Learn Hardcore Croatian: Čekamo drugi vlak. - We are waiting for the second train.

As an ordinal: "the second (in order)." Example: After missing the first train, "Čekamo drugi vlak" = "We’re waiting for the second train."
As "a different/another one": If the first option doesn’t suit you, "Čekamo drugi vlak" = "We’re waiting for another train (a different one)." If you specifically mean "one more," use "još jedan": "Čekamo još jedan vlak" (one additional train).

Where is the "the/a" article? I expected "the second train."

Croatian has no articles. Definiteness is understood from context. "Čekamo drugi vlak" can mean "We’re waiting for the second train" or "We’re waiting for another train." To be explicit:

Use a demonstrative: "Čekamo taj drugi vlak" = "We’re waiting for that second train."
Without a demonstrative, the sentence stays article-less.

Why is there no preposition for "for" after "čekati"? Can I say "čekati na/za"?

Standard Croatian uses "čekati" + accusative with no preposition: "čekamo vlak."
"čekati na" is common in speech and accepted in some contexts, often in set phrases or when the thing is an event/opportunity: "čekati na red" (wait one’s turn), "čekati na isporuku." Many speakers also say "čekati na vlak," but careful style prefers plain "čekati vlak."
"čekati za" does not mean "wait for" in this sense. It can mean "wait/stand behind": "Čekati za nekim u redu" (to stand behind someone in line). Safer choice: use "čekati" without a preposition for objects like trains, buses, people.

Why is it "drugi vlak" and not "drugog vlaka"?

Because "vlak" (train) is a masculine inanimate noun. In Croatian:

For masculine inanimate direct objects, the accusative singular equals the nominative: "drugi vlak," "vidim stol."
For masculine animate objects, the accusative equals the genitive: "čekamo drugog vozača" (driver), "vidim drugog psa" (dog). So "drugi vlak" is correct.

How does adjective–noun agreement work here?

"Drugi" (second/other) agrees with "vlak" in gender, number, and case:

Masculine singular (accusative inanimate): "drugi vlak"
Feminine singular (accusative): "drugu stanicu" (station)
Neuter singular (accusative): "drugo mjesto" (place/seat) The endings change with the noun's gender and case.

Can I include the subject pronoun? Is "Mi čekamo drugi vlak" correct?

Yes. Croatian is a pro-drop language; the verb ending -mo already shows "we." Use "Mi čekamo..." for emphasis or contrast (e.g., "Mi čekamo drugi vlak, a oni idu pješke" = "We are waiting for another train, while they are walking").

Is "čekamo" present simple or present progressive?

Croatian has one present form for both. "Čekamo" can mean "we wait" or "we are waiting." Context clarifies. If you want to stress it’s happening right now, add an adverb:

"Sada/Trenutno/Upravo čekamo drugi vlak." = "We are currently/now waiting for the second train."

How do I say this in other tenses?

Future: "Čekat ćemo drugi vlak." = "We will wait for the second/another train."
Past (perfect): "Čekali smo drugi vlak." = "We were waiting / We waited for the second/another train." Note the future clitic splits: "čekat ćemo" (not "čekati ćemo") in modern standard Croatian.

What about aspect? Are there perfective partners to "čekati"?

Yes. "Čekati" is imperfective (ongoing, habitual). Common perfective verbs:

"pričekati" = wait a bit / wait until later. "Pričekajmo sljedeći vlak." (Let’s wait for the next train.)
"dočekati" = wait for something/someone and live to see/meet it/them arrive. "Napokon smo dočekali drugi vlak." (We finally waited until the second train arrived.) In standard Croatian, "sačekati" is often avoided in careful style; prefer "pričekati" or "dočekati."

How do I pronounce "Čekamo drugi vlak"?

"č" as in English "ch" in "church": "CHEH-kah-moh"
"drugi": hard "g" as in "go": "DROO-ghee"
Trill the "r" lightly.
"vlak": cluster "vl" at the start; pronounced roughly "vlahk." Stress is typically on the first syllable of "čekamo" and "drugi."

Is the word order fixed? Could I say "Drugi vlak čekamo"?

Basic neutral order is Subject–Verb–Object: "(Mi) čekamo drugi vlak." Croatian allows reordering for emphasis:

"Drugi vlak čekamo." emphasizes "the second/another train (is what) we’re waiting for."
"Mi drugi vlak čekamo." emphasizes "we." All versions are grammatical; choose based on what you want to highlight.

How would I ask "Which train are we waiting for?" or "What are we waiting for?"

"Koji vlak čekamo?" = "Which train are we waiting for?"
"Što čekamo?" = "What are we waiting for?" You can omit "vlak" if it’s clear from context: "Koji čekamo?"

What changes if the object is a person (animate)?

The adjective and noun take the animate accusative (same as genitive):

"Čekamo drugog prijatelja." = "We’re waiting for the other/second friend."
"Čekamo drugog konduktera." = "We’re waiting for the other/second conductor." Notice "drugog" and the noun end in -a/-era, unlike inanimate "drugi vlak."

How do I say "next train" vs "second train" vs "another train"?

"Second": "drugi vlak."
"Next (in sequence/time)": "sljedeći vlak" or "idući vlak."
"Another/different": "drugi vlak" (a different one) or more explicitly "neki drugi vlak" (a different one) / "još jedan vlak" (one more). Examples:
"Propustili smo ovaj; čekamo sljedeći/idući vlak." (We missed this one; we’re waiting for the next train.)
"Ovaj je pun; čekamo neki drugi vlak." (This one is full; we’re waiting for a different train.)

Is "vlak" the only word for "train"? What about "voz"?

In standard Croatian, the common word is "vlak." In Serbian, "voz" is standard. Bosnian varies by region, but "voz" is widespread. If you switch to Serbian, your sentence would be "Čekamo drugi voz."

How can I add a place, like "at the station" or "on platform 3"?

Use "na" + locative:

"Čekamo drugi vlak na kolodvoru." = "We’re waiting for the second train at the (railway) station."
"Čekamo drugi vlak na stanici." = "…at the station/stop."
"Čekamo drugi vlak na peronu 3." = "…on platform 3."