Learn Hardcore Croatian: Volim i knjige i filmove jednako.

Volim i knjige i filmove jednako ≈ “I like both books and films equally.”
Volim knjige i filmove jednako is also correct, but it’s a bit more neutral: “I like books and films equally.” It does not highlight the both idea as strongly.

Repeating i before each item adds emphasis that each of the things mentioned is included. It’s especially natural when you want to stress that you don’t prefer one over the other, or when contrasting with something else.

What grammatical form are knjige and filmove in, and why?

Both knjige and filmove are in the accusative plural, because they are direct objects of the verb volim (I like).

volim koga? / što? – “I like whom / what?” → this takes the accusative.
knjige – accusative plural of knjiga (a feminine noun; nominative plural is also knjige, so those two forms look the same).
filmove – accusative plural of film (a masculine noun; nominative plural is filmovi, accusative plural is filmove).

So the form directly reflects “I like books and films” as objects of volim.

What exactly is jednako here? Is it an adverb or an adjective? Could I use something else instead?

In this sentence, jednako is an adverb meaning equally.

It modifies volim: “I like them equally.”

You could replace it with similar adverbs, for example:

podjednako – also “equally”, “to an equal degree”.
- Volim i knjige i filmove podjednako.
isto – “the same”, “equally” in some contexts; this sounds slightly more colloquial:
- Volim i knjige i filmove isto.

All three are understandable, but:

jednako / podjednako feel a bit more neutral/standard in this exact meaning.
isto can sound more casual and context‑dependent.

Can I move jednako to a different place in the sentence? For example: Jednako volim i knjige i filmove?

Yes. Croatian word order is fairly flexible, especially for adverbs like jednako.

These are all acceptable:

Volim i knjige i filmove jednako.
Jednako volim i knjige i filmove. (very common)
Volim jednako i knjige i filmove.

The meaning is the same (“I like books and films equally”), but:

Putting jednako at the start (Jednako volim…) slightly emphasizes the way or degree of liking (“equally, I like both…”).
Putting it at the end (…filmove jednako) is neutral and common in speech.

Do I have to repeat i before both nouns, or is Volim i knjige i filmove jednako just a stylistic choice?

You don’t have to repeat it; it’s a choice of emphasis and style.

Without repetition:
- Volim knjige i filmove jednako. – neutral coordination, simply “books and films”.
With repetition:
- Volim i knjige i filmove jednako. – stresses inclusion of both items.

The repeated i is particularly natural when you:

Contrast with something else (e.g. Volim i knjige i filmove, ali ne volim serije.)
Emphasize that there is no preference between them.

Can I add ja and say Ja volim i knjige i filmove jednako? Does it change the meaning?

Yes, you can say:

Ja volim i knjige i filmove jednako.

Grammatically it’s correct. Croatian usually drops subject pronouns (pro‑drop language), because the verb ending already shows the person:

volim → 1st person singular → “I”.

Adding ja normally adds emphasis on I:

Ja volim i knjige i filmove jednako. – I like both books and films equally (maybe in contrast to someone else, or to what someone thinks about you).

What verb is volim from, and what tense/person is it?

Volim is the 1st person singular, present tense form of the verb voljeti (“to like”, “to love”).

Basic present‑tense forms of voljeti:

ja volim – I like / I love
ti voliš – you like (singular, informal)
on/ona/ono voli – he/she/it likes
mi volimo – we like
vi volite – you like (plural or formal)
oni/one/ona vole – they like

In this sentence the speaker is talking about a general, current preference, so the present tense is used.

Is there any difference between Volim i knjige i filmove and Volim knjige i filmove without jednako?

Yes, mainly in emphasis:

Volim knjige i filmove.
- Simple statement: “I like books and films.”
Volim i knjige i filmove.
- Emphasizes that you like both categories; it often feels like you are countering an assumption that you like only one, or adding the second item as “also”.

For example, if someone says:

Znam da voliš knjige. – “I know you like books.”
You might respond:
Volim i knjige i filmove. – “I like both books and films (not just books).”

Could I say I knjige i filmove volim jednako? Does changing the word order like that sound natural?

Yes, it’s grammatically correct:

I knjige i filmove volim jednako.

This word order puts i knjige i filmove at the start for emphasis:

It highlights the objects first (“Both books and films I like equally”), as if you’re focusing on which things are liked.

In everyday neutral speech, people would more often say:

Volim i knjige i filmove jednako.
or
Jednako volim i knjige i filmove.

But your version can appear in speech or writing when the speaker wants that fronted emphasis.

How would I say “I like neither books nor films” in Croatian, using a similar pattern?

Croatian uses ni … ni for neither … nor. You also need to negate the verb.

Ne volim ni knjige ni filmove. – “I like neither books nor films.”

Structure:

ne volim – I don’t like
ni knjige ni filmove – neither books nor films

So i … i (both … and)
vs. ni … ni (neither … nor).