Questions & Answers about Ne znam koja mi je veličina, pa isprobavam jaknu u kabini.
Because veličina (size) is a feminine singular noun. The question word koji/koja/koje agrees with the noun it refers to:
- masculine: koji
- feminine: koja
- neuter: koje
So koja … veličina matches feminine veličina.
It’s nominative singular feminine, because it functions like the subject complement with je (is) in a clause like Veličina je X (The size is X).
So: Koja mi je veličina? = What is my size?
Because the meaning is “which/what size is mine?” (a statement about identity), not “which size am I choosing/trying?” (a direct object).
- Koja mi je veličina? → What size am I? / What is my size? (uses je = is)
- Koju veličinu…? would usually need a verb that takes an object, e.g. Koju veličinu nosiš? (What size do you wear?)
Mi is the dative clitic of ja (to me / for me). In this structure it marks the “possessor/affected person,” and it often translates as my:
- Koja mi je veličina? ≈ What is my size? (literally What size is to me?)
Croatian has a fixed tendency for clitics (short unstressed words like mi, je) to go in the second position of the clause. Here, the clitic cluster mi je comes right after koja:
- Koja mi je veličina? (natural)
- Koja je veličina meni? is possible, but it’s more emphatic and uses the full form meni (to me).
It’s one sentence with two clauses:
1) Ne znam koja mi je veličina = I don’t know what my size is
2) pa isprobavam jaknu u kabini = so I’m trying on the jacket in the fitting room
The comma separates the clauses.
Pa here means so / therefore / that’s why. It links the reason to the result:
- I don’t know my size, so I’m trying on the jacket…
It can also have other uses (like well…), but here it’s clearly result/continuation.
Isprobavam is imperfective (ongoing/repeated action): I’m trying on / I try on. It fits the situation of being in the middle of trying.
- isprobavam → I’m trying it on (right now) / I’m trying (in general)
- isprobam (perfective, if used) would mean I try it (once) / I test it out (as a completed attempt) and sounds less natural for “I’m in the fitting room trying it on.”
Yes. Croatian uses the present tense plus context (and often imperfective aspect) to express an ongoing action:
- isprobavam in this context naturally means I’m trying on.
Jaknu is accusative singular feminine of jakna (jacket). It’s the direct object of isprobavam:
- isprobavam (što?) jaknu = I’m trying on (what?) a/the jacket
Because u + locative is used for location (in/inside, where), while u + accusative is used for movement into (into, where to):
- u kabini (locative) = in the fitting room (already there)
- u kabinu (accusative) = into the fitting room (going in)