Taj parfem je lijep, ali u maloj sobi miriše prejako.

Taj means that.

It has this form because it agrees with parfem, which is:

• masculine
• singular
• nominative case

So the phrase taj parfem means that perfume.

A useful comparison:

• ovaj = this
• taj = that
• onaj = that over there

In real usage, taj is often the normal translation of English that.

Because parfem is the subject of the sentence.

In Taj parfem je lijep, the thing being described is that perfume, so Croatian uses the nominative for the subject.

The same subject is still understood in the second clause:

• Taj parfem je lijep
• (Taj parfem) miriše prejako

So nominative makes sense for the whole sentence.

After the verb je here, Croatian normally uses the short adjective form in masculine singular:

• Parfem je lijep. = The perfume is nice / beautiful.

By contrast, lijepi is usually the long form, often used before a noun:

• lijepi parfem = a beautiful perfume

So for a beginner, the easiest rule is:

• before a noun: often lijepi parfem
• after je: usually parfem je lijep

Because je is an unstressed clitic form, and in neutral Croatian clitics usually go in the second position of the clause.

So:

• Taj parfem je lijep

Here, the first unit of the clause is Taj parfem, and je comes right after it.

This is very normal Croatian word order. English speakers often expect something more like a fixed subject + verb + complement pattern, but Croatian clitics follow their own placement rules.

Because u can take two different cases depending on meaning:

• u + locative = in / inside a place, with no movement
• u + accusative = into a place, showing movement

Here the meaning is location:

• u maloj sobi = in a small room

Compare:

• On je u maloj sobi. = He is in a small room.
• On ulazi u malu sobu. = He is entering a small room.

So this sentence uses locative, not accusative.

Because both the adjective and the noun have to match the locative singular feminine pattern.

The noun is:

• soba = room

In the locative singular, it becomes:

• sobi

The adjective mala must agree with it, so it becomes:

• maloj

So:

• u maloj sobi = in a small room

This is a very common Croatian pattern: the adjective changes form to match the noun in gender, number, and case.

Miriše is the 3rd person singular present form of mirisati.

Here it means:

• it smells
• it gives off a smell
• more naturally in context, it smells strongly

With perfumes, mirisati is often neutral or positive. It does not automatically mean something smells bad.

Compare:

• Parfem miriše lijepo. = The perfume smells nice.
• Parfem miriše prejako. = The perfume smells too strong.
• Smrdi. = It stinks.

So miriše prejako is not the same as smrdi.

Because Croatian often leaves out subject pronouns when the subject is already clear. This is called pro-drop.

In English, you need:

• it smells too strong

In Croatian, the verb form already tells you the subject is he/she/it singular:

• miriše

And from the context, we know it refers to taj parfem.

So Croatian naturally says:

• Taj parfem je lijep, ali u maloj sobi miriše prejako.

You could add on, but it would usually sound unnecessary unless you want extra emphasis.

Prejako means too strongly, overly strongly, or too intensely.

It comes from:

• jak = strong
• jako = strongly / very
• pre- = too, over-, excessively

So:

• prejako = too strongly

It is an adverb here because it modifies the verb miriše:

• miriše prejako = smells too strongly

Compare the difference:

• jak parfem = a strong perfume
• parfem je prejak = the perfume is too strong
• parfem miriše prejako = the perfume smells too strongly

Croatian word order is fairly flexible, but different orders give different emphasis.

The original sentence is a natural neutral version:

• Taj parfem je lijep, ali u maloj sobi miriše prejako.

You could also say:

• U maloj sobi taj parfem miriše prejako.

That puts more emphasis on in a small room.

So the basic meaning stays the same, but word order helps show what information is being highlighted. The only thing to watch carefully is clitic placement, especially words like je, which usually stay near the beginning of the clause.