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U fotokopirnici opet fotokopiram papire, jer mi se printer kod kuće stalno gasi.

U fotokopirnici opet fotokopiram papire, jer mi se printer kod kuće stalno gasi.
At the copy shop I photocopy the papers again, because my printer at home keeps shutting down.
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Questions & Answers about U fotokopirnici opet fotokopiram papire, jer mi se printer kod kuće stalno gasi.

Why is it u fotokopirnici and not u fotokopirnica?

Because u meaning in/inside (location, not motion) requires the locative case.

  • Nominative: fotokopirnica (a copy shop)
  • Locative: u fotokopirnici (in the copy shop)
    If you were talking about motion into the place, you’d usually use u + accusative: Idem u fotokopirnicu. (I’m going to the copy shop.)
What exactly does fotokopirnica mean—does it only mean a copy shop?
Fotokopirnica is commonly a place where you can make photocopies and often print/scan as well (depending on the shop). In everyday speech it’s a normal, natural word for a copy/print shop.
Why does the sentence use opet and where can it go in the sentence?

Opet means again. Here it implies: I’m photocopying again (as usual / once more).
Word order is flexible; these are all possible with slightly different emphasis:

  • U fotokopirnici opet fotokopiram papire. (Again—at the copy shop—I'm copying.)
  • U fotokopirnici fotokopiram papire opet. (Again, at the end; more “afterthought”.)
  • Opet fotokopiram papire u fotokopirnici. (Again is the main point.)
Why is it fotokopiram (present tense)? Does it mean “I am photocopying” or “I photocopy”?
Croatian present tense often covers both I photocopy and I am photocopying, depending on context. In this sentence, with the situational context (u fotokopirnici) and opet, it naturally reads as I’m photocopying (right now), again.
Why is it papire and not papiri?

Because papire is the accusative plural, used for the direct object (what you are photocopying).

  • Nominative plural (subject): papiri
  • Accusative plural (object): papire
    Example contrast:
  • Papiri su na stolu. (The papers are on the table.)
  • Fotokopiram papire. (I’m photocopying the papers.)
Is papire definitely “papers,” or can it mean “documents”?
It can mean both. Papiri literally means papers, but very often it means documents / paperwork in a general sense (forms, official documents, etc.). Context decides.
Why is there a comma before jer?

Because jer introduces a dependent clause giving a reason (because). In Croatian, it’s standard to put a comma before jer in this use:

  • Main clause, jer
    • reason clause.
What does mi se mean, and why are both words there?

This is a common Croatian structure combining:

  • mi = to me (dative pronoun; indicates it affects me / happens “to me”)
  • se = reflexive marker used with certain verbs to form an intransitive or “happening” meaning

So gasi se = turns off (by itself), and gasi mi se = keeps turning off on me / keeps shutting down (and it’s a problem for me).

Why is it printer and not the Croatian word for printer?

Croatian also has pisač (printer), but printer is extremely common in everyday speech and is fully normal. You could say:

  • ... jer mi se pisač kod kuće stalno gasi.
    It sounds slightly more “Croatian,” but both are natural.
What does kod kuće literally mean, and why not just kući?

Kod kuće literally means by/at home, i.e., at home (location).
Kući usually means (to) home (direction), like “going home,” and can also appear in some “at home” contexts in speech, but the clean contrast is:

  • Kod kuće = at home
  • Idem kući = I’m going home
What does stalno add? Is it like “always” or “constantly”?
Stalno means constantly / all the time. In this sentence it emphasizes repeated annoyance: the printer repeatedly shuts off.
How should I understand gasi se here—does it mean someone turns it off, or it shuts off by itself?

Gasiti (without se) is usually to turn off (something) (transitive):

  • Gasim printer. = I’m turning off the printer.

Gasiti se means to turn off / shut down (intransitive, “it happens”):

  • Printer se gasi. = The printer is shutting off.
    With stalno, it strongly implies it keeps shutting off on its own (or unintentionally).
Is the word order jer mi se printer kod kuće stalno gasi fixed?

It’s a very natural order, but Croatian allows alternatives for emphasis:

  • ... jer mi se printer stalno gasi kod kuće. (puts emphasis on “at home” later)
  • ... jer mi se kod kuće stalno gasi printer. (brings “at home” earlier)
    The core grammar stays: mi se
    • subject (printer) + adverbs + verb (gasi).