal imperative and pronoun: Donesite joj vodu, molim vas.
• You may capitalize Vas/Vam in formal writing to show respect.

What about aspect—could I use “donositi” instead of “donijeti”?

• donijeti (perfective) imperative donesi = a single, completed act → default here.
• donositi (imperfective) imperative donosi suggests repetition/ongoing action: “keep bringing/bring regularly.”

Why not “Donese njoj vodu”?

• donese is 3rd person singular present (“he/she brings”), not an imperative.
• The correct 2nd singular imperative is donesi; 2nd plural/polite is donesite.

How do I say “Don’t bring her water”?

• Standard negative imperative: nemoj + infinitive.
  • One-time event: Nemoj joj donijeti vodu.
  • General/ongoing: Nemoj joj donositi vodu.
• Plural/polite: Nemojte joj donijeti/donositi vodu.

If both objects are pronouns (“Bring it to her”), how do I order them?

• Dative clitic comes before accusative clitic: Donesi joj je/ju.
• Croatian uses ju (acc. fem.) and also je; ju helps avoid ambiguity when another je is present.

Is “te” in “molim te” the right case? Why not “ti”?

• Yes. molim governs the accusative (“I beg/ask you”), so te (accusative of ti) is correct.
• ti is nominative (subject) and doesn’t fit here.

Could I drop “njoj/joj” entirely?

• Yes, if the recipient is clear from context: Donesi vodu, molim te.
• Otherwise you’re just asking for water to be brought, without saying to whom.

How do I say it for a male recipient?

• Dative masculine: full njemu / clitic mu.
  • Neutral: Donesi mu vodu, molim te.
  • Emphatic: Njemu donesi vodu / Donesi vodu njemu.

Any pronunciation tips?

• nj in njoj is a single sound [ɲ], like Spanish ñ.
• j is like English “y” in “yes,” so njoj ≈ “nyoy.”
• All letters are pronounced; no silent vowels.