…
Questions & Answers about Toalet je lijevo, u kutu.
What does the word "je" do here? Can I leave it out?
"Je" is the 3rd‑person singular of the verb "biti" (to be), so it means "is." In normal sentences you do not drop it: Toalet je lijevo, u kutu. Omitting "je" is mostly limited to headlines or very telegraphic styles. Also, "je" is a clitic and prefers the second position in the clause (e.g., Toalet je lijevo., Lijevo je toalet.).
Can I change the word order?
Yes. Croatian word order is flexible, and the clitic "je" stays in second position:
- Toalet je lijevo, u kutu. (neutral)
- Lijevo je toalet, u kutu. (focus on the location)
- U kutu je toalet, lijevo. (focus on “in the corner”) All are correct; the choice affects emphasis.
Is the comma after "lijevo" necessary?
No. Both are fine:
- Toalet je lijevo u kutu. (most common)
- Toalet je lijevo, u kutu. (the comma can suggest a slight afterthought: “It’s on the left, in the corner.”)
Why "lijevo" and not "na lijevo"?
Use bare "lijevo" to say “on/to the left.” "Na lijevo" is not idiomatic. If you want “on the left-hand side,” say:
- na lijevoj strani or s lijeve strane (both mean “on the left side”)
What’s the difference between "lijevo" and "ulijevo"?
- lijevo works for both position and direction in everyday speech: Skrenite lijevo.
- ulijevo explicitly marks direction (“to the left”): Skrenite ulijevo. For a static location (as in your sentence), use lijevo.
Why is it "u kutu" and not "na kutu"?
For an indoor corner you use "u" + locative: u kutu (“in the corner”). "Na kutu" is unusual for interiors. For street corners, people say:
- Croatian: na uglu (also regional na kantunu in Dalmatia)
- Serbian/Bosnian: na uglu, and also u uglu/ćošku in some uses
What case is "kutu" and why that ending?
"Kutu" is locative singular of "kut" (corner/angle). After "u" with a static location, use locative:
- Static: u kutu = in the corner
- Motion into: u kut = into the corner Mini‑paradigm (singular): N kut, A kut, L kutu.
How do I say “in the left corner” more precisely?
Use the adjective with the noun in the locative:
- Toalet je u lijevom kutu.
Is "toalet" the most natural word? What about "WC"?
In Croatia, WC (pronounced “ve-ce”) is the most common on signs and in speech:
- WC je lijevo, u kutu. "Toalet" also exists and is polite/formal, but is seen less on signage. Other words:
- kupaonica = bathroom (usually with a bath/shower)
- zahod, nužnik = archaic/rare in modern Croatian
How can I politely ask where it is?
Common options:
- Gdje je WC, molim?
- Gdje je toalet?
- Mogu li koristiti toalet? (May I use the restroom?)
- Imate li WC? (Do you have a restroom?)
How do I pronounce the tricky bits?
- j sounds like English y.
- lj in lijevo is a palatal “ly” sound (say L + y together): LYE‑vo.
- u is like “oo” in “food.”
- Rough guides: Toalet = to‑ah‑LET; je = yeh; lijevo = LYE‑vo; kutu = KOO‑too. Note: Croatian spelling is phonetic; each letter is pronounced.
Are there articles like “the” in Croatian?
No. Croatian has no articles. Toalet je lijevo already means “The toilet is on the left.”
How do I make a yes/no question like “Is the toilet on the left?”
Use “je li” (or colloquial “jel’”):
- Je li toalet lijevo?
- Colloquial: Jel’ toalet lijevo?
What if there are multiple toilets?
Use the plural:
- Toaleti su lijevo. For the abbreviation, add hyphens when inflecting: WC‑i su lijevo., u WC‑u, iz WC‑a.
Is there a version with “is located”?
Yes, very natural:
- Toalet se nalazi lijevo, u kutu.
- Or more specific: Toalet se nalazi u lijevom kutu.
Why "lijevo" with "ije"? I’ve also seen "levo."
Croatian standard is ijekavian, hence lijevo. Serbian ekavian uses levo. Bosnian is typically ijekavian like Croatian: lijevo.
More from this lesson
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Croatian grammar?”
Croatian grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning CroatianMaster Croatian — from Toalet je lijevo, u kutu to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions