Learn Hardcore Croatian: U ovom kafiću se ne puši; to je zabranjeno. - In this cafe people don’t smoke; it is forbidden.

It makes the sentence impersonal (a reflexive-passive). With se and a 3rd person singular verb, Croatian says “X is done” or “people do X.” So U ovom kafiću se ne puši literally means “Smoking isn’t done in this café,” i.e., “No smoking (here).”

Why is the verb puši in the 3rd person singular?

Impersonal se-constructions use 3rd person singular. Think of it like English “one/people smoke,” but Croatian uses “smokes” with se:

Ovdje se puši. = People smoke here.
Ovdje se ne puši. = No one smokes here / No smoking.

Can I change the word order to Ne puši se u ovom kafiću or U ovom kafiću ne puši se?

Ne puši se u ovom kafiću is fine and common.
U ovom kafiću se ne puši (your original) is also very natural.
Avoid Ne se puši (ungrammatical).
Clitic se tends to appear early (after the first stressed element), and ne must come right before the verb.

Why is it kafiću and not kafić?

Because of the preposition u with a static location, which takes the locative case. Kafić (masculine) in the locative singular becomes kafiću. So: u kafiću = “in the café.”

Why is it ovom and not ovaj?

Ovaj is nominative (used for subjects). After u (location), you need the locative, so the demonstrative must match: ovom kafiću (masculine locative). The longer form ovome kafiću also exists; both are correct.

What’s the difference between u ovom kafiću and u ovaj kafić?

u ovom kafiću (locative) = in this café (location, no movement).
u ovaj kafić (accusative) = into this café (movement to the inside).

In To je zabranjeno, what does to refer to?

To is a neuter pronoun meaning “that/it” and refers to the whole idea just mentioned—smoking in this café. Because to is neuter, the adjective is neuter too: zabranjeno (“forbidden”).

Could I just say Zabranjeno pušenje?

Yes. That’s the typical sign you’ll see (“Smoking forbidden”). It’s an elliptical version of Pušenje je zabranjeno. You might also see Zabranjeno je pušenje or Pušenje zabranjeno on signs.

Is there a nuance difference between se ne puši and ne smije se pušiti?

(Ovdje) se ne puši states a practice or rule: people don’t smoke here.
(Ovdje) se ne smije pušiti explicitly expresses prohibition: one is not allowed to smoke.
Both can imply a ban; the second is overtly about permission.

Are kafić and kavana the same?

Close, but not identical. In Croatian:

kafić = a café/bar in the modern sense.
kavana = a (often more traditional or grand) coffeehouse.
You’ll also encounter regional terms like kafana (more common outside Croatia, often “tavern”).

How do I pronounce ć and š in kafiću and puši?

ć is a soft “ch,” lighter than č: kafiću ≈ “kah-FEE-chu.”
š is “sh”: puši ≈ “POO-shee.”
Avoid using English “s” or “z” sounds here.

Is the semicolon necessary in U ovom kafiću se ne puši; to je zabranjeno?

No. It’s stylistic. You can use a period or a dash:

U ovom kafiću se ne puši. To je zabranjeno.
U ovom kafiću se ne puši — to je zabranjeno.

Would U ovom kafiću je zabranjeno pušenje be correct?

Yes, perfectly. It’s a more explicitly legalistic phrasing: “Smoking is forbidden in this café.” Other natural variants:

Pušenje je zabranjeno u ovom kafiću.
Zabranjeno je pušenje u ovom kafiću.

If I remove se, does U ovom kafiću ne puši still mean “No smoking”?

No. Without se, it says “He/She doesn’t smoke in this café,” which is odd without a subject. To express a general ban or rule, keep the impersonal se or switch to the “zabranjeno/nesmije se” options.

Why is je in the middle of To je zabranjeno? Can I say To zabranjeno je?

Je is a clitic and normally sits in the second position in its clause. To je zabranjeno follows that rule. To zabranjeno je is not standard. You can also say Zabranjeno je (when the clause starts with Zabranjeno, je still lands in second position).

What’s the difference between zabranjen, zabranjena, and zabranjeno?

They’re gender forms of “forbidden”:

zabranjen (masculine), zabranjena (feminine), zabranjeno (neuter).
You use zabranjeno with neuter nouns or with to, e.g., To je zabranjeno.
With the noun pušenje (neuter), you’d also say Pušenje je zabranjeno.