Learn Hardcore Croatian: Biste li mi mogli reći gdje je manje gužve na blagajni? - Could you tell me where it’s less crowded at the cash register?

Biste is the 2nd person plural form of the conditional of biti (to be): biste = you would. In polite requests, Croatian often uses the conditional to sound softer and more formal, similar to English Would you….
So Biste li… ≈ Would you…? (polite).

What is the role of li in Biste li mi mogli…?

Li is the yes/no question particle. It typically comes right after the first stressed word (often the verb).

Biste li…? = Would you…?
Without li, it wouldn’t sound like a standard yes/no question.

Why is it mogli (plural) if I’m talking to one person?

Because you’re using the polite you. Croatian uses vi (plural) as the formal/polite singular, and adjectives/participles agree with that.
So with polite vi:

(Vi) biste mogli… (literally plural agreement, used for one person politely)

Could I say Možete li mi reći… instead of Biste li mi mogli reći…? What’s the difference?

Yes. Both are correct, but the tone differs:

Možete li mi reći… = Can you tell me…? (polite/neutral)
Biste li mi mogli reći… = Could you tell me…? / Would you be able to tell me…? (softer, more formal, more “tentative”)

Why is mi there? What case is it, and can I omit it?

Mi means to me and is dative. It marks the indirect object: reći (komu?) = to tell (someone).
You can omit it if context makes it obvious, but it’s very natural to include:

Biste li mogli reći gdje je…? (OK, slightly less personal)
Biste li mi mogli reći…? (more natural if you mean “tell me”)

Why is mi placed before mogli? Is the word order fixed?

Mi is an unstressed clitic pronoun, and clitics have a preferred position near the beginning of the clause (often in “second position” after the first stressed element).
So Biste li mi mogli… is the normal, native-like order. Other placements usually sound off or are only used in special emphasis contexts.

Why does Croatian use reći (infinitive) here?

After verbs like moći (can / be able), Croatian uses the infinitive:

mogu reći = I can say/tell
biste mogli reći = you could tell
So mogli reći is a standard verb chain: could + tell.

What’s going on in gdje je manje gužve? Why not something like gdje ima manje gužve?

Both can be used, but they’re slightly different patterns:

gdje je manje gužve literally uses to be: where there is less crowding
gdje ima manje gužve uses ima (there is/there exists): also very common, often a bit more colloquial
In many everyday situations, both sound natural.

Why is it manje gužve and not manja gužva?

With quantity expressions like više/manje (more/less), Croatian typically uses the genitive:

manje (čega?) gužve = less (of) crowding So gužva (nominative) becomes gužve (genitive singular).

What case is na blagajni, and why that case?

Na blagajni is locative (because it answers “where?” with na):

na + locative = location (at/on a place): na blagajni = at the checkout/cash register If you were talking about movement toward it, you’d use na + accusative:
na blagajnu = to the checkout (direction)

Does blagajna mean the cashier, the register, or the checkout line?

Blagajna can cover several related meanings depending on context:

the cash register / checkout counter
the checkout (place) in a store
In sentences about gužva (crowding) and paying, it effectively means the checkout area/line.

Is this sentence formal? What would a more casual version sound like?

Yes—Biste li… is polite and fairly formal. Casual alternatives include:

Možeš li mi reći gdje je manja gužva na blagajni? (to one friend, informal ti)
Gdje je manja gužva na blagajni? (direct question, less polite)
Gdje je manje gužve na blagajni? (also direct, common)