Questions & Answers about Broj okvira je ovdje.
Why is okvira used instead of okvir?
Because after broj (number), Croatian normally uses the genitive form of the noun:
- broj telefona = phone number
- broj stranice = page number
- broj računa = account number
- broj okvira = frame number
So okvir changes to okvira.
If the intended meaning is frame number (an identifying number for one frame), then okvira is best understood as genitive singular.
A useful extra detail: okvira can also be genitive plural, so in some contexts the phrase could also mean number of frames. Context tells you which meaning is meant.
What case is broj in here?
Broj is in the nominative singular because it is the subject of the sentence.
The structure is:
- Broj okvira = the subject
- je = is
- ovdje = here
So grammatically, the sentence is built around broj.
Why do we need je?
Je is the 3rd person singular present of biti (to be), and it matches the singular subject broj.
So:
- broj = singular
- therefore je = singular is
You usually need je in a normal full sentence like this. Leaving it out would sound incomplete unless you were writing a label, note, or very informal shorthand.
Why is there no word for the?
Croatian does not have articles like English a and the.
So Broj okvira je ovdje can mean something like:
- The frame number is here
- or, depending on context, A frame number is here
In real use, context tells you whether something is definite or indefinite.
Is the word order fixed?
No. Croatian word order is fairly flexible.
Broj okvira je ovdje is a normal, neutral order. But you could also say:
One important thing, though: je is a clitic, so it usually appears in or near the second position of the sentence or clause.
Could I say tu instead of ovdje?
Yes, often you can.
- ovdje = here
- tu = often here or there, depending on context
In many everyday situations, Broj okvira je tu would also sound natural.
Very roughly:
- ovdje is a bit more explicitly here, in this place
- tu is very common in speech and can be slightly looser in meaning
How do I pronounce ovdje?
A rough English-friendly approximation is OV-dyeh.
A few notes:
- o is like o in for but shorter and cleaner
- v is a normal v
- dj is a soft sound, roughly like dy in during for many English speakers
- e is like e in bet, but cleaner and shorter
So: OV-dyeh is a useful approximation, even though it is not exact.
Is broj okvira a normal Croatian way to express an identifying number?
Could broj okvira ever mean number of frames instead of frame number?
Yes. That is one of the tricky things here.
The phrase broj okvira can mean either:
- frame number / number of the frame
- number of frames
The form alone does not always tell you which one is meant, because okvira can match more than one genitive meaning. Usually the surrounding context makes it clear immediately.
So if the meaning has already been shown to the learner, that is important here.
Why isn’t okviri used?
Because after broj in this structure, Croatian does not use the plain nominative plural.
So you say:
- broj okvira
not - broj okviri
If you wanted frames itself to be the subject, then you would use the plural nominative:
- Okviri su ovdje. = The frames are here.
But in your sentence, the main noun is broj, not okviri.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning CroatianMaster Croatian — from Broj okvira je ovdje to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions