Learn Hardcore Croatian: Mjesto je blizu škole.

As a preposition, blizu requires the genitive: blizu škole.
It can also be an adverb used alone: Mjesto je blizu. (no object, so no case after it) Note: You may hear blizu školi in some speech, but in standard Croatian after blizu you should use the genitive, not the dative.

Can I change the word order?

Yes. Both are natural:

Mjesto je blizu škole.
Blizu škole je mjesto. The verb je is a clitic and tends to appear in the second position of the clause or after the first constituent.

Can I omit je?

Not in a normal, neutral sentence. You might see it omitted in headlines, notes, or very telegraphic speech, e.g., Mjesto blizu škole, but that’s not a full standard sentence.

How do I turn it into a yes–no question?

Use Je li at the start:

Je li mjesto blizu škole? Informally in writing you may see Je l’. You can also use rising intonation: Mjesto je blizu škole? (more colloquial/surprised). Answers: Da / Ne.

Why is there no word for “the” here?

Croatian has no articles. Mjesto can mean either “the place” or “a place,” depending on context. If you want to be explicit, use demonstratives: Ono mjesto je blizu škole (that place).

What exactly does mjesto mean? Can it also mean “seat” or “town”?

Yes. Mjesto means “place” in general. It can mean:

a location/spot,
a “seat” (e.g., on a bus: mjesto u autobusu),
a “settlement/locality” in administrative usage (naseljeno mjesto).

How would I say “The place is near the big school”?

Mjesto je blizu velike škole.
The adjective must agree with škole (feminine genitive singular), so velike is required.

How do I talk about multiple schools?

Use the genitive plural: Mjesto je blizu škola.
Note that škola (gen. pl.) looks the same as škola (nom. sg.), so context disambiguates. To make it clear, add a quantifier or determiner:

blizu nekoliko škola
blizu više škola
blizu tih škola

What are other common ways to say “near the school,” and do they take a specific case?

Common options (all standard):

pored/pokraj/kraj škole (right next to; genitive)
kod škole (by/at the area of; genitive)
u blizini škole (in the vicinity of; genitive)
nedaleko (od) škole (not far from; genitive; od is common)
do škole (up to/next to; genitive; with motion it can mean “to the school”)
uz školu (along/next to; accusative) All are fine; nuances vary slightly (e.g., pored/pokraj ≈ right beside).

Is blizu the opposite of daleko? Do I say daleko od škole?

Yes. blizu vs. daleko. With daleko, you use od + genitive:

daleko od škole Do not say blizu od škole; blizu stands alone: blizu škole.

How do I say “closer/closest” to the school?

Adverb: bliže / najbliže typically with the dative: bliže školi, najbliže školi.
Adjective with a noun: bliži/najbliži
- noun, e.g., najbliža škola (the nearest school). Remember: blizu takes genitive, but bliže commonly pairs with dative.

Can I replace mjesto with a pronoun?

Yes. Since mjesto is neuter singular, use neuter pronouns:

Ono je blizu škole.
Very common: To je blizu škole. (It/That is near the school.)

What changes if the subject is plural?

The verb agrees in number:

Mjesta su blizu škole. (plural subject → su) For questions you’ll see Jesu li…?, e.g., Jesu li mjesta blizu škole?

How do I say “right next to the school” or “very near the school”?

Intensifiers and set phrases:

tik do škole, odmah pokraj škole, odmah uz školu (right next to)
jako/vrlo blizu škole (very near)
nadomak škole (within arm’s reach of; genitive)

How do I pronounce it?

mj in mjesto is pronounced m + y, like “my” at the start: roughly “MYEHS-toh.”
je sounds like “ye.”
š in škole is “sh.” Approximation: “MYEHS-toh yeh BLEE-zoo SHKOH-leh.”

Does blizu change form?

No. blizu is invariable (as a preposition/adverb). What changes is the noun after it (to genitive). If you switch to the adjective family, bliži/najbliži inflects and typically takes the dative: bliži školi, najbliži školi.