Log inSign up

Odmah zatvori vrata, molim te.

Odmah zatvori vrata, molim te.
Close the door right away, please.

Breakdown of Odmah zatvori vrata, molim te.

molim te
please
zatvoriti
to close
vrata
door
odmah
right away
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Croatian grammar and vocabulary.

Start learning Croatian now

Questions & Answers about Odmah zatvori vrata, molim te.

Why is zatvori used here—what tense/mood is it?

Zatvori is an imperative (command) form of the verb zatvoriti (to close / to shut). In Croatian, imperatives are used a lot in everyday speech for requests and instructions. Here it’s a direct command/request: “Close the door…”.

Who is being addressed—why is it zatvori and not some other form?

Zatvori is the imperative for ti (you, singular/informal).
If you were speaking to:

  • one person formally (Vi): Odmah zatvorite vrata, molim.
  • multiple people (vi plural): Odmah zatvorite vrata, molim.
What does odmah add—does it just mean “now”?

Odmah means immediately / right away. It’s stronger than just sad(a) (now). It adds urgency: not just “close the door”, but “do it right away”.

Why is vrata plural—does it literally mean “doors”?

In Croatian, vrata (door) is a plural-only noun (like “scissors” in English). So you say:

  • vrata su zatvorena = “the door is closed” (literally “the doors are closed”)
  • zatvori vrata = “close the door”

You generally don’t use a singular vrato in normal modern Croatian.

Is the word order fixed? Could I say Zatvori odmah vrata?

Word order is flexible, but different orders change emphasis:

  • Odmah zatvori vrata = emphasis on immediately (urgent tone from the start)
  • Zatvori vrata odmah = still urgent, but the “immediately” comes as an added push
  • Zatvori odmah vrata = possible, a bit marked; tends to emphasize “close right away”

The given version sounds very natural.

What exactly does molim te mean, and why is te there?

Molim te means “please” in an informal singular way, literally “I’m asking you”.

  • molim = “I ask / I’m asking”
  • te = “you” (object form, i.e., “I ask you”)

So it’s not just a free-floating “please”; grammatically it’s a full phrase.

How would this change in a formal situation?

To one person politely/formally:

  • Odmah zatvorite vrata, molim Vas.

Here:

  • zatvorite = imperative for Vi
  • Vas = formal “you” object form

You may also hear simply molim without Vas if context is clear: Odmah zatvorite vrata, molim.

Why is there a comma before molim te?

Because molim te is a parenthetical/polite addition to the command. In writing, it’s commonly separated by a comma, similar to: “Close the door, please.”

Is this sentence rude because it’s an imperative?

Not necessarily. Croatian uses imperatives very naturally; politeness comes from things like:

  • adding molim te / molim Vas
  • using a softer phrasing (e.g., questions)
  • tone of voice

Odmah makes it more urgent/strong, but molim te softens it.

Could I use možeš li instead to sound softer?

Yes. A common softer alternative is:

  • Možeš li odmah zatvoriti vrata, molim te? = “Could you close the door right away, please?”

Here zatvoriti is the infinitive, and the whole thing is phrased as a question.

What’s the difference between zatvori and zatvaraj?

Both are imperatives, but they differ in aspect/feel:

  • zatvori (vrata) = close (the door) as a single completed action (perfective)
  • zatvaraj (vrata) = more like keep closing / be closing; can sound like “close it (repeatedly / as a habit / in general)”

For a one-time action like shutting a door now, zatvori is the normal choice.