Learn Hardcore Croatian: Zajedno ćemo riješiti ovaj težak zadatak. - Together we will solve this difficult task.

All of these are grammatical. Putting zajedno at the beginning, as in the original, slightly emphasizes the idea of doing it together. At the end (…riješiti zajedno) the focus feels more on the result (we will solve it, and we’ll do it together).

No comma is needed with zajedno in this simple sentence.

What does ćemo mean, and why is it separate from riješiti?

Ćemo is the first person plural form of the verb htjeti (to want), which is used as an auxiliary to form the future tense:

mi ćemo riješiti = we will solve

In normal speech and writing, the subject pronoun mi (we) is usually omitted, because ćemo already shows the person and number:

(Mi) ćemo riješiti = we will solve.

So the future is formed as:

ćemo (auxiliary) + riješiti (infinitive).

The two words are separate: Croatian future tense doesn’t fuse the auxiliary and the main verb into one word.

Could the future tense be reordered, like riješit ćemo or mi ćemo riješiti?

Yes. All of these are possible, but they follow different word-order rules:

Zajedno ćemo riješiti ovaj težak zadatak. (your sentence)
- Auxiliary ćemo is in the second position in the clause. This is very typical and neutral.
Zajedno riješit ćemo ovaj težak zadatak.
- Also possible, but less common in everyday speech; sounds a bit more emphatic or literary.
Mi ćemo riješiti ovaj težak zadatak.
- Adds mi for emphasis on we (as opposed to someone else).
Mi riješit ćemo ovaj težak zadatak.
- Rare and more stylistic.

In practice, the pattern (Zajedno) ćemo + infinitive is the most natural in spoken Croatian here.

What is the difference between riješiti and rješavati?

Both come from the same root but differ in aspect:

riješiti – perfective
- Focus on a single, completed action: to solve (and finish solving).
- Used naturally with future and past when you care about the result:
  - Riješit ćemo zadatak. – We will solve the task (and it will be done).
rješavati – imperfective
- Focus on process / repeated / ongoing action: to be solving, to solve repeatedly.
- Used for habits, processes, or when the result is not the main focus:
  - Rješavamo zadatke svaki dan. – We solve tasks every day.

In your sentence, riješiti is chosen because you talk about successfully completing this one difficult task.

Why is it ovaj težak zadatak and not some other form like ovoga teškog zadatka?

Ovaj težak zadatak is in the accusative singular masculine case. You use the accusative for the direct object of the verb (what you are solving).

Breakdown:

ovaj – this (masculine nominative/accusative singular)
težak – difficult (masculine nominative/accusative singular)
zadatak – task (masculine noun, nominative/accusative singular)

For masculine inanimate nouns like zadatak, nominative and accusative look the same:

Nominative: ovaj težak zadatak je važan. – This difficult task is important.
Accusative: riješit ćemo ovaj težak zadatak. – We will solve this difficult task.

If you changed the case (for example, genitive), the forms would change:

Genitive (of this difficult task): ovoga teškog zadatka
- Bojim se ovoga teškog zadatka. – I’m afraid of this difficult task.

How do ovaj, taj, and onaj differ? Could I say taj težak zadatak instead?

Croatian has a three-way demonstrative system:

ovaj – this (near the speaker)
taj – that (near the listener / already mentioned / contextually known)
onaj – that (far from both; often more distant in space, time, or mentally)

In many everyday contexts, ovaj and taj can overlap, and taj is often used similarly to English that.

So:

Ovaj težak zadatak – this difficult task (the one we’re focusing on right here).
Taj težak zadatak – that difficult task (perhaps something the other person has just mentioned, or known from context).

You could say taj težak zadatak; it just slightly shifts the reference, depending on the context.

What does težak mean exactly? Is it “heavy” or “difficult”? And what about teško?

Težak is an adjective that can mean both:

heavy (in weight)
- težak kofer – a heavy suitcase
difficult / hard (in difficulty)
- težak zadatak – a difficult task

Context decides which meaning is intended. With zadatak, it clearly means difficult.

Teško is the related adverb (or neuter singular form of the adjective):

As an adverb:
- Teško radimo. – We work hard.
- Teško je. – It’s hard.

You cannot say teško zadatak for “difficult task”; you must use the adjective form težak, agreeing with the masculine noun zadatak: težak zadatak.

What exactly does zadatak mean? Is it the same as problem?

Zadatak means task, assignment, or exercise (like in homework or math textbooks). Examples:

domaći zadatak – homework
matematički zadatak – a math problem / exercise
radni zadatak – a work task

Problem exists in Croatian too (problem), but:

zadatak – something assigned to be done or solved (a set task/exercise).
problem – a problem in the sense of difficulty, trouble, issue.

You could say:

riješiti zadatak – solve a task / exercise
riješiti problem – solve a problem (in the broader sense)

In your sentence, zadatak implies a more concrete assignment, not just a general life problem.

Why is the adjective order ovaj težak zadatak and not težak ovaj zadatak?

The neutral order is:

demonstrative
- descriptive adjective(s)
  - noun
    - ovaj težak zadatak

You can say težak ovaj zadatak, but that word order is marked and sounds emphatic or expressive, as if you are exclaiming:

Težak je ovaj zadatak. – This task is difficult. (focus is on “difficult”)

In your original sentence, with a straightforward object, ovaj težak zadatak is the natural, unmarked form.

Is there any difference in tone or meaning between Zajedno ćemo riješiti ovaj težak zadatak and Riješimo ovaj težak zadatak zajedno?

Yes, there is a difference in mood:

Zajedno ćemo riješiti ovaj težak zadatak.
- Future tense; a statement or reassurance:
  - We will (definitely) solve this difficult task together.
Riješimo ovaj težak zadatak zajedno.
- First person plural imperative (a kind of “let’s …” form):
  - Let’s solve this difficult task together.

So the first is more of a promise / prediction, the second is more of an invitation / suggestion.

How do you pronounce zajedno ćemo riješiti ovaj težak zadatak? Any tricky sounds?

Key points:

zajedno – za-ye-dno
- j is like English y in yes.
ćemo – će like “che” in chew, but softer; ć is a soft ch, tongue more forward than in English “ch”.
riješiti – ri-ye-shi-ti
- r is rolled or tapped.
- je again like ye.
- š like sh in ship.
ovaj – o-vay (but j is again like y).
težak – te-zhak, ž like s in measure.
zadatak – za-da-tak, all short vowels.

Stress pattern (approximate, as it varies by dialect):
ZA-jed-no ĆE-mo RI-je-ši-ti O-vaj TE-žak ZA-da-tak, with primary stresses on ZA, ĆE, RI, TE, ZA (in slow careful speech). In natural speech, some of these will reduce slightly, but the main thing is to keep vowels clear and pronounce every consonant.