Learn Hardcore Croatian: Moja kolegica i ja radimo u novom uredu. - My female colleague and I work in a new office.

Because the subject includes ja (I). When the speaker is part of the subject, Croatian uses first person plural: radimo. Third person plural (rade) is used only when the speaker is not included (e.g., Moje kolegice rade...).

Can I say Ja i moja kolegica instead of Moja kolegica i ja?

Both are grammatically correct. Natural, polite style usually places yourself second: Moja kolegica i ja. Ja i moja kolegica is possible but can sound self-centered in formal contexts.

Do I need to add mi (“we”), as in Mi radimo...?

No. Croatian normally drops subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows person and number. Use Mi only for emphasis or contrast.

Why is it moja kolegica and not moj kolegica?

The possessive must agree with the noun’s grammatical gender. Kolegica is feminine, so use moja. If the colleague were male, you’d say Moj kolega.

What’s the difference between kolega and kolegica, and how do I use them in other cases?

Kolega = male colleague (masculine, but declines like -a nouns). With him = s mojim kolegom.
Kolegica = female colleague (feminine). With her = s mojom kolegicom. Plurals: only women = kolegice; men or mixed = kolege.

Why is it u novom uredu and not u novom ured?

After u meaning “in,” the noun takes the locative case. Ured (office) is masculine; its locative singular is uredu. This -u ending is common: grad → u gradu, stan → u stanu.

Why does novom end in -om?

It’s the locative singular ending for a masculine adjective modifying a masculine noun: nov/novi → u novom uredu. The adjective matches the noun in gender, number, and case.

When do I use u vs na for locations?

u
- locative = in/inside: u uredu (in the office), u školi (in school).
na
- locative = on/at (surfaces, open areas, many institutions): na poslu (at work), na fakultetu (at university). For an office room, say u uredu, not na uredu. English “at” often maps to u for interiors.

Does Croatian distinguish “we work” vs “we are working”?

No. Present tense radimo covers both habitual and ongoing actions. Add adverbs for clarity if needed (e.g., sad(a) radimo = we’re working now; obično radimo = we usually work).

Croatian has no articles. How do I show “the new office” vs “a new office”?

Context usually decides. To make it explicitly definite, use a demonstrative:

definite: u tom novom uredu (“in that new office”)
indefinite/new info: just u novom uredu (could be “a” or “the” in English).

Can I say u novome uredu?

Yes. Both -om and -ome are accepted locative endings for masculine/neuter adjectives. U novom uredu is more common and neutral; u novome can sound slightly formal or regional.

Is there a difference between u uredu and u redu?

Yes:

u uredu = in the office (preposition + noun).
u redu = “OK, all right” or “in order.” Don’t drop the first u in u uredu, or it turns into u redu with a different meaning.

How would it change if the colleague were male, or if there were more colleagues?

Male colleague: Moj kolega i ja radimo u novom uredu.
Several female colleagues + me (female): Moje kolegice i ja radimo...
To stress “both”: both female = Obje radimo...; mixed pair = Oboje radimo...

Can I omit “my colleague and I” and just say Radimo u novom uredu?

Yes. The verb ending already encodes “we.” Use the full subject when you need to specify who “we” are.

How do I say “We are going to the new office” vs “We work in the new office”?

Motion into (accusative): Idemo u novi ured.
Location in (locative): Radimo u novom uredu. With u, use accusative for movement and locative for location.

Does the verb ever agree with gender here?

In the present tense, no—only person and number: radimo. In the past, the participle shows gender/number:

two women: Moja kolegica i ja smo radile u novom uredu.
mixed or two men: ... smo radili ...