Na ležaljci pod suncobranom čitam roman i slušam galebove.

Because Croatian often leaves out subject pronouns when they are clear from the verb ending.

Here, čitam means I read / I am reading, and slušam means I listen / I am listening.
The ending -am tells you the subject is I.

So:

• čitam = I read / I am reading
• slušam = I listen / I am listening

You could add ja for emphasis, but normally it is unnecessary.

Na often means on, and ležaljka is a deck chair / sun lounger. So na ležaljci literally means on the deck chair.

Croatian uses different prepositions depending on how a place is understood:

• na = on, at, on a surface, sometimes in an open/use-related location
• u = in, inside

A lounger is treated as something you are on, not in, so na ležaljci is the natural choice.

Because after na when it describes a location, Croatian uses the locative case.

Base form:

• ležaljka = deck chair / sun lounger

Locative singular:

• na ležaljci = on the deck chair

So the ending changes because the noun has to match the preposition and its function in the sentence.

Because pod means under, and when it describes a fixed location, Croatian usually uses the instrumental case.

Base form:

• suncobran = sun umbrella / parasol

Instrumental singular:

• pod suncobranom = under the umbrella

So:

• pod suncobranom = location, staying under it
• if there were movement involved, Croatian could use a different case structure in some contexts

In this sentence, the speaker is already sitting there, so pod suncobranom is a location phrase.

It is a compound word:

• sunce = sun
• braniti / brana / bran is related to protecting, defending, shielding

So suncobran is basically something that shields from the sun.

This is a very typical Croatian-style compound noun.

Both roman and galebove are direct objects, so both are in the accusative case.
The difference comes from the type of noun.

1. roman

• roman = novel
• masculine, singular, inanimate

For masculine inanimate singular nouns, the accusative is usually the same as the nominative:

• roman → roman

So:

• čitam roman = I am reading a novel

2. galebove

• galeb = seagull
• masculine, plural, animate

For masculine animate plural nouns, the accusative matches the genitive plural:

• nominative plural: galebovi
• accusative plural: galebove

So:

• slušam galebove = I am listening to the seagulls / seagulls

That is why the two objects look different.

Because slušati takes a direct object in the accusative case.

Examples:

• slušam glazbu = I am listening to music
• slušam radio = I am listening to the radio
• slušam galebove = I am listening to the seagulls

English often uses listen to, but Croatian simply uses slušati + accusative noun.

So there is no separate word for to here.

It can mean both, depending on context.

Croatian does not have a separate present continuous form like English am reading. The simple present often covers both ideas:

• čitam = I read / I am reading
• slušam = I listen / I am listening

In this sentence, the meaning is clearly something happening right now, so English would usually translate it as:

• I’m reading a novel and listening to the seagulls.

Because Croatian does not have articles like English.

So roman can mean:

• a novel
• the novel

And galebove can mean:

• seagulls
• the seagulls

You understand which one is meant from context.

No, Croatian word order is fairly flexible.

This sentence starts with the location:

• Na ležaljci pod suncobranom = On the deck chair under the umbrella

Then it gives the actions:

• čitam roman i slušam galebove

That order sounds natural because it sets the scene first.

You could rearrange it, for example:

• Čitam roman i slušam galebove na ležaljci pod suncobranom.

This is still understandable, but it may sound a little different in emphasis. Croatian often moves words around to highlight different information.

Because i means and, and here it simply links the two verbs:

• čitam = I am reading
• slušam = I am listening

So:

• čitam roman i slušam galebove = I’m reading a novel and listening to the seagulls

That is the normal way to join two actions done by the same person.

A natural breakdown is:

• Na ležaljci = on the sun lounger
• pod suncobranom = under the parasol
• čitam roman = I’m reading a novel
• i slušam galebove = and listening to the seagulls

So the sentence is built as:

[location] + [action 1] + [and action 2]

That is a very common and natural Croatian sentence pattern.