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Drogerija je između pošte i supermarketa.

Drogerija je između pošte i supermarketa.
The drugstore is between the post office and the supermarket.
FromLesson 41inHardcore Croatian

Breakdown of Drogerija je između pošte i supermarketa.

biti
to be
i
and
između
between
supermarket
supermarket
pošta
post office
drogerija
drugstore

Questions & Answers about Drogerija je između pošte i supermarketa.

What does drogerija mean in Croatian—does it mean a “drugstore” like in the US?
Drogerija usually means a drugstore-type shop focused on cosmetics, toiletries, cleaning products, and similar items (like dm, Müller, etc.). It doesn’t necessarily mean a pharmacy. A pharmacy is ljekarna (also apoteka in some regions).
Why is it pošte and not pošta?

Because između (between) requires the genitive case.

  • Nominative: pošta (the post office)
  • Genitive: pošte
    So između pošte i supermarketa = between the post office and the supermarket.
Why is it supermarketa and not supermarket?

Same reason: između takes the genitive.

  • Nominative: supermarket
  • Genitive: supermarketa
    Croatian often adds -a in the genitive singular for many masculine nouns.
Does između always take the genitive?

In this meaning (between), yes: između + genitive is the standard pattern, especially for location:

  • između kuće i škole = between the house and the school
    You’ll most often see genitive after između.
How do I know it’s “between X and Y” and not “among”?

između is typically between (two things/points), while među is more like among (in a group).

  • između pošte i supermarketa = between the post office and the supermarket (two landmarks)
  • među ljudima = among people
What is the role of je here, and can it be left out?

je is the present tense of biti (to be) for he/she/it. It links the subject and the location phrase:

  • Drogerija je između... = The drugstore is between...
    In everyday speech, je is sometimes omitted:
  • Drogerija između pošte i supermarketa.
    But the full, neutral sentence includes je.
Why is there no word for “the” in the sentence?

Croatian doesn’t have articles like a/an/the. Context supplies that meaning.
So Drogerija je... can mean A drugstore is... or The drugstore is... depending on the situation.

Can I change the word order?

Yes. Croatian word order is fairly flexible because cases show relationships. Common alternatives include:

  • Između pošte i supermarketa je drogerija. (emphasis on the location)
  • Drogerija je između supermarketa i pošte. (same meaning; order swapped)
    The most neutral is the original: Drogerija je između pošte i supermarketa.
Why is it i and not a between the two places?

i means and and is the normal connector in this structure: između X i Y = between X and Y.
a usually means but/and (contrast), so it wouldn’t fit here.

How do I pronounce između, and where is the stress?
It’s pronounced roughly eez-MEH-joo (approximation). The lj-like sound isn’t here; it’s a đ sound (like a soft “j” / “dj”). Stress can vary by dialect, but learners are usually understood fine with iz-ME-đu or i-ZME-đu-type stress—focus on clear vowels and the đ sound.
Is pošta feminine and supermarket masculine—does that matter here?

Yes, it matters because gender affects case endings.

  • pošta is feminine, genitive singular often ends in -e → pošte
  • supermarket is masculine, genitive singular often ends in -a → supermarketa
    These endings are what show their role after između.
Could I also say Drogerija se nalazi između pošte i supermarketa?

Yes, and it’s very common. nalaziti se means to be located:

  • Drogerija se nalazi između pošte i supermarketa. = The drugstore is located between the post office and the supermarket.
    It’s slightly more explicit/formal than just je.
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